Masego (musician)
Jamaican musician (born 1993)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Micah Davis (born June 8, 1993), known professionally as Masego (/məˈseɪɡoʊ/ mə-SAY-goh), is a Jamaican and American musician and singer, known for incorporating the saxophone into his music. Masego released two EPs in 2016, The Pink Polo EP with Medasin, and Loose Thoughts. He gained widespread attention with his collaborative record with FKJ called "Tadow" released in 2017. In 2018, he released his debut album Lady Lady.[1] His album Studying Abroad: Extended Stay was nominated for the 2022 Grammy Awards in the "Best Progressive R&B Album" category.
June 8, 1993
- Musician
- singer
- record producer
- Saxophone
- drums
- guitar
- synthesizer
- vocals
Masego | |
|---|---|
Masego in 2023. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Micah Davis June 8, 1993 |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | EQT Recordings, LLC. |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Micah Davis was born June 8, 1993, to a Jamaican father and an African-American mother. His father was in the U.S. Air Force and his mother was an entrepreneur, he was raised with his two sisters. One is also a musical artist and the other is involved in voice acting and media outlets. He also has a brother in law. Both his mother and father were pastors although he was raised in a non-denominational Christian home. Military travels eventually led his family to Virginia, but he also lived in Sumter, South Carolina for a couple of years. He first learned how to play the drums without formal lessons in his youth. Davis has spoken about learning the piano, sax, and various drum machines. In high school, Davis adopted the name Masego, a Setswana translation of his church name "blessing". Davis attended Woodside High School in Newport News, Virginia and Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia before leaving to focus solely on his musical career.[2][3]
Music career
In 2015, Masego released the collaborative extended play, The Pink Polo EP with Medasin, spawning the single "Girls That Dance".[4] The next year, he released his EP Loose Thoughts.[5]
In 2017, he met French artist FKJ, and the two released the track "Tadow". According to FKJ, the song was fully improvised not long after meeting.[6]
On September 7, 2018, he released his debut album Lady Lady, including guest features from FKJ, SiR, Tiffany Gouché, and De' Wayne Jackson.[7] The album featured the previously released "Tadow" as its lead single.
His EP, Studying Abroad was released on November 13, 2020.[8] Masego released his self-titled album on March 3, 2023.[9]
Musical style and influences
Drawing from his upbringing of both his parents being pastors, Davis stated that church allowed him a place to learn music from talented musicians. Davis also cited Lukky (DJ PLM), John P. Kee, Andre 3000 and Cab Calloway as influences.[10] Davis grew up in a room with over 200 vinyl records on the walls while simultaneously having friends giving him hard hitting drums and trap music influences.[11] He refers to his own musical style as "TrapHouse Jazz".[12]
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Lady Lady |
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| Masego |
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| Fix Your Face |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| The Pink Polo EP (with Medasin) |
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| Loose Thoughts |
|
| Studying Abroad |
Mixtapes
- Blessing (January 30, 2013)
- Masego Music (June 1, 2013)
- Better with Headphones (May 29, 2014)
- Traphouse Jazz (December 12, 2014)[19]
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [20] |
US Adult R&B [21] |
NZ Hot [22] | |||||||||||
| "Tadow"[23] (with FKJ) |
2017 | — | 19 | — | Lady Lady | ||||||||
| "Mystery Lady"[26] (with Don Toliver) |
2020 | 24 | 24 | — |
|
Studying Abroad | |||||||
| "My City"[27] (with Elhae) |
2021 | — | — | — | Aura III | ||||||||
| "Yamz"[28] (with Devin Morrison) |
— | 14 | — | Non-album singles | |||||||||
| "Unhinged" | 2025 | — | — | 30 | |||||||||
| "Breathe" | 2026 | — | — | 39 | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [20] | |||
| "Hate the Club" (Kehlani featuring Masego) |
2020 | 18 | It Was Good Until It Wasn't |
Other guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Late Night" | 2015 | GoldLink | And After That, We Didn't Talk |
| "Ooh Nah Nah" | 2017 | SiR | HER TOO |
| "Touch the Floor"[29] | 2018 | VanJess | Silk Canvas |
| "Good Girl" | Tiffany Gouché | Non-album single | |
| "One Life"[30] | 2019 | The Game, J. Stone | Born 2 Rap |
| "Need It"[31] | Kaytranada | Bubba | |
| "Sleigh"[32] | Smino, Monte Booker | High 4 Da Highladays | |
| "Amy" | Yuna | Rouge | |
| "Surf"[33] | 2020 | Xaviar Omar | If You Feel |
| "Golden Ticket"[34] | Brasstracks, Common | Golden Ticket | |
| "Judas"[35] | Spillage Village, Chance the Rapper | Spilligion | |
| "Slow Down"[36] | Ro James | Mantic | |
| "Above" | USERx | USERx EP | |
| "Stickin'"[37] | 2021 | Sinéad Harnett, VanJess | Ready Is Always Too Late |
| "Somethin' Ain't Right"[38] | JID, Rapsody | Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album | |
| "Must Be Nice"[39] | Joyce Wrice | Overgrown | |
| "Silk" | 2022 | Kojey Radical | Reason to Smile |
| "Black Folk"[40] | Tank and the Bangas, Alex Isley | Red Balloon | |
| "Marching Band" | 2023 | Yussef Dayes | Black Classical Music |
| "Lucid Dreams"[41] | Leon Thomas III | Mutt | |
| "Super Paradise"[42] | Destin Conrad | Submissive | |
| "90s"[43] | Braxton Cook | Who Are You When No One Is Watching? | |
| "A Song for Mom" | 2024 | Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, Charlie Wilson | Faith of a Mustard Seed |
Production discography
2016
Masego & Medasin – The Pink Polo EP
- 08. "Love Be Like (Medasin Remix)"
Masego – Loose Thoughts
- All tracks (guest 'ghost' producer Lukky, DJ PLM)
2018
- 03. "Touch the Floor"
Masego – Lady Lady
- All tracks
2019
Ari Lennox – Shea Butter Baby[44]
- 04. "Up Late"
2021
Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
- 01. "Champagne Poetry"
