Robert Glasper/ Masego

Biography

Robert Andre Glasper, born April 5, 1978, in Houston, Texas, grew up immersed in music through his mother, Kim Yvette, a professional blues singer, and church performances where he played organ. He attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), graduating in 1997, which honed his piano skills and laid the foundation for his genre-blending style fusing jazz, hip-hop, R&B, neo-soul, and blues.[1][2][4][5] His early albums like 'Mood' (2002) and 'In My Element' (2007) showcased his acoustic jazz trio, while 'Double-Booked' (2009) introduced The Robert Glasper Experiment, an electric band experimenting with hip-hop and R&B elements, earning a Grammy nomination.[1][4][7]

Glasper's breakthrough came with 'Black Radio' (2012), featuring neo-soul and hip-hop artists like Erykah Badu, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Lalah Hathaway, and Yasiin Bey; it debuted in the top 10 across four Billboard charts and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album, redefining genre boundaries with live recordings and no overdubs.[2][4][6][7] Follow-ups like 'Black Radio 2' (2013) earned another Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance on 'Jesus Children of America,' and he contributed to Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' (2015) and composed for the Miles Davis biopic 'Miles Ahead.'[1][3][4] In 2018, he formed R+R=NOW and August Greene, continuing his collaborative fusion approach.[1][2]

Glasper's legacy includes 4 Grammy Awards (with 12 nominations total across genres), an Emmy, and pioneering hyper-collaborative projects that bridge jazz with contemporary Black music, influencing a new paradigm of boundaryless creativity. He hosts the Blue Note Cruise and curates sold-out residencies blending diverse artists.[1][2][4][6]

Fun Facts

• Glasper's 'Black Radio' (2012) is the only album in history to debut in the top 10 of four different Billboard genre charts simultaneously: Hip Hop/R&B, Urban Contemporary, Jazz, and Contemporary Jazz.[6]
• He formed The Robert Glasper Experiment in Houston with Chris Dave, attracting sit-ins from Beyoncé and Meshell Ndegeocello during early shows.[5]
• Glasper won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance with 'Jesus Children of America' on 'Black Radio 2,' featuring Lalah Hathaway and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.[2]
• His mother, Kim Yvette, was a well-loved local blues singer whose influence shaped his early exposure to music alongside church organ playing.[1][5]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Miles Davis - major musical influence cited by Glasper (composed for 'Miles Ahead' biopic) [2015]
• Herbie Hancock - stylistic inspiration for funky compositions ('Double-Booked' album influences) [2009 onward]
• J Dilla - early influence discussed in career-spanning interview (Black Radio era collaborations/stories) [early 2000s-2012]

Key Collaborators

• Chris Dave - drummer and co-founder of The Robert Glasper Experiment ('Double-Booked', 'Black Radio' series) [2009-present]
• Casey Benjamin - saxophonist/vocoderist in The Robert Glasper Experiment ('Double-Booked', 'Black Radio' albums) [2009-present]
• Derrick Hodge - bassist in The Robert Glasper Experiment and R+R=NOW ('Black Radio', R+R=NOW projects) [2009-2018]
• Bilal - frequent vocalist and performer ('Double-Booked', 'Black Radio') [2009-2012]
• Erykah Badu - guest vocalist leading to iconic track ('Afro Blue' on 'Black Radio') [2012]
• Kendrick Lamar - keyboardist on album and track ('These Walls' on 'To Pimp a Butterfly') [2015]
• Masego - recent collaborator on single ('All Masks') [recent (post-2020)]

Artists Influenced

• R+R=NOW members (e.g., Terrace Martin) - co-founder of supergroup celebrating Black music legacy (R+R=NOW debut album) [2018]
• August Greene members (e.g., Yasiin Bey, Derrick Hodge) - hip-hop/jazz fusion group (August Greene project) [2018]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia