March 27, 2023
People might recognize Masego’s name from the viral 2017 hit “Tadow.” It was born out of a one-take saxophone jam session with the also incredibly talented jazz experimentalist FKJ (French Kiwi Juice). The video of their collaboration went viral and continues to accumulate millions of views each year. But long-time Masego fans, like myself, were already well aware of his unique talents.
I have been a big fan of Masego, real name Micah Davis, since he released The Pink Polo EP in 2016. The EP is a collaboration between him and Medasin, a producer from Texas. The two artists coined the term “Trap House Jazz,” which eventually became a label and collective. It’s also a perfect description of the mash-up of genres and styles that Masego continues to experiment with today.
A multi-instrumentalist, Masego sings, plays several instruments, and sometimes raps too. He is mostly known for providing jazzy vibes via the saxophone, mixed with a genre-bending blend of hip-hop, soul, afrobeat, and Bossanova. Since his first EP, he has had several hits, most notably a recent collaboration with Don Toliver, “Mystery Lady,” from his EP Studying Abroad.
Masego’s lyrics highlight very vulnerable aspects of his romantic life, traveling the world, and also self-reflective moments about his place in the music industry, an ongoing concept for him throughout his career. He seems to truly pride himself on being a musician who knows his talent, respects the craft, and is not interested in the superficial fame and fortune that might come along with it, especially if that means having to change who he is. Masego comes off as an artist who refuses to compromise himself and his music.
The last time Masego visited the Twin Cities was back in 2018. I was devastated to not be able to attend. This time, he came to revisit his extensive catalog and promote a brand-new self-titled album, released this month. The new album is without any guest features, and centers on the Masego sound his fans know and love. I arrived to a sold-out First Avenue on Thursday night, having missed the opening act Ogi, a Nigerian-American singer, who has been touring along with Masego for the You Never Visit Me Tour. According to inside sources, aka a friend, Ogi’s performance was “phenomenal (fire emoji)”
As I moved to find a good spot to watch the show in a very-packed mainroom, I could tell the crowd was very diverse — and I have to say, I like Masego fans. A little after 9 p.m., the lights went down and a very dramatic intro began. The stage had some plants and stacked light poles on both sides and at the top. Drummer Jonathan Curry and bass player Ced Mitchell stepped onto the stage first. Then Masego walked onto the stage with his signature saxophone and the fans went absolutely crazy. He opened the night with the well-known — and often controversial — song “Navajo” famously sampled by Drake on “Champagne Poetry” in 2021.
As expected, Masego took us on a really fun journey through his catalog. A few songs in, he asked the audience “it sounds like you might be familiar with The Pink Polo EP?” and the crowd cheered. “You also might know ‘Lady Lady’?” And the crowd responded. He went down the list of all his albums, including his latest. One of my favorite early moments of the night was when they performed “Lady Lady,” and ended with a saxophone cover of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love.” To my surprise, a lot of folks in the audience sang along. The energy was high the entire time and I attribute it to this constant audience interaction.
When he said “Say ‘yeah yeah yeah’,” the crowd repeated it. Also as expected, Masego not only sang his heart out and played the saxophone, but also made a beat on stage (as referenced in his song “Yebo/Sema”) — and, yes indeed, it was from scratch. It began with a looped beatbox, keyboard, and he added layers of vocals. Then he moved on to the live drums. It all culminated in a live version of “Silver Tongue Devil.”
The fun night continued as he threw roses into the audience during “Mystery Lady,” in reference to a lyric about throwing his fans a rose. The visuals behind him went in and out between a camera view from the stage to illustrations of forests, trees, and sunsets. At another moment, he also threw fake money into the crowd during their performance of “Black Anime,” the first song on Masego which includes a sample of “The Cha-Cha Slide.” It might sound silly, but trust me, it worked somehow. At one point, he declared, “This is a good show. Yep, this is a good show.” Eventually, Curry had a moment to show off his incredible drumming skills.
Another hilarious moment was Masego holding up a yam during his rendition of “Yamz,” which features Devin Morrison. He ended the night with “King’s Rant,” another one of his songs that discusses his complex relationship with fame. The evening was filled with lots of dancing, laughs, and wonder. Masego was able to showcase his vocal range, smooth dancing skills (moonwalk included), incredible musicianship, and playfulness with his fans. For the encore, he returned on stage, and sat in a chair, giving us a slower moment for the first time of the night. Once the song ended, he walked off stage and a video was played highlighting young Black children experiencing moments of joy. It was a tender way to end the show. A few moments passed, and Masego returned to the stage with the hit “Tadow” and the crowd went wild.
Beyond being a Masego fan myself, this was a really great show. Masego and the band gave an outstanding performance from beginning to end. The energy level and playfulness were consistent all throughout, and they left the audience smiling and energized.
