August Alsina Delivers A Sultry Performance At Album Release Concert

Photography By: Andrea K. Castillo

While many fans are dubious about the state of R&B, New Orleans artist, August Alsina, delivered an intoxicating performance last night at SOBs, in hopes of restoring promise into the beloved genre.

SOBs – which is the marquee place for new artists to perform and forge their legacies – served as Alsina’s personal playground. With a horde of women in attendance, he sprinkled doses of passion to a room mostly full of slavering female fans that were willing and ready to succumb to his demands.

The night first began with Queens newcomer 360 opening up for Alsina. He provided the ladies in the venue with a sizable appetizer. 360 played the dual role of rapper and comedian by delivering sheer comedy and by performing cuts off his debut project, Everywhere and Back.

After 360 performed, Alsina made his way onto the stage with his band at around 10:35 PM. The singer was introduced by DJ Khaled, who tore the roof off with his entrance theme "All I Do Is Win," and Power 105’s Breakfast Club host Angela Yee. With a slew of ladies screaming for his attention, R&B’s newest heartthrob swooned and crooned his way to every girl’s heart. "When you scream my name, that shit make me tingle inside a bit," he said once settling in, channeling his inner swag.

With his debut album Testimony out Tuesday (Apr. 15), Alsina hushed the critics by performing a medley of hits ranging from “Kssin' On My Tattoos," “Ghetto," and “Downtown." He took time out to show love to his fans attending his pre-album release party, noting that this show surpassed his previous one at SOBs last year in regards to crowd attendance. The support in the room was evident as Def Jam’s Shawn “Pecas” Costner, K. Michelle, and Wale were all present during the show.

K. Michelle wowed the crowd by electing to perform her smash “V.S.O.P.” at the request of Alsina during the latter part of his showcase. As the show was drawing near a close, Alsina thanked the fans and reminded them to purchase his debut album, which he dedicated to his decease brother, whose birthday would have been on the same day. As the fans gravitated and clung onto to every last word he uttered, he then switched gears and jumped into his infectious single, “I Luv This Shit” to finish off the show.

With a diehard fanbase and formidable performance game, Alsina solidified his standing in the R&B game, making his album a must get.—Carl Lamarre