Robert Glasper

Robert Glasper (composer, The Gettin’ ) 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 15 nominations across nine 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, he consistently defies the limits of the genre. This is evident in a portfolio that includes his acoustic jazz trio, which simultaneously defies and elevates the traditional idiom by uniting it effortlessly with electronics from visionary DJ Jahi Sundance; August Greene, a collaboration with Common and Karriem Riggins; and R+R=Now, a supergroup at the crossroads of hip hop and jazz.

Over the past year, Glasper has released several diverse albums under his exclusive deal with Apple Music. The holiday album In December features artists including 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. His recent Keys To The City Volume One was nominated for a 2026 Grammy in the Best Alternative Jazz Album category.