August Alsina, Entanglements | Track Review 🎵

With the help of Rick Ross, R&B singer August Alsina exposes his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith on the blunt “Entanglements.”

“The definition of entanglement / It’s when you’re tangled in the sheets / Girl, I know that we don’t call it a relationship / But you’re still fuckin’ with me…” ‘Aww 💩!’ to quote Kelis. Anyways, August Alsina released a new album on June 26 (The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy), but the bigger headline was the allegations he made regarding a relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith.  His album sales were tepid, but his allegations were LIT AF, considering Pinkett Smith brought herself to the Red Table with her husband Will, where she admitted to an ‘entanglement’ with Alsina, 21 years her junior.  A messy situation, one Will definitely can’t be too thrilled about, if truth be known.  Of course, August is definitely getting the attention he failed to garner with “Entanglements” featuring Rick Ross.

Basically, over the course of “Entanglements” August Alsina totally exposes Jada Pinkett Smith, who ‘danced around’ this relationship. No, Alsina never mentions her by name, but he doesn’t have to.  Following the tone-setting chorus, excerpted above, Rick Ross alludes to both Smiths in an absolute bullet:

“Shawty leanin’ on my shoulder, got her questionin’ my willpower
Jaded by her beauty, but her reputation real solid.”

What more can you say but, day-um.  From there, August is on autopilot, blowing up all kinds of 💩 basically.  He references NSA and touts his sex game, which ‘goes with the territory’ of R&B and hip-hop.  But where the heat comes is when he asserts, “I’m half? No, I ain’t ‘bout to play with that / You left your man to fuck with me, just to pay him back.” Again, day-um.  It doesn’t end there, as he goes on to say, “Girl, you fuckin’ with a youngin’, I be doin’ shit you like / Don’t do talkin’ when I see you, all you hear’s love sounds.” There’s even a third verse, which plays directly to the nature of relationship – sex, sex, and more sex.  If there is more to know about the emotional nature of this entanglement, well, Alsina doesn’t inform us of such.

Final Thoughts 

What does one make of “Entanglements?” Purely as a song, it’s enjoyable – respectable. I can’t say I listen to it and am blown away by it – there are some better songs on the underperforming The Product III: stateofEMERGEncy – but, it works.  The bigger takeaway is where it fits in pop culture, obviously.  This is polarizing art you might say – everyone will have various opinions based on what August Alsina says regarding this relationship, and the state of the Smith’s ‘partnership.’  That, I believe, ultimately goes farther than the song itself, which is more novel than anything else.

August Alsina • “Entanglements” (Ft. Rick Ross) • Shake the World / EMPIRE • Release: 7.19.20

Photo Credits: Shake the World / EMPIRE