Only one week remains until August Alsina‘s all-important second studio album ‘This Thing Called Life’ lands in stores.
The record follows the New Orleans native’s debut ‘Testimony,’ which opened at #2 on the Billboard 200 in April 2014 with first week sales of 67,000.
To help best that LP’s total (278k), the 23-year-old has enlisted the likes of Lil Wayne and Chris Brown – with latter appearing on the song ‘Been Around The World.’
Much to the delight of their fervent fanbases, the pair have premiered the track (which samples Lisa Stansfield‘s 1989 classic ‘All Around the World.’)
Take a listen below…
We’re somewhat torn with this one.
It’s slickly produced, catchy, and rich in its potential to be an Urban hit.
That said, Alsina is at that sophomore stage of his career where he has to really show and prove – and this doesn’t strike as the strongest swing of the bat.
He has a unique vocal tone that will likely always polarize, but there are corners of the song where the nasal-ness of his delivery takes away from the track.
What’s more, we’re still yearning for a collaboration between R&B’s leading males that is instant, undeniable, international, and unstoppable. This, while enjoyable, feels markedly local – even with the well-known sample.
Again, by no means “bad.” We just see an opportunity for August to really make a mark. Let’s hope the rest of the album packs a more potent punch.
Not feeling this one at all too much whinnying going on for my taste.
I love August but I’m a little worried about him dropping this album next week without a big record to front it. I couldn’t care less about sales, but I do want him to do well commercially and grow his audience. I also realize that he’s a storyteller who is after more than just hit records which is why i really dig him as an artist.
That said, I’m a huge fan of Lisa Stansfield’s original and this was a solid take on it, but not that memorable. I also wish Aug would show more vocal range, he has a unique tone that he could probably do more with. He also has to practice avoiding the nasal-ness.
Overall, I dig that he’s doing more than just overkill s** songs, unlike his peers. Testimony was proof of that, hopefully the new record will be even better.
? ? ? Excellent comment. ? agree
Chris Brown is overexposing himself
Nice song it ain’t that bad
Lyrically think Chris could have done a LOT better and this feels like it’s lacking without a bridge section.
Sound wise the song easy on the ear, I’d still play it on playlist but it’s clear real sangers are lacking youth wise in R&B.
What happened to the guys with the rich warmth in vocal tones??
Think maybe some about but type of songs they make. Certain ones want to have that unique tag and then come out with boring songs.
Others who have radio friendly R&B hits lack team and hustle to get proper exposure.
I love it and I preordered This Thing Called Life yesterday Dec 11th cannot come here fast enough! ??