Welcome back to The Hall Pass: Model Behavior - where culture, image, and music drive sound, and sound drives culture, image, and music.

I'm your host Steven Hall - Hampton University Music Recording Technology & Voice alum, Chesapeake Beach native via Jacksonville, and your guide through the 4 Pillars of Poise you need to get your Hall Pass in the industry: The Odyssey, The Flava In Ya Ear, The Culture, and The Circle.

This week: The Flava In Ya Ear.

We start with a history lesson you need to know: Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear" - the very first hit on Bad Boy Records. July 2nd, 1994, produced by Easy Mo Bee, peaked at #9 on the Hot 100, went Platinum, Grammy-nominated, and then reborn with THAT black-and-white Hype Williams remix with Biggie, Busta, LL, and Rampage. Rock The Bells called the beat the 4th greatest ever. That's Flava.

Then we apply that student-of-the-game energy to NOW.

ALBUM IN REVIEW: Masego - Fix Your Face [July 2026 | EQT / Capitol]

Born Micah Davis June 8th, 1993 in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Virginia, Masego calls his sound TrapHouseJazz - trap drums, house grooves, jazz improv, R&B and funk. You knew him from 'Tadow' and 'Navajo' 10 years after 'Loose Thoughts' - but this is his most honest project yet. Produced by Masego & co-producer Jordan Elgie, featuring Buju Banton, Keyshia Cole, Leon Thomas, Musiq Soulchild, Foogieraw & more.

Masego says the title comes from what mothers tell their kids to stop crying: "tighten up." It's about resilience and emotional honesty.

In this episode, I review the album like a movie:

ACT I: The Crush: 'Sounds Like...' takes us back to white iPhone headphones and two-tone wave caps. 'Heaven' flips Sinatra x Ella & Louis + Kirk Franklin into a dopamine-filled walk down the block. 'Limerence' defines the obsession - 24x "You're my lady" and a lesson in consonance vs. dissonance.

ACT II: The Relationship: 'QVC' [w/ Leon Thomas] flips Quality, Value, Convenience into love language and femininity vs. masculinity. 'Someone' [w/ Keyshia Cole] is a 3/4 Waltz on "treat me like I'm human." 'I Know You' is that look from across the room - with a Rosebar shoutout for DC.

ACT III: The Night Out: 'Wonderwoman' is her walking up to you while everyone wants a pic. 'Hello' [w/ Buju Banton] flips Mandrill's 'Children of the Sun' - if you were in the DMV in the late 2000s, you know why this is my favorite. 'Go' is pure chest-to-chest lock-in.

ACT IV: The Healing: 'Breathe' addresses cancellation over how to say his name, and where the album cover comes from. 'Dotted Line' & 'Gone' [w/ Lekan] tackle divorce, grief, and growing past what hurt you. 'Overthinking' [w/ Musiq Soulchild] matures the sound - both sides finally get it together. 'Recommend' is the funkiest bassline in months - Bootsy Collins would blush. 'Symone' is that weird-but-comfortable couple energy that should be a TikTok trend. And 'Charlie Brown' closes with post-clarity - remembering who you are when fans are fickle.

I give you my scene-by-scene breakdown, my producer ear on samples and time signatures, and my final score.

If you're a Model, DJ, Actor, or Entrepreneur in the DMV - there's art in what you do. I want to give you your flowers.

Email me: stevenm.hall@aol.com to be spotlighted.

New episodes every Wednesday. Tap in, take notes, and no running in the Halls.

#TrapHouseJazz #Masego #FixYourFace #DMVMusic #HipHopEducation #HallPassPodcast