Testimony (August Alsina album)
Testimony | ||||
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Studio album by August Alsina | ||||
Released | April 15, 2014 | |||
Recorded | 2012–14 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 59:21 | |||
Label | Def Jam | |||
Producer |
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August Alsina chronology | ||||
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Singles from Testimony | ||||
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Testimony is the debut studio album by American R&B singer August Alsina. It was released on April 15, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings. The album was supported by six singles: "I Luv This Shit", "Ghetto", "Numb", "Make It Home", "Kissin' on My Tattoos" and "No Love"; along with the release of his promotional single, "Benediction".
Upon its release, Testimony was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised the whole creativity of the album. The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 67,000 copies in the United States. The album features guest appearances Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Yo Gotti, B.o.B, Rich Homie Quan, Trey Songz and Def Jam label-mates Pusha T, Rick Ross, Fabolous, Jeezy and Trinidad James.
Singles
On February 14, 2013, the music video was released for the lead single, "I Luv This Shit" featuring Trinidad James.[1] The song was produced by Knucklehead. It was officially released for digital download on February 19, 2013.[2] The song peaked at number 48 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number 13 on the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[3][4]
On December 9, 2013, the album's second single, "Ghetto" featuring Rich Homie Quan, was serviced to urban contemporary radio in the United States.[5][6] Knucklehead also produced this track. It was officially released for digital download on February 11, 2014.[7]
On December 2, 2013, the music video was released for "Numb" featuring B.o.B. and Yo Gotti.[8] On December 10, 2013, "Numb" was released as the album's third single.[9] The song was produced by DJ Mustard.
On January 15, 2014, the album's fourth single, "Make It Home" featuring Jeezy, was released for digital download.[10] It was sent to US urban contemporary radio on March 3, 2014.[11] On February 13, 2014, the music video was released for "Make It Home" featuring Jeezy.[12]
On April 1, 2014, the album's fifth single, "Kissin' on My Tattoos" was released.[13] The song was produced by Jasper Cameron.
The album's sixth single was the remix to "No Love" featuring Nicki Minaj, which was serviced to urban adult contemporary radio in the United States on July 29, 2014.[14]
Other songs
On April 15, 2014, the music video was released for "Get Ya Money" featuring Fabolous.[15] On June 26, 2014, the music video was released for "FML" featuring Pusha T.[16] On July 1, 2014, the music video was released for "Benediction" featuring Rick Ross; the video also features a cameo appearances from DJ Khaled.[17]
Promotion
To promote the album, Alsina began the Testimony Live tour in the United States on August 14, 2014.[18]
Critical response
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 79/100[19] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The New York Times | (positive)[21] |
Now | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | 7/10[23] |
XXL | 3/5 (L)[24] |
Upon its release, Testimony was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 79, which indicates "generally positive reviews", based on 5 reviews.[19] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "This is a gratifying second step from one of the most exciting contemporary R&B artists to appear during the 2010s."[20]
Erin Lowers of XXL gave the album an L rating, saying "Finding the balance between sex, love, and ratchet, Testimony is truly a testament to a new era in R&B that shifts safe lyrics to smooth street tales."[24] Brandon Soderberg of Spin said, "Usually, in-the-pocket R&B does fine with middling MCs, but Testimony, powered by Alsina's insider-outsider personality – sensitive romantic with a crime-haunted past – doesn't need these big dumb lugs for cred, or even menace. Testimony brings rap's raw nerve detail to the sturdy slow jam, nullifying the need for nods to R&B of the "rap and bullshit" variety."[23]
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 67,000 copies in the United States.[25] In its second week, the album sold 20,000 more copies in the United States.[26] In its third week, the album sold 12,000 more copies in the United States.[27] In its fourth week, the album sold 8,800 more copies in the United States.[28] As of November 2015, the album has sold 287,000 copies in the United States.[29] The album was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units over 500,000 units in the United States.
Track listing
Standard edition | ||||
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
1. | "Testify" |
|
| 4:02 |
2. | "Make It Home" (featuring Jeezy) |
| The Featherstones | 4:31 |
3. | "Right There" |
|
| 3:37 |
4. | "You Deserve" |
|
| 4:02 |
5. | "No Love" |
|
| 4:03 |
6. | "Porn Star" |
|
| 4:37 |
7. | "FML" (featuring Pusha T) |
|
| 3:37 |
8. | "Grind & Pray / Get Ya Money" (featuring Fabolous) |
| "Grind & Pray" produced by Cameron "Get Ya Money" produced by DJ Spinz and Dun Deal | 5:32 |
9. | "Ghetto" (featuring Yo Gotti) |
|
| 3:59 |
10. | "Kissin' on My Tattoos" |
|
| 4:11 |
11. | "Ah Yeah" |
| Claxton | 2:35 |
12. | "Mama" |
|
| 3:30 |
13. | "Benediction" (featuring Rick Ross) |
|
| 4:55 |
14. | "I Luv This Shit" (featuring Trinidad James) |
|
| 4:27 |
15. | "Numb" (featuring B.o.B and Yo Gotti) |
|
| 4:14 |
Deluxe edition (bonus tracks) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
16. | "Grind & Pray (Extended version)" |
| Cameron | 3:32 |
17. | "I Luv This Shit (Remix)" (featuring Trey Songz and Chris Brown) |
|
| 4:26 |
Best Buy deluxe edition (bonus track)[30] | ||||
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No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
18. | "Backseat" |
| Go Grizzly | 3:00 |
- Notes
- Sample credits
- "You Deserve" contains a sample from "Love Ballad" performed by L.T.D.
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
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United States (RIAA)[38] | Gold | 500,000![]() |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Release history
Region | Date | Label(s) |
---|---|---|
Australia[39] | April 10, 2014 | Universal Music |
Austria[40] | ||
Belgium[41] | ||
Germany[42] | ||
France[43] | ||
Ireland[44] | April 14, 2014 | Island |
United Kingdom[45] | Virgin EMI | |
United States[46] | April 15, 2014 | Def Jam |
Japan[47] | April 29, 2014 | Universal Music Japan |
New Zealand[48] | May 6, 2014 | Universal Music |
Finland[49] | ||
Hungary[50] | ||
Poland[51] | May 11, 2014 | Def Jam |
Italy[52] | May 27, 2014 |
See also
References
- ↑ "I Luv This Shit (Explicit) - August Alsina". Vevo. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - I Luv This Sh*t (feat. Trinidad James) - Single by August Alsina". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "August Alsina - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "August Alsina - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "freq-flip-dec-2013". Frequencynews.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "August Alsina f/ Yo Gotti "Ghetto"". Complex. 2013-12-18. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "August Alsina: Ghetto - Muziek op Google Play". Play.google.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "New Video: August Alsina Feat. Yo Gotti & B.o.B. 'Numb'". Vibe. 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "Numb [feat. B.o.B] [Clean]: August Alsina: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. 2013-12-10. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "Make It Home [feat. Jeezy] [Explicit]: August Alsina: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "Urban/UAC Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2014-02-27.
- ↑ Miranda J. (2014-02-13). "Music Saves August Alsina's Life In "Make It Home" Video - XXL". Xxlmag.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "Kissin' On My Tattoos [Clean]: August Alsina: MP3 Downloads". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ "Future Releases". Archived from the original on 2014-07-28.
- ↑ "Video: August Alsina f/ Fabolous – 'Get Ya Money'". Rap-Up.com. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- ↑ "Video: August Alsina f/ Pusha T – 'FML'". Rap-Up.com. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- ↑ "Video: August Alsina f/ Rick Ross – 'Benediction'". Rap-Up.com. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
- ↑ "August Alsina Announced 'Testimony Live' Tour". Rap-Up. 2014-06-24. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- 1 2 "Testimony – August Alsina". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- 1 2 Andy Kellman (2014-04-15). "Testimony – August Alsina". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ Caramanica, Jon (2014-04-15). "New Recordings by Riverside, Jessica Lea Mayfield and August Alsina". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- ↑ Sowunmi, Jordan (2014-04-17). "August Alsina". 33 (33). ISSN 0712-1326. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- 1 2 Soderberg, Brandon (2014-04-15). "August Alsina, 'Testimony' Review". Spin.com. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- 1 2 "August Alsina Brings His Brand Of R&B On 'Testimony' – XXL". XXL. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
- ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-04-20). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 4/20/2014". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
- ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-04-30). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 4/27/2014". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-04-30.
- ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-05-07). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 5/04/2014". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ↑ Tardio, Andres (2014-05-14). "Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 5/11/2014". HipHop DX. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
- ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015.
- ↑ "Testimony [Deluxe Edition] [Only @ Best Buy] - August Alsina". AllMusic. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
- ↑ Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK". Zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
- ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ↑ "August Alsina Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ↑ "August Alsina Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ↑ "2014 Year-End Charts - Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ↑ "2014 Year-End Charts - Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Year End: Top R&B Albums & Music Chart". Billboard. 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
- ↑ "American album certifications – August Alsina – Testimony". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
- ↑ "iTunes - Music - Testimony (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 2014-04-15. Retrieved 2014-04-15.