Robert Glasper Releases ‘Black Radio 3’ Feat. Q-Tip, H.E.R., & More

Photo Credit: Mancy Gant

Robert Glasper releases the long-awaited third installment of his Black Radio series.

More than a full year since it was initially announced, Robert Glasper has finally released Black Radio 3.

The album features appearances from Q-Tip, Esperanza Spalding, Lalah Hathaway, Common, Musiq Soulchild, De La Soul’s Posdnous, India Arie, Ty Dolla $ign, and more. The album’s third single is “Black Superhero” and features Killer Mike, Big K.R.I.T., and BJ The Chicago Kid. That song followd “Shine” with D Smoke and Tiffany Gouché, and “Better Than I Imagined” with H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the first Black Radio, which was released on Blue Note Records. In an interview with TIDAL, Glasper explained the differences in tone from the first two Black Radio albums compared to the third.

“When I made Black Radio one and two, that was on the heels of [President Barack] Obama… And then making this was at the end of [President Donald] Trump, so it’s a different, different vibe out there. And with everything going on, with the police shootings and George Floyd and you name it, everything, [pauses] so many things are happening. As an artist, when these things are happening, you have a choice to make: It’s like, do I make an album and really address this stuff?”

Black Radio lll is available, via Loma Vista Recordings, on all DSP platforms, as well as CD and vinyl. (You can only cop on Glasper’s website) To celebrate the album, Glasper is also a hosting Black Radio III release shows in Los Angeles on March 4 at The Vermont Hollywood and one in New York City from March 15-20 at Blue Note Jazz Club.

This story was updated on Friday, February 25th.

Zo is a staff writer at Okayplayer where he covers music.