August learned at an early age that drugs and money could make you, or break you. With both his father and stepfather battling crack addiction, August’s mother moved their family to Houston, Texas in search of a fresh start. But Houston provided no happy ending. For years, a young August endured a home life plagued by drugs and violence. At just 14, he got word from New Orleans that is father, August Sr., lost his battle with drugs and alcohol.
In an attempt to escape his reality, August took to Youtube, where he posted dozens of homemade performance videos. His clips covering the likes of Musiq Soulchild and Lyfe Jennings went viral, generating millions of views in just over a month. It seemed that he was finally taking his first steps toward a bright future in music, but just a year later, reality hit home when his best friend was shot and killed in the streets of Houston. As quickly as August appeared, he vanished form Youtube, back to the real world. With tensions mounting, 16-year-old August was kicked out of his mother’s home. Alone, he returned to New Orleans. He bounced around between family and friends houses, but on some nights, only the corner store provided him shelter. Eventually, he took to the streets, selling drugs as a means of survival.
With his older brother also in the streets hustling, it wouldn’t be long before August learned that the addiction to money could be just as deadly as the addiction to drugs. Just days before August’s 18th birthday, his older brother was gunned down in New Orleans East, another unsolved murder in one of the nations most dangerous cities. “I never expected them [the police] to find his killer”, August explains. “People die everyday in the streets of New Orleans. Unfortunately, death has become a way of life,” but not for August. His brother’s death became his motivation to not become a statistic, but to pursue his musical aspirations on an entirely new level.
Under the guidance of NNTME MuCo, AKA Noontime, (management/production company), August relocated to Atlanta in 2011 to begin carving his own musical path, creating music in a lane that would separate him from his R&B counterparts. His experiences in life are what shaped him, so those experiences, no matter how brutally honest, positive or negative, would serve as the focal point of his artistry. In April of 2012 August teamed up with Hoodrich/MMG’s own DJ Scream for the release of his debut mixtape, ‘The Product’, which garnered him an internet and radio buzz, and spawned the Sound Mob produced single, “Sucka” featuring fellow New Orleans native, R&B crooner Lloyd. The anti-love track offers the opinion that “love is for suckas”, providing an alternative to the sappy love songs associated with today’s R&B.
This past May, Alsina returned with his second installment of ‘The Product‘ series, this time teaming up with DJ Drama and his Gangsta Grillz brand. The debut single “I Luv This Shit” finds August paired with fellow Def Jam label mate, Trinidad Jame$. The top 10 hit, produced by Knucklehead, speaks to the rebellious and, sometimes, reckless lifestyle that finds August singing words that many can relate to, “I’m way too drunk to be talking like this, I’m way too high to be trippin like this, I’m way too young to be livin like this, ask me why I do it I’ma put it like this... God Damn it, I luv it”. It’s that honest and rebellious tone that caught the ear of Cash Money CEO/Rich Gang boss, Birdman, who jumped on the remix to stamp the fellow New Orleans native.
With his buzz building, August’s next stamp would come from media giant MTV, as he was named one of 2013’s Fab 5, their annual list of hip-hop artist to watch. Exposure on the network helped to make his independent video “Downtown” ft. Kidd Kidd, a viral hit, generating nearly 1 million views in less than 2 months. The autobiographical song/visual would become the title track for Alsina’s first official NNTME/Radio Killa/Def Jam release, an 8-song EP titled, ‘Downtown: Life Under the Gun’, which offers collaborations between Alsina and the previously mentioned Jame$ & Kidd Kidd, along with NOLA veteran Curren$y, and Atlanta newcomer Rich Homie Quan. Of the EP, Alsina says, “It allows you to walk through my hood with me and see where I’m from. Don’t get it confused, this isn’t my album, just a few songs to let people know what I’m about and why I do this”.
While just 21 years old, and already a lifetime of experiences behind him, August Alsina is living proof that your past doesn’t have to dictate your future, and that life’s hardships can be the motivation required for success.
Kissin' On My Tattoos
August Alsina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For being in the club
Getting all that love
'Cause you're so beautiful
God made you to show that off
Now I ain't ever been the jealous type of guy
But I want you to myself, I can't lie
I know we ain't on no one on one thing
'Cause when I be out with other chicks, I be thinking 'bout you
And when you be out on dates, you be texting me too
Telling me to come pick you up when he drop you off
I pray to God he ain't breaking you off
I don't want nobody but you
Kissin' on my tattoos
I don't want nobody but me
Talkin' to you
Until you fall asleep
We better stop playing (we better stop playing)
Before we mess around and someone gets hurt
I don't want nobody but you (nobody but you)
Kissin' on my tattoos
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
All my homies wanna know what's up with us
They can't believe that I'm kicking it with just one girl
But I'm cool with that
Them pretty eyes and that smile
Girl, I'm a fool for that (yeah, I'm a fool for that)
'Cause when I be out with other chicks, I be thinking 'bout you
And when you be out on dates, you be texting me too
Telling me to come pick you up when he drop you off
I pray to God he ain't breaking you off
I don't want nobody but you
Kissin' on my tattoos
I don't want nobody but me
Talkin' to you
Until you fall asleep
We better stop playing (we better stop playing)
Before we mess around and someone gets hurt
I don't want nobody but you (nobody but you)
Kissin' on my tattoos
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
Nobody but you
Kissin' on me
Kissin' on me
The song "Kissin' on my Tattoos" by August Alsina is a love song that expresses the desires and feelings of a man for his lover. The opening verse of the song sees the singer acknowledging that his lover is a beautiful woman who deserves all the attention she gets at the club. He admits to not being a jealous person but confesses that he wants her all to himself. The chorus repeats the sentiment that he wants nobody else but her kissing on his tattoos, as he sings about the importance of their relationship and their emotional connection.
The second verse of the song sees August Alsina addressing his homies who are curious about their relationship. He declares that he's cool with the fact that he's only interested in one girl, and that girl is the one he's singing about. He then goes on to recount how even while he is with other girls, she is always on his mind, and he knows she feels the same way as she texts him while on dates. The chorus is then repeated, hammering home the message that he wants nobody else but her.
Overall, "Kissin' on my Tattoos" is a love song that captures the emotional yearning of a man for his lover. It expresses the desire for exclusivity and intimacy in a relationship, and how the singer wants to be with his lover all the time. This song highlights the theme of love as the strongest emotion that pulls people together.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby I don't blame you
I understand why you go to the club and get attention.
For being in the club
I know you're there because you're beautiful and people want to be around you.
Getting all that love
You deserve all the attention you're getting because you're beautiful.
'Cause you're so beautiful
Your physical beauty is a reflection of God's greatness.
God made you to show that off
I'm not usually jealous, but I want you all to myself.
Now I ain't ever been the jealous type of guy
I admit that I want to be in a one-on-one relationship with you.
But I want you to myself, I can't lie
I know we're not exclusive, but I think we should be.
I know we ain't on no one on one thing
When I'm out with other women, all I can think about is you.
But baby, it should change
When you go on dates with other guys, you text me to come pick you up.
'Cause when I be out with other chicks I be thinking 'bout you
I only want you to kiss my tattoos, and no one else.
And when you be out on dates you be texting me too
I want to talk to you until you fall asleep and know that we're committed to each other.
Telling me to come pick you up when he drop you off
We need to stop playing around before someone gets hurt.
I pray to God he ain't breaking you off
I want to be the only one who gets to kiss you and show you affection.
All my homies wanna know what's up with us
My friends wonder how I can just be with one girl, but I don't care.
They can't believe that I'm kicking it with just one girl
Your eyes and smile make me want to commit to you and only you.
But I'm cool with that
When I'm with other women, all I can think about is you.
Them pretty eyes and that smile
I only want you kissing me and no one else.
Girl I'm a fool for that (yeah I'm a fool for that)
I want to be in a monogamous relationship with you and focus on only each other.
I don't want nobody but you
I only want you to kiss my tattoos and be with me.
Kissin' on my tattoos
I want you to be the only one who kisses me.
I don't want nobody but me
I want to talk to you and be close to you until you fall asleep.
Talkin' to you
We need to stop playing around before someone gets hurt.
Until you fall asleep
I only want to be with you and give you the affection you deserve.
We better stop playing (We better stop playing)
I don't want you kissing anyone but me.
Before we mess around and someone gets hurt
When you're with someone else, I worry that they might hurt you.
Nobody but you
I only want to be with you, and no one else.
Kissin' on me
I love it when you kiss me because it makes me feel special.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: August Anthony Alsina, Jasper Tremaine Cameron
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roderriousjones9763
Who here’s 2024
@primaveracavinho1980
Me
@AskCami
me
@chrisbreezy1317
The emotion in his voice when he says "I pray to god he ain't breakin you off." gives me chills!
@verkyrashaw
Chris Breezy. Totally agree
@MegaNisha1988
I swear
@latonyaalvarado2925
Stay off,Chris
@jowannaburton1123
Yessssssss
@idyqueen2317
Man!
@loratoseeme5608
Damn 2023 still a hit still getting goose bumps.....I love 😘😘😘😘😘 this song till today..