Robert Glasper: The Career-Defining Interview (Black Radio, J Dilla, Kendrick, Miles, Chappelle) #97
If anyone embodies the modern crossroads of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and contemporary culture, it’s Robert Glasper. On the latest episode of Go With Elmo, Elmo Lovano sits down with Robert Glasper for what genuinely feels like a career-defining conversation. This sweeping, lively, and profoundly insightful episode is a treasure trove for musicians and fans alike, taking listeners beyond the music into the relationships, decisions, and philosophies that have built an iconic career.
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About the Guest: Robert Glasper
Hailed as one of the most influential musicians of his generation, Robert Glasper is a Grammy-winning pianist, composer, and producer. He’s the mastermind behind the critically acclaimed “Black Radio” albums, the creative force who’s collaborated with legends like Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, and Herbie Hancock, and a connector who bridges jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and culture. As Elmo puts it, Glasper is someone “who brings people, styles, and culture together through sound.”
Episode Summary: Breaking Down Boundaries in Music
Throughout the episode, Robert Glasper recounts his musical journey from Houston’s high school for the performing arts (where classmates included Beyoncé and Brian Michael Cox) to New York’s jazz scene, and eventually, to reshaping contemporary music on a global scale. Through stories, philosophies, and pure candor, he offers listeners a look inside the motivations, relationships, and pivotal moments—often laden with humor and realism—that have defined his unique path.
Key Highlights
Everything Is About Relationships
Right out of the gate, Robert Glasper dispels the myth that music is a straightforward meritocracy. “Some people don’t understand that in music, everything is relationships,” he says—a truth that echoes throughout the episode. Where sports may have objective measures of greatness, music’s opportunities are built on trust, friendship, and vibe. Whether it’s collaborating with J Dilla in Detroit or getting Snoop Dogg on Black Radio via Terrace Martin, Glasper’s story underscores the music business as a community, not just an industry.
Houston Roots and the Musical “Mutt”
Glasper’s childhood was spent not just around church pianos, but in the presence of a mother who played gospel on Sundays and R&B in nightclubs by night. This musical muttness—jazz, gospel, R&B, hip-hop—became internalized. “My mom used to call her Whoopi Goldberg because she was the minister of music at churches but she was playing clubs all during the week… She was R&B, gospel, jazz. And that’s literally where I got that from: ‘You don’t have to be just one thing.’” This openness became his artistic north star, heard in his boundary-defying records.
The Power of the Right Moves: Betting on Yourself
A fascinating thread throughout the conversation is Glasper’s decision-making. When presented with a full scholarship to Berklee in high school, he ultimately chose New York’s New School to immerse himself in the city’s jazz and R&B scenes—a move that introduced him to lifelong collaborators like Bilal and led to riding buses to Philadelphia jam sessions with the Roots’ crew.
He also shares the gutsy call to submit “Black Radio” in the R&B category at the Grammys—over his label’s objections—asserting the integrity of his music. “There are certain people who are unicorns that can do all three [singing, producing, writing],” Glasper notes, but it’s about recognizing where you genuinely shine.
Collaborations and Inspirations: From J Dilla to Kendrick Lamar
The episode brims with rare, behind-the-scenes stories about working with musical greats.
- J Dilla: Days in Detroit spent jamming, eating, club-hopping, and seeing Dilla test out fresh tracks in real time—“Hang, make the… every day went like this: wake up, go eat, go to the studio, jam… then drive to a club and test out tracks from the day”—paint a living, breathing portrait of a true creative process.
- Kendrick Lamar: Glasper’s story of arriving in the studio for “To Pimp a Butterfly,” thinking he’d play on one song, and ultimately contributing to several, offers a masterclass in humility and readiness: “That whole session was…pull up something, I will listen once, learn it, we’ll do a take. Thundercat was there in a raccoon outfit. No one said anything—super normal.”
- Erica Badu & Erykah Badu: From nervous first takes to bottles of white wine and spontaneous inspiration, Glasper unveils the secret sauce behind the “Afro Blue” magic.
Lifelong Learning: Mentors, Growth, and Giving Back
Robert Glasper stresses the importance of mentors and learning from those who came before him, like Herbie Hancock and Roy Hargrove. He also emphasizes the value of honesty in assessing your strengths and passions—advice for any aspiring musician.
Black Radio: A Movement Disguised as an Album
No part of Glasper’s career moved the needle quite like “Black Radio.” Its genre-blurring impact earned him Grammys, but more importantly, it opened “the door for the artsy people who are thinking outside the box.” The episode explores how this project, and its subsequent volumes, provided a blueprint for innovation, representation, and inclusion in both jazz and broader Black music.
On Ego, Community, and Supergroups
Glasper’s experiences with ensembles such as the Robert Glasper Experiment, Dinner Party, and August Greene spotlight the reason these “supergroups” work: “You can’t make a supergroup with people that have ego. Trust me.” He attributes their success to mutual respect, openness, and putting the music—and audience—first.
AI, The Future of Music, and Staying Human
An insightful discussion tackles the impact of AI on music: Robert Glasper sees value in innovative tools but warns against blurring the line between human creativity and automation, especially when it comes to recognition and awards.
Closing Reflections
From sharing hilarious on-the-road stories with Kenny Garrett to poignant moments about his late mother’s influence, Robert Glasper brings unfiltered wisdom and good vibes. For aspiring musicians, his advice is simple and profound: “Always bet on you… Don’t go with the trend because the trend leaves… Be the truth, not the trend.”
As the episode closes, Elmo Lovano and Robert Glasper remind us why music matters—not just as entertainment but as connection, comfort, and community. Whether you’re a fan or a fellow creator, this episode is a must-listen masterclass on artistry and authenticity.
Listen to Go With Elmo, Episode 97, for the full conversation—funny, insightful, and deeply inspiring.
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