In “Shake the World,” August Alsina sings, “I heard it’s some s*** that’s bound to go down when you got a billion dollars on the elevator/ Well, of course some s*** was bound to go down when you tangled up with the world’s favorite” (via Revolt). Use of the word “tangled” clued in fans that it was a reference to his relationship with Jada Pinkett Smith, occurring while Jada and Will were married.
One person tweeted they loved the shade in the song. Another thought that bringing it up again was a bad idea, tweeting in part, “If, August Alsina, don’t let that entanglement GO! D***! That’s probably why she ain’t f****** with you.” Alsina has previously referenced Jada and their relationship in the 2020 song with “Entanglements,” which includes the lyrics, “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 f****** with me” (via USA Today).
Alsina is also apparently working on a tell-all book about his time with Jada and the impact on his life after the news of the relationship went public, according to The Sun UK. In 2020, he told Vulture that the situation led him to feel like people saw him differently afterwards, and that all he wanted to do was tell his truth.
