ROBERT GLASPER (Sun, 12/20/26)

Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts 5 Grammy wins and 15 nominations across 9 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary “13th” with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!”. 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. The album won him the Grammy for Best R&B album and established him as the musician of choice for some of the world’s most iconic artists; notably playing keys throughout Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, winning another Grammy for the elastic track “These Walls”. The ongoing Black Radio series has since become Glasper’s calling card, upholding a place at the heart of a trailblazing community: 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. This is evident in a portfolio that ranges from his acoustic jazz trio, which simultaneously defies and elevates the traditional idiom by uniting it effortlessly with electronics from visionary DJ Jahi Sundance, to August Greene, a collaboration with Common + Karriem Riggins, to R+R=Now, a supergroup at the crossroads of hip-hop and Jazz. 

In the past year, Robert Glasper has released three diverse albums under his exclusive deal with Apple Music. The holiday album In December features artists such as Cynthia Erivo and Andra Day, while Let Go offers a calming, soulful experience that helps listeners find their center. Code Derivation merges jazz and hip-hop, with each track presented in two versions—one in jazz, and the other flipped by a producer. The track “Say Less” was flipped by Glasper’s son, Riley. Code Derivation has been nominated for a 2025 Grammy in the Best Alternative Jazz Album category. 

In addition to his musical accomplishments, Glasper hosted Black Radio Backstage for Tidal League, where he interviewed A-list guests like Affion Crockett, Thundercat, and Lalah Hathaway, alongside co-host Jahi Sundance. The festival he curates in Napa, The Black Radio Experience, celebrated its third year, and his legendary month-long residency at the Blue Note NYC marked its sixth season, featuring star-studded appearances from Dave Chappelle, Questlove, Marsha Ambrosius, and Andra Day, both on and off stage. 

Prior to a knockout 2024, in 2023 Glasper released Black Radio III and Black Radio III Supreme Edition on Loma Vista Records, with features ranging from Jennifer Hudson, Killer Mike, and the late Mac Miller. On screen, he created the original score for Run The World Season 2 and The Best Man television series.

With boundless innovation and elite technique as his signature, it’s no surprise that Glasper has an avalanche of accolades, awards, and achievements to his name. Glasper is an artist at the heart of a moment – and a movement – to champion Black music, Black people, and the possibility of a better future. The hip-hop-head-nod ballad is a dedication to just that: the beauty and brilliance of a heritage that is as much Kendrick as it is Coltrane, and which seeks to empower and uplift with every offering.