Black Radio 2 [LP]

by Robert Glasper, Robert Glasper Experiment

Overview

On Black Radio 2, the Robert Glasper Experiment attempts the near impossible: create a sequel that delivers fully on the promise of its groundbreaking, Grammy-winning predecessor. Glasper's group -- bassist Derrick Hodge, Casey Benjamin on vocoder and synth, and drummer Mark Colenburg -- again enlists a stellar cast of vocalists. Instead of relying on covers, this set is almost entirely comprised of originals. There is an organic feel as well: there are no programmed loops on the record; everything was played live. Standout "I Stand Alone" juxtaposes hip-hop and pop as Common raps about growing up in Chicago, with a sung refrain by fellow Illinoisian Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. Michael Erik Dyson adds an inspiring spoken word outro. The set's first single, "Calls," features vocals by Jill Scott. It's a dreamy, repetitive, nocturnal, neo-soul groover with Glasper's Rhodes and Benjamin's synths sparkling above the clipped rhythm. The RGE weds neo-soul to hip-hop to very fluid jazz on "Worries" with Dwele. The popping snare and toms are accented by Glasper's acoustic piano and a bumping, bubbling bassline from Hodge, as the vocalist alternately sings and raps. Anthony Hamilton offers an exquisite, deeply moving vocal on "Yet to Find," a tune that weds adult contemporary R&B to modern gospel seamlessly and convincingly. Faith Evans underscores the pop/R&B notion on "You Own Me," a track illustrated by Glasper's crystalline middle-register piano, Benjamin's winding, circular synth line, and Colenburg's ticking, in-the-pocket hi-hat. The set's most bracing cut is "Let It Ride." It was written by Glasper and Muhsinah, and driven by Colenburg's dazzling breakbeat snare, which is so accurate it could be a loop. It's mixed far above the acoustic piano vamp, an atmospheric Rhodes, layered synths, and a sparse, seductive bassline. Norah Jones' slippery, slurry, vocal phrasing rises over the top, making the track an expansive, syncopated meld of dubstep, jazz, and pop. The set closer is a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Jesus Children." Introduced by the RGE in a nearly modal melange of acoustic piano, electric bass, and skittering snare, vocalist Lalah Hathaway finds the melody and adds her signature utterance, which is equal parts gospel, old-school soul, and bluesy jazz. She trades verses with Malcolm Jamal Warner, who delivers a searing, spoken tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, thereby exiting the set on a poignant note. Black Radio 2 is much more subtle than its predecessor. While it's true that it possesses fewer standout performances, it's wholly consistent, and on some level, it's braver for relying on original material to carry it. It requires more listening to appreciate fully. Taken as a whole, however, it serves and fulfills the role of a sequel: the album deepens the band's music-making aesthetic, and further establishes their sound not only as a signature, but even, perhaps, as its own genre. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	10/29/2013
Label:	Blue Note
UPC:	0602537433957
Rank:	19859

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Baby Tonight
2. I Stand Alone
3. What Are We Doing
4. Calls
5. Worries
6. Trust

Disc 2

7. Yet to Find
8. You Own Me
9. Let It Ride
10. Persevere
11. Somebody Else
12. Jesus Children

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Robert Glasper Experiment   Primary Artist
Robert Glasper   Primary Artist,Piano,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes
Snoop Dogg   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Bilal   Primary Artist
Common   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Lalah Hathaway   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Eric Roberson   Primary Artist
Dwele   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Faith Evans   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Macy Gray   Primary Artist
Lupe Fiasco   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Marsha Ambrosius   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Jazmine Sullivan   Primary Artist
Malcolm Jamal Warner   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Anthony Hamilton   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Brandy   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Patrick Stump   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Jean Grae   Primary Artist
Jill Scott   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Norah Jones   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Emeli Sande   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Luke James   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Wayne Brady   Vocals,Guest Artist
Derrick Hodge   Bass
Casey Benjamin   Vocoder,Saxophone,Synthesizer
John P. Kee   Vocals,Guest Artist
Mark Colenburg   Drums,Percussion
Michael Eric Dyson   Vocals,Guest Artist
Jahi Sundance   Turntables,Guest Artist

Technical Credits

Snoop Dogg   Composer
Andrea Martin   Composer,Composer
Andy Taub   Vocal Engineer
Bill Withers   Composer
Chris Athens   Mastering
Common   Composer
Eli Wolf   Producer,Executive Producer
Eric Roberson   Composer
Dwele   Vocal Engineer
Derrick Hodge   Composer
Casey Benjamin   Composer
Macy Gray   Composer
Lupe Fiasco   Composer
Mark Colenburg   Composer
Robert Glasper   Composer,Producer
Claude Kelly   Composer
Marsha Ambrosius   Composer
Brandy   Composer
Stevie Wonder   Composer
Josh Mosser   Vocal Engineer
Keith Lewis   Engineer
PJ Morton   Composer
Patrick Stump   Composer
Jean Grae   Composer
Jill Scott   Composer
Artia Lockett   Composer
Janette Beckman   Photography
Muhammad Ayers   Composer
Marcus Johnson   Assistant
Don Hannah   Photography
Steve Cook   A&R
Nicole Hegeman   Executive Producer
Greg Magers   Vocal Engineer
Anu~Sun   Composer
Emeli Sande   Composer
Terrace Martin   Producer,Vocal Engineer
Luke James   Composer
Qmillion   Mixing
Eli Aolf   A&R
Larry Whitt   Vocal Engineer
Any Sun   Vocal Engineer
J.C. Pagan   Design,Creative Director
Muhsinah Abdul-Karim   Composer