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.
Still Don't Know
August Alsina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still don't know
Still don't know
Still don't know
Bet you still don't know what's on my mind
And you don't know what keeps me wide awake at night
Still don't know what I've been through
Still don't know this life I choose
Still don't know, still don't know
Still don't know
Imagine if everything that you chasin' after
Is leadin' you on a journey into disaster
And the people you thought were fightin' to get it with you
Started dipping 'cause they couldn't see the bigger picture
Think of bein' in that position
When the people you call your friend are your opposition
And the one that you try to help, start to go against you
And the trust that you had in people is slowly missin'
Now it's breakin' you down inside
And you got nowhere to run or to hide
And the tears fillin' up in your eyes
Fall down, can't help but cry
Still got a lot of love for the streets, love for my piece
Still got dreams of my own, searchin' for peace
Fed a lot of people who was not deservin' to eat
Now they got the nerve, when they see me not even speak
Still got some homies who notices on they front door
Car repossessions, they askin' questions they don't know
If they should give up and try to find them a new career
Workin' for nothin' and questionin' what they doin' here
I ain't complainin', it's no more struggle to maintain it
People be foreign, it's like we don't speak the same language
Jealous and envious, 'cause they see that my name famous
But I'm in the studio, tryna do something game changin'
They don't know, they don't know, they don't know what I go through
Got me so, got me so, got me so, got me so confused
So many strangers that think they really know me
If I lost it all it ain't do nothin' for me
Still don't know
Oh, still don't know
Don't know
Bet you still don't know what's on my mind
And you don't know what keeps me wide awake at night
Still don't know what I've been through
Still ain't been inside my shoes
Still don't know this life I choose
Still don't know, still don't know
Still don't know
Still don't know
Still don't know
Still don't know
Still don't know
In August Alsina's song Still Don't Know, August talks about the struggles and difficulties that he has faced throughout his life. He addresses the idea that people around him, including friends, family, and fans, do not truly understand what he has been through or what is on his mind, leading to feelings of confusion and isolation. August emphasizes the importance of trying to understand someone else's experiences instead of judging or assuming things about them. The lyrics also highlight August's dedication to pursuing his dreams and his love for the music industry.
The lines "Imagine if everything that you chasin' after/Is leadin' you on a journey into disaster" suggest that the path to success is not always clear and that it can be easy to get lost or misled along the way. August may be expressing his own personal experiences with this, and how it can be challenging to keep pushing forwards despite setbacks, naysayers, or unexpected obstacles.
The lines "Still got dreams of my own, searchin' for peace/Fed a lot of people who was not deservin' to eat" reveal August's desire to help others, even as he continues to face his own struggles. He has been able to make a positive impact in his community by providing for those in need and using his platform to raise awareness about important issues. However, he is also aware that not everyone he has helped has been deserving, causing him to question his own actions.
Overall, August Alsina's Still Don't Know is a deeply introspective song that speaks to his personal struggles, resilience, and desire for understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Still don't know
August Alsina repeats this line several times to emphasize how misunderstood he feels
Bet you still don't know what's on my mind
Nobody truly understands what August is thinking
And you don't know what keeps me wide awake at night
Nobody truly understands what August is worrying about
Still don't know what I've been through
Nobody truly understands August's past struggles and experiences
Still ain't been inside my shoes
Nobody truly understands what it feels like to be in August's shoes
Still don't know this life I choose
August feels like nobody understands the lifestyle he has chosen
Imagine if everything that you chasin' after
August presents a hypothetical situation for the listener to understand
Is leadin' you on a journey into disaster
The hypothetical situation leads to a disastrous outcome
And the people you thought were fightin' to get it with you
Even the people who seemed like supporters turn on you
Started dipping 'cause they couldn't see the bigger picture
Those supporters left because they didn't understand the larger plan
Think of bein' in that position
August urges the listener to empathize with this situation
When the people you call your friend are your opposition
Even friends can become adversaries in difficult situations
And the one that you try to help, start to go against you
Someone you tried to assist can turn on you unexpectedly
And the trust that you had in people is slowly missin'
August feels like he's losing trust in others over time
Still got a lot of love for the streets, love for my piece
Despite everything, August still has a strong connection to his roots
Still got dreams of my own, searchin' for peace
August still has personal aspirations for his future
Fed a lot of people who was not deservin' to eat
August has helped others who didn't appreciate his efforts
Now they got the nerve, when they see me not even speak
People he's helped now ignore him when he doesn't have anything to offer
Still got some homies who notices on they front door
August's friends are struggling financially and losing their possessions
Car repossessions, they askin' questions they don't know
Friends are asking for help, but don't realize August is struggling too
If they should give up and try to find them a new career
August's friends are considering giving up and starting over
Workin' for nothin' and questionin' what they doin' here
August's friends are questioning the purpose of their lives and careers
I ain't complainin', it's no more struggle to maintain it
August isn't complaining, but life is still difficult
People be foreign, it's like we don't speak the same language
August feels like others don't understand where he's coming from
Jealous and envious, 'cause they see that my name famous
August's fame causes others to become envious and resentful
But I'm in the studio, tryna do something game changin'
Despite the challenges, August is still working towards his goals
They don't know, they don't know, they don't know what I go through
Other people can't understand August's struggles and experiences
Got me so, got me so, got me so, got me so confused
August is confused and frustrated by the lack of understanding from others
So many strangers that think they really know me
People who don't know August assume they understand him
If I lost it all it ain't do nothin' for me
August realizes that material possessions don't bring true happiness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: August Anthony Alsina, Ralph Jeanty, Sean McMillion, Amanda Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@techbroke
This song hit different when you've been through a lot.
We're with you Alsina ✊🏽💪🏽
@Jomonoupapjanmbliyew
Big facts
@sophiestouch101
Yessir
@phontaynehardesty1169
Ong
@acescafe7713
Amen August this one pulls me in because my whole life I been fighting to survive...
@nicolevaughn4054
@@Jomonoupapjanmbliyew out
@theloudlibrary2054
An August Tiny Desk concert would be dope
@natashanicolew5240
This the one.
@ladykay7169
This album is an AWARD. His REWARD is US, his FANS! Showing him nothing but love and keeping him in everybody's ear! Team August
@teamme6311
Team AUG .