Ten years after the release of his seminal, GRAMMY-winning Black Radio, Robert Glasper has announced Black Radio III. The album is out February 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.
Arriving alongside the announcement is a new single, “Black Superhero,” featuring Killer Mike, BJ The Chicago Kid, and Big K.R.I.T. The official music video first premiered yesterday via broadcast channels BET Soul, BET Jams, MTVu, MTV Live, and Yo! MTV. Shot in Los Angeles and directed by award-winning director/filmmaker, Charlie Buhler, the video takes viewers through a series of vignettes that highlight real-life Black heroes who live in and work for their communities.
On creating the music video, Buhler says, “‘Black Superhero’ is a visual love letter to the Black community. It’s an ode to our strength, vibrancy, and joy. We have struggled, and yet we are still here, and not only are we here, but we are so much more than the adversity heaped upon us. I am grateful to Robert and the team at Loma Vista for trusting me with such a powerful and important song, and everyone who came together to help bring the concept to life. It was a true labor of love.”
Like its predecessors, the new studio album celebrates Black joy, love, and resilience and features Grammy-winning single “Better Than I Imagined” featuring H.E.R + Meshell Ndgeocello and “Shine” featuring D Smoke and Tiffany Gouché. Black Radio III’s guests also include Q-Tip, Jennifer Hudson, H.E.R. Yebba, Common, Ty Dolla $ign, Esperanza Spalding, Ant Clemons, India.Arie, and more.
Glasper mused on the project, sharing “I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Black Radio than by releasing Black Radio 3. To debut a live performance of ‘Black Superhero’ on The Tonight Show with some of my own heroes is really special to me. Hopefully, it inspires more to come.”
Tune in live to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 17 for a special MLK Day performance from Robert Glasper, performing “Black Superhero” with Rapsody, BJ The Chicago Kid, Amir Sulaiman, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, backed by The Roots.