August Alsina - Ghetto (Explicit) ft. Rich Homie Quan

What this video is

Released October 17, 2013, 'Ghetto' arrived at a pivotal moment for August Alsina as a follow-up to his breakout single and as a showcase for his debut EP Downtown: Life Under The Gun on Def Jam Recordings. The video's narrative—a tattooed, non-conventional woman reclaiming space in a fashion world that rejects her—mirrors broader 2013 cultural conversations around body image, authenticity, and the tension between…

Why it matters

Represents an early document of the trap-soul hybrid genre that would define mid-2010s R&B, blending August Alsina's emotionally raw vocal style with trap production and street-coded visual storytelling. The video's subversive runway narrative elevated it beyond typical performance clips and…

The director

Atlanta-based director, documentary filmmaker, and podcast host born in Kennesaw, Georgia. Began career directing music videos for local Atlanta rap artists, developing low-budget visual storytelling skills. Directed multiple August Alsina videos (2013–2015)…