Quick Facts About Masego

• Micah, stage name Masego, grew up the child of two pastors, a Jamaican father and an African-American mother. Due to his father’s service in the US Air Force, Davis moved from his birthplace of Jamaica to Virginia, where he grew up in the town of Newport News.
• Masego started playing drums at an early age, then began learning how to play piano and saxophone (supposedly due to a crush on a middle school substitute teacher), as well as to sing, without any lessons or formal training.
• Once he reached high school, Micah started going by Masego, a South African translation of his childhood nickname, “Little Blessing” or “prosperity,” although the name itself is pronounced a bit differently in South Africa—like “ma-sep-oh.” Parishioners in Micah’s parents’ church had given Micah this name, which he began using as his creative alias in 2013.
• In 2017, Masego and FKJ collaborated to create “Tadow,” a fully improvised song that has racked up millions of views on YouTube. The song was many fans’ first exposure to the artist, who sang and played saxophone on the track.
• Masego currently has an estimated net worth of $500,000.
• He’s worked with many other artists, including producer Medasin, rapper GoldLink

Masego: The Music

The Jamaican-American musician has shared that his major influences include artists like Andre 3000, Cab Calloway, Kirk Franklin, and John P. Kee, as well as certain R&B and trap music influences. He’s also inspired by artists like Lupe Fiasco and Ed Sheeran. He has also stated that his church background helped the singer/multi-instrumentalist to appreciate gospel music and connected him with talented musicians, which served as an inspiration for him. Micah told The Fader that his childhood bedroom was lined wall-to-wall with vinyl records, including offerings from Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and other greats. His exposure to so many different artists and genres helped Micah to give his own music what The Fader called “A distinct international feel.” Micah explained the eclecticism of his music by saying, “In Virginia, there were always military people in town, so every week I’d meet someone from a place I’d never been to. They’d give me some of their culture and slang and whatnot. Then once I’d started traveling overseas, I naturally gleaned some of that culture and art, and fell in love with so many elements.” Here is some key information about Masego’s discography, starting with his Pink Polo EP from 2015. In 2016, he released his EP Loose Thoughts, and prior to both of those, he was releasing music on SoundCloud.

Lady Lady: Masego’s Full-Length Debut

• Lady Lady, Masego’s first studio album, was released on September 7, 2018. The album features the singles “Tadow,” “Lady Lady,” and “Old Age,” as well as 11 other tracks.
• Songs on Lady Lady include samples from recordings by OutKast, Ari Lennox, and Kehlani. Andre 3000 of OutKast is one of Masego’s heroes, and he put a sample from the hip-hop group’s song “Prototype” in “Lady Lady.”
• The album was produced by the artist with support from Kojoa Asamoah, Jasper, Jah, Justin Bryant, Oliver Jonas Berggqvist, Sounwave, and French Kiwi Juice. It was released via EQT Recordings.
• Masego told Billboard that the album’s sound is what he describes as “TrapHouseJazz.” He went on to say, “My previous projects have different energy, and I feel like I’ve graduated to a more mature version of myself – my beard’s almost connected, my man body’s comin’ in.” A Critical And Commercial Success
• Masego’s full-length debut album helped to continue his stay in the spotlight, and the record received high praise from numerous music outlets. Pitchfork gave the album a favorable view, with writer Marcus J. Moore saying, “the Virginia R&B musician’s debut album is steeped in quiet storm and beefed up with crisp drums and booming production: a sophisticated, seductive mix.”

What’s Masego Up to Now?

In 2021, Masego was featured on the inspired album for the film Judas and the Black Messiah. His track “Somethin’ Ain’t Right” features JID and Rapsody and is the artist’s most recent single to date. Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album also features songs by Nas, H.E.R., ASAP Rocky, and other notable artists. Masego’s most popular track, “Tadow,” has now been used in over two million TikTok videos and gained half a billion streams across numerous platforms. His most recent EP is Studying Abroad, which came out in 2020. The collection of songs received a positive review from Clash, with writer Megan Walder describing its sound as “smooth sax entwined with a sophisticated exploration of lo-fi sound and beats.” The EP features “Silver Tongue Devil,” a collaboration with Shenseea, as well as “Sides of Me,” and the humorous track “Bye Felicia,” which gets its name from a viral YouTube video. With an eclectic sound and a seemingly bottomless pool of natural talent, Masego continues to earn himself millions more devoted fans with each subsequent release. His devoted following are now awaiting the full-length follow-up to Lady Lady, which hopefully will be announced within the year.