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, Augustโs 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 motherโs 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 wouldnโt be long before August learned that the addiction to money could be just as deadly as the addiction to drugs. Just days before Augustโs 18th birthday, his older brother was gunned down in New Orleans East, another unsolved murder in one of the nations most dangerous cities. โI never expected them [the police] to find his killerโ, August explains. โPeople die everyday in the streets of New Orleans. Unfortunately, death has become a way of life,โ but not for August. His brotherโs 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/MMGโs own DJ Scream for the release of his debut mixtape, โThe Productโ, which garnered him an internet and radio buzz, and spawned the Sound Mob produced single, โSuckaโ featuring fellow New Orleans native, R&B crooner Lloyd. The anti-love track offers the opinion that โlove is for suckasโ, providing an alternative to the sappy love songs associated with todayโs R&B.
This past May, Alsina returned with his second installment of โThe Productโ series, this time teaming up with DJ Drama and his Gangsta Grillz brand. The debut single โI Luv This Shitโ finds August paired with fellow Def Jam label mate, Trinidad Jame$. The top 10 hit, produced by Knucklehead, speaks to the rebellious and, sometimes, reckless lifestyle that finds August singing words that many can relate to, โIโm way too drunk to be talking like this, Iโm way too high to be trippin like this, Iโm way too young to be livin like this, ask me why I do it Iโma put it like this... God Damn it, I luv itโ. Itโs that honest and rebellious tone that caught the ear of Cash Money CEO/Rich Gang boss, Birdman, who jumped on the remix to stamp the fellow New Orleans native.
With his buzz building, Augustโs next stamp would come from media giant MTV, as he was named one of 2013โs Fab 5, their annual list of hip-hop artist to watch. Exposure on the network helped to make his independent video โDowntownโ ft. Kidd Kidd, a viral hit, generating nearly 1 million views in less than 2 months. The autobiographical song/visual would become the title track for Alsinaโs first official NNTME/Radio Killa/Def Jam release, an 8-song EP titled, โDowntown: Life Under the Gunโ, which offers collaborations between Alsina and the previously mentioned Jame$ & Kidd Kidd, along with NOLA veteran Curren$y, and Atlanta newcomer Rich Homie Quan. Of the EP, Alsina says, โIt allows you to walk through my hood with me and see where Iโm from. Donโt get it confused, this isnโt my album, just a few songs to let people know what Iโm about and why I do thisโ.
While just 21 years old, and already a lifetime of experiences behind him, August Alsina is living proof that your past doesnโt have to dictate your future, and that lifeโs hardships can be the motivation required for success.
Wait
August Alsina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm not telling you to wait on me, no
I'm not telling you to wait, but I'm hoping that you'll wait
I know this may not be my place
But I got something I should say to you
Sometimes I'm in a different space
But that don't change the way I feel for you, I do
I got a lot going inside my mind
Don't think for a minute that I'm a fool
Don't know what I'll do if I lose you
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
If you gotta leave
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
I told you when I met you girl that I would need patience
You said that you understood so I thought that you could take it
We have a real good thing
Nothing should come between us
Now you want some things I never promised
You say something missing, I was always honest
Telling you the way that I felt for you
Could be something real that I never knew
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
If you gotta leave
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
In August Alsina's song Wait, the artist is addressing a loved one and acknowledging that he has a lot going on in his mind at the moment. He is aware that this may not be the best time for a relationship, but he doesn't want to lose the connection that they share. He recognizes that the other person deserves someone who will be there to hold them, but he is unable to guarantee that he can fulfill that role consistently due to his current situation.
The song touches on themes of love, patience, and personal growth. The singer is grappling with the idea of balancing his personal goals and needs with his feelings for the other person. He wants them to know that he cares deeply for them and will always be there for them, but he also recognizes that there are limitations to what he can offer at this time.
Overall, Wait speaks to the complexities of relationships and the importance of communication in navigating them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not telling you to wait, oh
I'm not forcing or pressuring you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me, no
I'm not trying to guilt-trip or manipulate you into waiting for me
I'm not telling you to wait, but I'm hoping that you'll wait
Although I'm not demanding it, I still have a desire for you to wait for me
I know this may not be my place
I understand that I may not have the right or authority to say this
But I got something I should say to you
But there's something important that I need to tell you
Sometimes I'm in a different space
At times, I may not be fully present or emotionally available
But that don't change the way I feel for you, I do
However, my feelings for you are genuine and unchanged despite my current state
This may not be the best time
Right now may not be the most ideal moment
I got a lot going inside my mind
I have a lot of thoughts and emotions that I'm processing internally
Don't think for a minute that I'm a fool
Please don't underestimate me or presume I'm oblivious
Don't know what I'll do if I lose you
I'm uncertain of how I would cope or react if our relationship ended
You need someone who will be there to hold you
You deserve to have a significant other who is emotionally available and supportive
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
I acknowledge that it may not be equitable, but I still care for you and want to be there for you
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
I want you to trust that I'll be available and dependable if you require my assistance or comfort
What I gotta say isn't easy
I have a message that's difficult or painful to convey
If you gotta leave
If you feel that you have to end our relationship
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I won't try to prevent or obstruct you from doing what you feel is necessary
I don't want you to go
I don't desire for our relationship to come to an end
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
However, I have other obligations or goals that I must attend to
I told you when I met you girl that I would need patience
From the beginning of our relationship, I communicated that I required patience from you
You said that you understood so I thought that you could take it
Since you claimed to comprehend my need for patience, I assumed you were capable of providing it
We have a real good thing
Our relationship is meaningful, genuine, and positive
Nothing should come between us
No external factor or circumstance should damage or separate our bond
Now you want some things I never promised
You have expectations that I never explicitly or implicitly agreed to
You say something missing, I was always honest
You feel that something is lacking in our relationship, but I was always truthful with you
Telling you the way that I felt for you
I conveyed my true feelings towards you
Could be something real that I never knew
Perhaps there's a deeper, genuine aspect to our relationship that I wasn't aware of before
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Regardless of the challenges we may face, I still have hope and desire for our relationship to continue
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
Repeatedly expressing the desire for the other person to wait and be patient
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, SPIKY I M IN PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Amir Cuyler, August Anthony Alsina, Gregor Reid, Ralph Jeanty, Sean Mcmillion, Terrence Rashaun Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FromCesarWithLove
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait on me, no
I'm not telling you to wait, but I'm hoping that you'll wait
I know this may not be my place
But I got something I should say to you
Sometimes I'm in a different space
But that don't change the way I feel for you, I do
This may not be the best time
I got a lot going inside my mind
Don't think for a minute that I'm a fool
Don't know what I'll do if I lose you
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
If you gotta leave
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
I told you when I met you girl that I would need patience
You said that you understood so I thought that you could take it
We have a real good thing
Nothing should come between us
Now you want some things I never promised
You say something missing, I was always honest
Telling you the way that I felt for you
Could be something real that I never knew
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
If you gotta leave
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
hh h
[Intro]
I'm not telling you to wait, oh
I'm not telling you to wait on me, no
I'm not telling you to wait, but I'm hoping that you'll wait
[Verse 1]
I know this may not be my place
But I got something I should say to you
Sometimes I'm in a different space
But that don't change the way I feel for you (I do)
This may not be the best time
I got a lot going inside my mind
Don't think for a minute that I'm a fool
Don't know what I'll do if I lose you
[Pre-Chorus]
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
[Chorus]
If you gotta leave
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
[Verse 2]
I told you when I met you, girl, that I would need patience
You said that you understood so I thought that you could take it
We have a real good thing
Nothing should come between us
Now you want some things I never promised
You say something missing, I was always honest
Telling you the way that I felt for you
Could be something real that I never knew
[Pre-Chorus]
You need someone who will be there to hold you
I can't even say that it's fair, but I do
Hope you know I'll always be here if you need me
What I gotta say isn't easy
[Chorus]
If you gotta leave (if you gotta go)
Girl, I won't stop you, so do what you gotta do
I don't want you to go
But I got a few things in life that I gotta do
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
I'm not telling you to wait
I'm not telling you to wait on me
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
But I'm hoping that you'll wait
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait
Cory Palmer
One thing I can say about August Alsina is he put every emotion into his song that's why I think his songs is great
Yeokijeng Khaled
1000 I agree wit u
Jhay
Why real people don't get the recognition they deserve
T K
๐ฏ ๐โ๏ธ So contagious that you find yourself putting the same emotions where you're listening and singing along to his music.
Anonymous
@Jhay They fear the real but respect the fake.
Harkins
The lyrics hit so deep. They perfectly explain what's going on in my life right now
akasha young
Got me in tears I just can feel his soul and heart through his music. He so slept on its ridiculous.
llia b
You have your talent. Girl ! You are slept on! God bless you.
moon river
I used to have this song on replay cos it was too short.
akasha young
Deez Nutsz mr.nuts stay blessed and safe he has his spell and I have mine. be careful what you say next.