This Thing Called Life

This Thing Called Life
Studio album by August Alsina
Released	December 11, 2015
Recorded	2014–15
Genre	R&B hip hop
Length	56:23
Label	Def Jam
Producer	Knucklehead Flippa Hood Famous Go Grizzly JProof Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge MelloTheProducer The Exclusives Polow da Don
August Alsina chronology
Testimony (2014) This Thing Called Life (2015)
Singles from This Thing Called Life
"Hip Hop" Released: April 21, 2015 "Why I Do It" Released: August 28, 2015 "Song Cry" Released: October 28, 2015 "Been Around the World" Released: December 3, 2015 "Dreamer" Released: December 3, 2015

This Thing Called Life is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist August Alsina. It was released on December 11, 2015, by Def Jam Recordings.^[1] The album was supported by five singles: "Hip Hop", "Why I Do It" featuring Lil Wayne, "Song Cry", "Been Around the World" featuring Chris Brown, and "Dreamer".

Singles

The album's lead single, "Hip Hop" was released on April 21, 2015. The song was produced by Knucklehead (who did the work for Alsina; including his most successful single to date "I Luv This Shit").^[2] On June 28, 2015, the music video for "Hip-Hop" was premiered during the BET Awards.^[3]

The album's second single, "Why I Do It" was released on August 28, 2015. The song features guest vocals from American rapper Lil Wayne, with the production handled by Soundz and the production duo Rock City.^[4] The music video for "Why I Do It" featuring Lil Wayne, was released on September 17, 2015.^[5]

The album's third single, "Song Cry" was released on October 28, 2015. The song was produced by Brandon "B.A.M." Alexander.^[6] The music video for "Song Cry" was released on December 11, 2015.^[7]

The album's fourth single, "Been Around the World" was released on December 3, 2015. The song features guest vocals from fellow American recording artist Chris Brown, with the production handled by Knucklehead.^[8]

"Dreamer" was released as the album's fifth single on December 3, 2015. The song was produced by Knucklehead.^[8]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 41,000 copies in the United States.^[9]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"This Thing Called Life"	August Alsina Carlos Cahee	August Alsina Cahee	0:57
2.	"Job" (featuring Anthony Hamilton and Jadakiss)	Alsina Anthony Hamilton Sean McMillion Ralph Jeanty Ronald "Flippa" Colson Jameel "JProof" Roberts Jason Phillips Sampha Sisay	Flippa JProof	4:14
3.	"Why I Do It" (featuring Lil Wayne)	Alsina Dwayne Carter McMiilion Jeanty Candace Curry Nicodemo Lalli Keyiara Sallie Kevin Price	Hood Famous Go Grizzly	3:58
4.	"Hollywood"	Alsina Samuel "Knucklehead" Irving III Cahee Curry Jeanty McMillion	Knucklehead	3:28
5.	"Hip-Hop"	Alsina Irving III McMillion Jeanty Robert Reese Vincent Brown Keir Gist Anthony Criss Ernest Isley Marvin Isley O'Kelly Isley, Jr. Ronald Isley Rudolph Isley Christopher Wallace Robert Glasper	Knucklehead	3:29
6.	"Change"	Alsina Irving III Cahee Jeanty McMillion	Knucklehead	3:20
7.	"Dreamer"	Alsina McMillion Jeanty Irving III	Knucklehead	4:46
8.	"Been Around the World" (featuring Chris Brown)	Alsina McMillion Irving III Jeanty Christopher Brown Paul Hardcastle Ian Devaney Andrew Morris Lisa Stansfield Mark DeBarge Etterlene Jordan	Knucklehead	3:22
9.	"First Time"	Alsina Irving III George Clinton Jr. William Earl Collins Gary Lee Cooper Gary Shider E. Isley M. Isley O. Isley R. Isley R. Isley Jasper McMillion Jeanty	Knucklehead	3:08
10.	"Would You Know?"	Alsina Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge	Hodge	5:35
11.	"Song Cry"	Alsina Jeanty Hodge	Hodge	4:29
12.	"Other Side"	Alsina McMillion Jeanty Hodge Matthew Samuels Joshua Howard Luellen Jacques Webster	Boi-1da Southside	3:59
13.	"American Dream"	Alsina McMillion Jeanty Irving III Keith Sweat Fitzgerald Scott	Knucklehead	3:28
14.	"Look At How Far I've Come"	Alsina McMillion Jeanty Dominyque "MelloTheProducer" Allen	MelloTheProducer The Exclusives	4:24
15.	"The Encore"	Alsina McMillion Jeanty Jamal Jones Harvey Averne Ralfi Pagan	Polow da Don	3:46
Total length:				56:23

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[10]	14
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11]	2

References

1. "August Alsina- This Thing Called Life [Album Trailer] - 12.11.15". YouTube. 2015-11-04. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
2. "Hip Hop - Single by August Alsina on iTunes". iTunes. 2015-04-21. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
3. "Video: August Alsina – ‘Hip Hop’". Rap-Up. 2015-06-28. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
4. "Why I Do It (feat. Lil Wayne) - Single by August Alsina on iTunes". iTunes. 2015-08-28. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
5. "Video: August Alsina feat. Lil Wayne – ‘Why I Do It’". Rap-Up. 2015-09-17. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
6. "Song Cry - Single by August Alsina on iTunes". iTunes. 2015-10-28. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
7. "Video: August Alsina – ‘Song Cry’". Rap-Up. 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
8. "New Music: August Alsina feat. Chris Brown – ‘Been Around the World’". Rap-Up. 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
9. Hernandez, Victoria (2015-12-21). "Hip Hop Album Sales: August Alsina, R. Kelly & Rick Ross". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
10. "August Alsina – Chart history" Billboard 200 for August Alsina. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
11. "August Alsina – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for August Alsina. Retrieved December 22, 2015.