The Hall Pass: Model Behavior

Steven Hall

The Hall Pass: Model Behavior; How culture, image, & music drives sound and how sound drives culture, image & music. The Hall Pass is a platform for tips & tricks for any aspiring artist in of the DMV or Hip-Hop/R&B heads 18-34 who care about style. There are 4 Pillars of Poise you’ll need to understand to get your Hall Pass for the industry. The Odyssey, The Flava In Ya Ear, The Culture & The Circle. The Odyssey: What I’m Figuring Out Right Now Health, discipline, mindset, money moves, relationships, career pivots, things you’re testing for 30 days. Easy formats: "30-day experiment," "What I'm unlearning," monthly check-in, book/podcast takeaway you actually applied. The Flavor In Ya Ear: New music you’re spinning, underrated Hip-Hop/R&B artists, DJ set breakdown The Culture: Modeling industry tea, how fashion & music collide The Circle: Bring on photographers, actors, designers, stylists, other DJs, fans & wrap up what we talked about in the month.

Episodes

  1. 6 hr ago

    The Flava In Ya Ear - AZ Chike's No Rest For The Wicked - BTA Rap & Why Real Still Wins

    What does it take to go from Sprouts Farmers Market to Warner Records without losing your West Coast soul? On this week's The Flava In Ya Ear — one of the 4 Pillars of Poise at The Hall Pass: Model Behavior — host Steven Hall breaks down AZ Chike's No Rest For The Wicked [Sept 18, 2026] track-by-track. This isn't just an album review. It's a blueprint. We trace Damaria Kayshawn Walker from South Central, saving up for his own rig in 2015, to "Burn Rubber Again" doing 25M on SoundCloud, to Rolling Loud, to Shoreline Mafia tours, to THAT verse on Kendrick's " Peekaboo." We unpack why Shazam compares him to 21 Savage, but fans coined a better term: BTA Rap / Belt-To-Ass Rap. Inside the episode: The History Lesson: Why we start with Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear" — Bad Boy's first Platinum hit, #9 Hot 100, and the 4th greatest hip-hop beat of all time per Rock The Bells. If you want a Hall Pass, be a student of the game. The Movie Method: Steven watches albums like films. No Rest For The Wicked is a melting pot — part lyrical flex, part victory lap, part prayer. 14 scenes, 3 features [2x Tyler, The Creator + JMSN], one story: Grateful, grimy, and unforgivingly real. Track-by-Track Gems You'll Hear: Mercy - A declaration before you leave the house over Psalm 91:7Lamb Truck Keys - Batman & Robin moves over Aniceto Molina's Cumbia SampuesanaSky Rockets - Boom Bap drums, a 12-year-old with tattoos, and a mom who tackled her son while 8 months pregnant to save him from gunfireGod's Favorite & Negative - The Keak Da Sneak flip and why "the phone work both ways"Need Your Love ft. JMSN & Look Like My Mama ft. Tyler - No hook, all Hip-Hop — the jovial flex of looking like your mamaPacked Up [Steven's Fav] - "N****s getting away with disrespect, calling it content"Uncomfortable Conversations & Rock Bottom - From giving mom 30K to hitting rock bottom watching Spy Kids with the lights off. Real come-up music.Steven scores it an 8.5/10 for realism, lyricism, storytelling, and relatability — and connects it to his own come-up from odd jobs and restaurants to building his LLCs. Whether you're a Model, DJ, Actor, or Entrepreneur — there's art to what you do. This episode gives you the language to talk about it. Tap in & answer: What's your favorite track on No Rest For The Wicked? Did this project deliver how you expected? What can you learn from it? New episodes every Wednesday. Got an album you want reviewed next month? Want to share knowledge on The Hall Pass? Email: stevenm.hall@aol.com #TheHallPass #ModelBehavior #AZChike #NoRestForTheWicked #TylerTheCreator #WestCoastHipHop #DMV #HipHopPodcast #AlbumReview #BTARap #HamptonUniversity

  2. 7 Oct

    The Odyssey - The Monthly Audit Every Creative Needs

    This is your honest monthly check-in. Not motivation fluff — a real audit. INSIDE THIS EPISODE: Health: I didn't touch the gym this month and I'm telling you straight up. I stayed on a light diet / intermittent fasting — fruit for breakfast, Drizzilicious or whatever the office had for lunch, and literal whatever for dinner. But work WAS the workout: 1,841 to 14,197 steps on weekdays, 2,858 to 14,426 on weekends. I'm breaking down how I'm moving from $129/mo F45 to $99/mo ClassPass for HIIT, Pilates, Yoga, and recovery, plus the 2 water habits my dentist actually shamed me into starting. Discipline & Mindset: Discipline isn't punishment — it's games you design to win. I give you 2 of my water challenges: the Gallon Canteen boss battle vs. the 2-bottles-per-meal system. And I get real about mindset — talking with my best friend Susie about feeling like I do "the most" vs. not doing enough, why you HAVE to be delusional about your dream, and why you can't dialogue with everybody. Money Moves: Quick visual check — I'm dropping an illustration for Prime Day, Black Friday, and Christmas gift prep. Q4 is already here. Are you shopping or are you planning? [10-MINUTE DJ BREAK] — Mid-episode, I battle myself. A mock DJ Battle rendition you can only get here. If you want the full mixes, tap my Mixcloud for exclusives. Relationships: What makes a real friendship? If you do something and it doesn't make your parents' face twist from cringe, are y'all really friends? Let's talk about Susie and the circle you keep. Career Pivots & Unlearning: How do you pivot without starting over? This month alone: a wedding, Fashion Week rehearsal, Hampton Homecoming with a DJ opportunity, performing at Fredericksburg Fashion Week in a baseball stadium, a Halloween trip to see Susie, and my first festival/rave in Orlando with friends. Plus, unlearning — letting go of the trip-prep, insurance, and decision-making rules our parents instilled in us. Spiritual Check: I'm on Day 119 of 180 of reading the Whole Bible in 6 Months on the Bible app — currently in Esther, Psalms, and Romans. Second time reading it cover to cover. Link in the bio/description if you want to join The Odyssey and add me as a friend. Question for you: How are you auditing your physical, mental, and spiritual health — and are you auditing the health of the people around you? Drop a comment, I will chop it up with you. Got a story, tip, or trick? If you're a model, DJ, actor, or entrepreneur with game to share, email me: stevenm.hall@aol.com Join me on the Bible App - https://www.bible.com/users/stevenmhall904 Patreon for Q&A and community, Mixcloud for exclusive mixes. New episodes every Wednesday. You earned your Hall Pass for this week. Be on your way — but no running in the Halls.

  3. 1 Oct

    Vibe Check - 6 Original Songs & DJ Break

    This week on The Hall Pass: Model Behavior - it's a VIBE CHECK. It's the 5th week of the month, so we're breaking the syllabus. No interview. No panel. Just pure sound, image, and culture — live. Your host Steven Hall — Hampton University '20, B.S. Music Recording Technology & Voice, Chesapeake Beach x Jacksonville — is putting the 4 Pillars of Poise to the test: The Odyssey, The Flava In Ya Ear, The Culture, and The Circle. If you understand those four, you get your Hall Pass for the industry. If you don't, this episode will put you on game. IN THIS WEDNESDAY DROP: I'm performing 6 original cuts back-to-back from my artist catalog scUba — the same records you can spin right now on Apple Music, Spotify, and all platforms: Gideon / No Games / Pretty Little Savage / Write U A Song / B.A.M. / Ratchet Thomas Then we keep it moving with a 10-minute DJ Break to let you sit in the sound, study the texture, and decide — what kind of vibe are YOU rocking with today? This is for the DMV. For the 18-34 creatives who know that being a Model, DJ, Actor, or Entrepreneur IS artistry. We talk about how culture and image drive sound, and how sound drives culture and image right back. Educational, not gatekeep-y. You'll learn: How to use The 4 Pillars of Poise to move from talented to bookedHow live performance is styling — from vocal tone to fit to presenceWhy your sound needs an image and your image needs a sound to survive in Hip-Hop/R&B right nowIf this is your first time running the halls — welcome. We drop every Wednesday. If you want to be spotlighted, share knowledge, tips, and tricks for the next generation of style-driven artists, send flowers while you can: stevenm.hall@aol.com Tap in, take notes, and let's get lit. Class is in session.

  4. 23 Sept

    The Circle - Fun with Funds & Friends

    Guilty by association is still real. Welcome back to The Hall Pass: Model Behavior - where culture, image & music drives sound, and sound drives culture, image & music. Host Steven Hall is back with pillar #4: THE CIRCLE. And today's lesson is Fun with Funds & Friends. We start simple: What IS your circle? It's who you regularly interact with, trust, and identify with. But in 2026, your circle is also your credit score, your mindset, and your future. In this educational deep-dive, we break down: 1. Fiend vs. Feen - The Wordplay That Exposes Your Circle F-I-E-N-D-I-N-G vs F-E-E-N-I-N-G. One letter, two totally different demons. One is compulsion for food, attention, and experiences. The other is withdrawal-driven addiction. Both live in your group chat. We unpack how gossip, subtle jealousy, and "talk behind your back" energy is modern-day witchcraft - and why communication is the only way to kill it. 2. The Devil Is In The Details We flip the old saying "God is in the details" and show why ignoring the small print in friendships, splits, dinners, trips, and club nights will have your lip poked out broke on a cruise. From Flaubert to Mies van der Rohe to the studio, we connect the dots. 3. The Billionaire Money Rule You Need to Hear Inspired by T-Pain: "When people you know ask you for money, you give them two choices. You can come work for it or I’ll give you the money on the one condition that you promise me right now you’ll never ask me for money again." You are NOT a 24/7, bottomless, interest-free credit card - not even for family. Learn how to say no without losing the love. 4. Where There Is No Vision, The Funds Perish Proverbs 29:18 hits different when you replace "vision" with "plan." No plan for school, work, travel, or dinner = panic spending. We tie it back to last week's 12Ps and the law of "Iron sharpens iron." How to have fun in moderation without getting lost in the sauce. Plus: A 15-minute Shaggy Setlist DJ Battle - a tribute mix from the turntables and Darth Vader USB that started it all. Exclusive mixes on Patreon. This episode is for the DMV models, DJs, actors, entrepreneurs, and Hip-Hop/R&B heads who want to look good, sound good, AND keep a bag. TAP IN: Got a story about funds and friends? Want to be spotlighted? Email: stevenm.hall@aol.com Next week: We return to The Odyssey. You earned your Hall Pass for this week - now be on your way. No running in the halls. #TheHallPass #ModelBehavior #DMVPodcast #HipHopPodcast #FinancialLiteracy #SocialCircle #HamptonUniversity #TheCircle

  5. 17 Sept

    The Culture - First Time at NYFW: How I Turned 1 Outfit Into 5 on a $115 Day Trip

    Welcome back to The Hall Pass: Model Behavior - where we break down how culture, image, & music drive sound and how sound drives culture, image & music. This week we're unlocking Pillar #3: The Culture. And no, we're not talking textbook culture or TikTok's version of culture. I'm taking you inside my first-ever solo adult trip to New York City to model during New York Fashion Week. We’re talking the REAL indie model run: The night-before choir rehearsal that had me packing at midnight for a 3AM Amtrak busThe Lime bike to Union Station, the bus that almost made me miss my train, and how I finessed a refund and still made it to Moynihan Train Hall by 7:26AMWalking into Manhattan hearing Empire State of Mind, being 2.5 hours early to my call time, and why that matters more than your walkInside Mr. Drew's studio: How having my comp card + 4 pro pics on me at all times turned 1 guaranteed look for Amiya Faith into 3 walks and 5 total looksFrom Baltimore Fashion Week to a Senegalese designer to a hat designer featured in Netflix & Vogue - how NY moves FAST and why organization is the only way you survive the tornadoThen we flip it for the second half - Cultural Wisdom / For The Culture or NOT For The Culture: Rest is For The Culture. Fatigue is NOT. Why pulling an all-nighter before a booking is self-sabotage.The 12 Ps: Piss Poor Preparation Promotes Piss Poor Performance. How my NJROTC and Hampton University training saved me $ - I did the whole day for ∼$115 total ($78 bus/train, $15 Birds, $21 NY pizza).Time & Money Management is ALWAYS For The Culture. Winging it is not. The industry runs on the booking agent's time, not yours.Initiative & Integrity > Talent. Why showing up at 8:39AM for an 11AM call time is the cheat code. As Hampton taught us: To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late.If you're a Model, DJ, Actor, Entrepreneur, or Hip-Hop/R&B creative in the DMV who cares about style as substance, this is your Hall Pass. Learn the difference between Culture and Pop Culture/Zeitgeist, why we gatekeep it, and how accountability makes you more bookable. Tap in for the exclusive 10-min House / Catwalk DJ Battle Mix in the middle of the episode - full mixes and behind-the-scenes are on Patreon. Next Week: We break down Pillar #4: The Circle. Got a topic you want me to review for The Culture segment? Or are you an artist who wants to share game? Email me: stevenm.hall@aol.com Hosted by Steven Hall - Hampton University '20, B.S. Music Recording Technology & Voice, Chesapeake Beach, MD by way of Jacksonville, FL. New episodes every Wednesday. No running in the halls.

  6. 9 Sept

    The Flava In Ya Ear - How Tierra Whack Built a Museum With No Features

    Is Tierra Whack Top 5 in Philly next to Meek & Beanie Sigel, or is she being too humble? Welcome back to The Hall Pass: Model Behavior — where culture, image, & music drive sound and sound drives culture, image & music. This week on The Flava In Ya Ear, we're clocking in for class. You know the pillar: I break down a single or album from a vet that shows you the process behind the success. Last time it was Masego's Fix Your Face. This time, it's Philly's own theatrical genius Tierra Whack and her brand new, no-feature project Whack's Museum [June 19th, 2026]. Born Tierra Whack on August 11, 1995, North Philly to the core - you might remember her as Dizzle Dizz freestyling at 16 back in 2011 before Mumbo Jumbo changed everything in 2017. Then came Whack World in 2018: 15 songs, 15 one-minute visuals. A full visual album. That's why we study her. In this episode, I'm taking you room by room through the museum: The Curriculum: The History Lesson: Why this segment is named after Craig Mack's first Bad Boy hit - the Platinum record that hit #9 on the Hot 100, #1 on Rap, ranked the 4th greatest hip-hop beat ever by Rock The Bells.The Production Deception: How Conductor Williams had me thinking Whack Job, Brazilian Wax, and Wiggidy Whack were samples - it's all original keys and chops. That BPM switch-up on Whack Job like MF DOOM's Tick Tick...? We break down the Episode key-change theory.The Bars as English Class: From "Sometimes I'm too generous / You know what I mean, Ellen DeGeneres" to "You whack without H, so that means you a knock off" - double entendres, alliteration, foreshadowing, and why her line "They'll steal your whole style and never mention ya name" is the realest creator economy lesson for Models, DJs, Actors & Entrepreneurs.The Pivot: From the Trap Irish-jig on Totem, to the Boom Bap hustle on Godda, to the Siren-inspired Jill Scott energy, to the Gospel flip on Queens Crown sampling "I Shall Wear A Crown," to the R&B vulnerability of Earwax. And why she closed it with Flowers - because you give people their flowers while they can still smell them.I listened to this twice while cutting grass - cinematic listening, scene by scene. My take: It's a story about navigating life without her father in the picture, dealing with industry struggle, and sticking with what brought you to the dance. If you're an aspiring artist in the DMV or a Hip-Hop/R&B head 18-34 who cares about style, image, and substance - you just earned your Hall Pass for the week. Your homework: Listen to Whack's Museum front to back, then come tell me if Wiggidy Whack isn't Verse of the Year. Got an album you want reviewed next month? Email me: stevenm.hall@aol.com Tap in on Patreon for Q&A and my exclusive Mixcloud DJ battle mix - this week it's a 10-min Hip-Hop rendition. New episodes every Wednesday. No running in the halls.

  7. 2 Sept

    The Odyssey - From Intermittent Fasting to Industry Discipline

    What does it really take to get your Hall Pass for the industry? This week we're putting meat on the bones with Pillar 1: The Odyssey. Inspired by my own record "Dope Odyssey" from Tha Dope 2: Aftershock, The Odyssey is the journey of the self before the industry can ever respect you. We're breaking it down into 7 real checks: HEALTH: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual. From F45 workouts to 19K steps on my 30th birthday weekend, intermittent fasting with just grapes & water, and Day 84 of 180 reading the Bible straight through First Kings. How your water intake, sleep, and acne all connect. DISCIPLINE: The most attractive trait in the game. The real story of why being late to a Zendaya movie date then ending up at Harris Teeter + Cheesecake Factory will cost you, and the Baltimore Fashion Week rule: No photos in the dressing room. Why Youngin' got blackballed for not being teachable. MINDSET, MONEY MOVES, RELATIONSHIPS, CAREER PIVOTS & UNLEARNING: Why "Never let anyone keep you from doing what you want to do" became my superpower since Hampton in 2014, why you NEVER give product before payment - lessons from converting cassette tapes to mp3s - and why being the "Hugging Bandit" taught me that nice doesn't pay bills. Plus, how to perform with full energy when the crowd is the size of a classroom. If you're a Model, DJ, Actor, Entrepreneur, or DMV creative who cares about style and substance - this is your blueprint. Question for you: How are you tracking your physical, mental, and spiritual health right now? Drop a comment - I'll actually chop it up with you. Tap in next week for Pillar 2: The Flava In Ya Ear. Join me on the Bible App: https://www.bible.com/users/stevenmhall904 Got knowledge to share? Email: stevenm.hall@aol.com New episodes every Wednesday. #DMV #BaltimoreFashionWeek #HamptonUniversity #ModelBehavior #MusicIndustry #CreativeEntrepreneur #Mindset #Discipline

  8. 26 Aug

    The Circle - Inner, Middle, Outer | Who Actually Deserves Access To You?

    You say "that's my circle" but can you actually name who's in it? On this week's Hall Pass, host Steven Hall breaks down Pillar #4 of the 4 Pillars of Poise: The Circle. Inspired by sociology, iPhone Fitness Rings, and a real self-check, Steven maps out the 3 rings every Model, DJ, Actor, Artist and Entrepreneur needs to master: INNER CIRCLE (3-10 People): Your day-to-day confidants. High trust, high contact, tell-them-what-you-tell-no-one-else energy. Steven gets vulnerable about why he's best friend Susie of 10+ years, his Mom, Granny Gran, and a few others in his tight list of women who shaped his career - and why peace in being alone is actually the prerequisite for this ring. MIDDLE CIRCLE (15-50 People): Your good friends and regulars. The Chris, Kiandre, and Taylor tier - Hampton bros turned PS5/Nintendo Switch squad. The ones you like and link with but aren't your daily diary. How do you know when you've been downgraded from Inner to Middle? OUTER CIRCLE: Acquaintances, coworkers, friends-of-friends, gym fam. The "don't sh*t where you eat" rule. Why boundary-setting isn't being fake - it's protecting your base of operations. If you've ever been called "guilty by association," felt drained by a clingy friend who controls everything, or wondered why you get more done solo than with the crew - this self-audit is for you. Plus: The difference between your Tribe, your Clique, your Sphere, and your Squad. And yes, we still give you the 10-minute Shaggy Setlist Mock DJ Battle. Tribute mix from the Darth Vader USB from my fraternity brother, Shaggy Flores. This is educational, but personal. Research blended with real DMV creative life. Tap in, audit your circle, and earn your Hall Pass for the week. Want to be spotlighted? Steven is officially collaborating with his talent management company to bring on guests and fans. Models, DJs, Actors, Artists, Entrepreneurs, and Hip-Hop/R&B heads in the DMV - email stevenm.hall@aol.com for your chance to hop on an episode. No running in the Halls. #TheHallPass #ModelBehavior #DMVartist #MusicIndustry #SocialCircle #CreativeEntrepreneur #HamptonUniversity

  9. 19 Aug

    The Culture: Pop vs. The Culture & Business Etiquette

    Everybody says "for the culture" but do you actually know what The Culture IS? Hint: it's not cancel culture, it's not stan culture, and it's definitely not Pop. This week I'm breaking down the difference and how it cost me - and then MADE me - a spot at Baltimore Fashion Week. Welcome back to The Hall Pass: Model Behavior - where culture, image, and music drive sound, and sound drives it right back. Every industry has hallways that you can't just run through. On this show, there are 4 Pillars of Poise you need to earn your Hall Pass: The Odyssey, The Flava In Ya Ear, The Culture, and The Circle. This week, we're getting into The Culture. If you're 18-34, DMV-bred or Hip-Hop/R&B-rooted, and you care about how you look, sound, and move in this industry - this one's for you. In this episode, Steven breaks down: 1. What "The Culture" Actually Means: Forget the textbook definition. We unpack the 3 versions people confuse every day: * The textbook version - customs, traditions, language. * The internet zeitgeist version - "what's cool right now" - culture wars, cancel culture, stan culture, hustle culture. * The Culture - Black creative production from Hip-Hop - our music, fashion, slang, art, sports, and entrepreneurship. From the Migos Culture trilogy to "do it for the culture," we talk why it's a celebration AND a gatekeeping tool to protect the community from appropriation. 2. Pop vs. The Culture: Why Pop Culture isn't the same thing. We trace it back to the 1880s sheet music era to the 1950s teen-idol takeover, and why Elvis pulling from Black Gospel created the blueprint for the Boyz II Men vs. *NSYNC debate we're still having today. 3. The Real Centerpiece - Fashion, Entrepreneurship & Business Etiquette: From joining D&R Talent via Barbizon Baltimore in 2023 to walking Baltimore Fashion Week last week and prepping for Fredericksburg Fashion Week International in October. Plus, potential opportunities of the past with Love Island, Tyler Perry, and 9-1-1. Steven puts himself in the hot seat and reads REAL emails - from the too-wordy Hampton introduction in 2023 with every fraternity and ensemble listed, to a recent outreach with a simple grammar flaw that could kill your opportunity. Lesson: Trim the fat off your words like you trim fat off your food. If they only need to see you walk 25-50 meters, they don't need your whole resume. 4. Baltimore Fashion Week Confessional: No training. 5-10 dudes in a room of 100-150 models. Audible laughs on his first-ever walk in 2023. How he fixed his neck lean, stiffness, and leg extension, flipped his drill team marching background into a "walk like you don't care" industry walk - as a man of a newly appointed Print & Catwalk Model status, with advice told to him by 20-year veteran photographer Jeff Butler. This episode is shorter by design - not to give you too much to chew, but to make you look inward. You learned about poise, protection, and professionalism. You earned your Hall Pass for this week. Tune in next Wednesday as we break down The Circle. Got something from The Culture you want reviewed next month? Tap in: stevenm.hall@aol.com Follow the mixes and full DJ battle catwalk set on Mixcloud. Q&A and community on Patreon.

  10. 13 Aug

    The Flava In Ya Ear - The Movie Inside Masego's 'Fix Your Face'

    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

  11. 5 Aug

    The Odyssey - Introduction to The Hall Pass

    You can't run up and down the halls of this industry with no direction. Let me put you on game. Welcome to the premiere of The Hall Pass: Model Behavior — where culture, image, and music drive sound, and sound drives culture right back. Hosted by Steven Hall, Hampton University Alum Hip-Hop/R&B Artist, DJ, Model, Actor, and Chesapeake Beach native by way of Jacksonville, Florida. In this debut episode, we're breaking down The Odyssey. This isn't just motivation. This is your monthly check-in. INSIDE THIS EPISODE: HEALTH: The holistic audit — physical, mental, and spiritual. From 45-minute workouts at F45 Annapolis and tracking 3,600-10,400 steps on weekdays, to navigating grief after losing my dog of 13 years, to finishing a 60-day Summer in the Psalms Bible Plan [Psalms 51-100] and starting the Bible in 180 days. How are YOU checking your health and the health of the people around you? DISCIPLINE: Why "you have to listen in order to be heard" is the realest career advice you'll get. From a Southern household with a Gates County accountant manager mom and a retired Chief Petty Officer dad from Hartsville, SC, to what my manager spoke on at Passport to Discovery in Orlando. If you can't follow directions, you can't get booked. MINDSET: Your mindset is like Guitar Hero. Different frets, different notes. Are you just one color — always red — or do you have a whole palette? We talk triggers, emotional control, and why you can't let people play you like a puppet. MONEY MOVES: The financial audit I wish I did at 18. I break down exactly how to budget your rent, car insurance, phone, subscriptions, student loans, and Roth IRA from a bi-weekly paycheck. Plus, the real formula: Annual Salary = Hourly Rate x Hours Per Week x 52. No finance bro talk, just real math for creatives who work blue- and white-collar jobs. RELATIONSHIPS: Workplace relationships are NOT friendships. Your parents told you "your friends aren't your friends" — they meant your coworkers. Plus, why you should never mix business with pleasure at the casting call, your job, or the DJ booth. CAREER PIVOTS: From Water Park Patrol and dishwasher to AV/IT Systems Analyst and wedding DJ/Photographer. Every job was necessary. I'll show you how to pivot professionally, give a proper 2-week notice, and leave without burning bridges when it's time to support your family. UNLEARNING: I used to drive my red 2010 Toyota Camry SE on E with the gas light on 9 times out of 10. I'm teaching you how to use a Fuel Cost Calculator to unlearn broke habits before they cost you later. Plus, a major takeaway from Mick Unplugged with André Holland [Moonlight, The Knick] on why your story has value, even when the room feels uncomfortable. This episode has an intermission with a 10-minute mock DJ battle with myself. If you rock with it, tap in on Mixcloud, https://www.mixcloud.com/scUba3/, for exclusive mixes and Patreon, https://patreon.com/thehallpassmodelbehavior, for the podcast mixes & engagement. If you're a(n) Artist, Model, DJ, Actor, or Entrepreneur in the DMV — this is your Hall Pass. Email: stevenm.hall@aol.com Join me on the Bible App - https://www.bible.com/users/stevenmhall904 New episodes every Wednesday. You earned your Hall Pass for this week. Now be on your way — but no running in the halls.

  • 11 Episodes

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The Hall Pass: Model Behavior; How culture, image, & music drives sound and how sound drives culture, image & music. The Hall Pass is a platform for tips & tricks for any aspiring artist in of the DMV or Hip-Hop/R&B heads 18-34 who care about style. There are 4 Pillars of Poise you’ll need to understand to get your Hall Pass for the industry. The Odyssey, The Flava In Ya Ear, The Culture & The Circle. The Odyssey: What I’m Figuring Out Right Now Health, discipline, mindset, money moves, relationships, career pivots, things you’re testing for 30 days. Easy formats: "30-day experiment," "What I'm unlearning," monthly check-in, book/podcast takeaway you actually applied. The Flavor In Ya Ear: New music you’re spinning, underrated Hip-Hop/R&B artists, DJ set breakdown The Culture: Modeling industry tea, how fashion & music collide The Circle: Bring on photographers, actors, designers, stylists, other DJs, fans & wrap up what we talked about in the month.

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