“mélange of contemporary jazz, beat-heavy hip-hop, and neo-soul melodies.” – Rolling Stone
Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts five Grammy wins and sixteen nominations across eleven categories. Additionally, he received an Emmy for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary 13th with Common and Karriem Riggins. His work and accolades bridge all aspects of the music business, from live touring to film scoring, composing and producing.
Evolution is his hallmark. Glasper’s breakout crossover album Black Radio changed the face of the genre and set a new expectation for what popular music could be. Then, the album won him the Grammy for best R&B album. Further, it established him as the musician of choice for some of the world’s most iconic artists. Glasper played keys throughout Kendrick Lamar‘s To Pimp A Butterfly, winning another Grammy for the elastic track “These Walls”. The ongoing Black Radio series has become Glasper’s calling card, upholding a place at the heart of a trailblazing community. Collaborators range from long-time sonic brothers Mos Def and Bilal to legends including Ledisi, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu.
Glasper’s eternal pursuit to further his sound has been consistent in challenging and transforming his creative horizons across the board. Whether producing a remix album with Kaytranda or as a bandleader, Robert consistently defies the limits of the genre. Moreover, this is evident in his expansive portfolio and range of projects. His acoustic trio simultaneously defies and elevates the traditional idiom, uniting it effortlessly with electronics from visionary DJ Jahi Sundance. August Greene is a collaboration with Common + Karriem Riggins. R+R=Now is a new supergroup at the crossroads of hip-hop and jazz.
Recommended for fans of Kamasi Washington, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild and Kendrick Lamar.
📸: Todd Cooper
