South Los Angeles singer, songwriter, and producer August 08 has died at the age of 31. 88rising, the collective to which the musician beforehand belonged, shared the information on Instagram with out disclosing a reason for dying. “RIP August the kindest and most gifted genius you’ll be missed past phrases,” the collective wrote. “Thanks for being a tremendous mentor and a steadfast buddy by way of all these years. We’re ceaselessly grateful to you and the enjoyment you introduced in each room, by way of each track. Your power, steerage and care gave a lot inspiration and power that will probably be carried on all the time.”
August 08 was born Ray Jacobs and additionally glided by the title August Grant. He has stated that he bought into drumming by way of his mom, who, together with his aunt and grandmother, bought him a drum machine at a younger age. By his early teenage years, he had moved in together with his uncle and cousins and began to supply music. Along with his cousins, August 08 found a love for cinema, which served as an inspiration in his music. “I watched a variety of films rising up,” he recalled in an interview final yr. “That’s the place all my inspiration comes from. I bought to see my first Wes Anderson movie and others that finally impressed the hell out of me.”
In Could 2018, August 08 launched his debut EP, (*31*)Father, by way of 88rising and Purple Bull Data. “The mission was actually primarily based round my father and my father left me once I was younger, once I was 11 or 12 years outdated,” he defined forward of the mission’s launch. “However I additionally needed to make it a factor the place everyone who’s skilled the factor I’ve skilled can relate and really feel one thing from it. Nobody is speaking about these emotions or having father points. That’s why I believe [lead single] ‘Funeral’ is a vital half to the puzzle of opening folks up; to understand that’s a daring factor to say to somebody: ‘Don’t say it at my funeral, say it to me now.’”
After (*31*)Father, August 08 launched the (*31*)Completely happy Endings With an Asterisk and (*31*)Emotional Cuh EPs by way of 88rising. He additionally featured on the collective’s (*31*)Head within the Clouds and (*31*)Head within the Clouds II compilations.
In July 2022, August 08 turned the primary artist to signal with Jhené Aiko’s Def Jam Recordings label enterprise, Allel Sound. “August is an unbelievable author, singer, and artist whose music speaks to me on so many ranges,” Aiko stated of her signee. “As a fellow Los Angeles native, I’m so pleased with him. August’s expertise, love for songwriting and palms on strategy together with his artwork is one thing I can relate to and have a large amount of respect for.” A month after his Allel Sound signing was introduced, August 08 issued his debut album, (*31*)Seasick, and it featured songs with Aiko, Schoolboy Q, and his fellow 88rising alumnus, Joji.
Earlier this summer time, August 08 launched the only “Bruises.” In a press assertion in regards to the track, the artist stated, “‘Bruises’ speaks to like and the way it might waiver however by no means fully abandons us.” A press launch for the observe additionally stated that it “heralds his anxiously awaited EP, (*31*)Faux It’s Okay.”
Past his solo work, August 08 collaborated with Channel Tres, Jackson Wang, Ty Dolla $ign, Kyle, Duckwrth, and others. He additionally co-wrote DJ Khaled’s chart-topping single “I’m the One.”
In a press release shared with Pitchfork, Def Jam Recordings stated, “Your entire Def Jam household mourns the tragic lack of Ray ‘August 08’ Jacobs. An excellent songwriter, an completed musician and a singular artist, August will stay in our reminiscence as a beloved colleague and buddy. We lengthen our deepest sympathies to his household and family members.”