“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?” In a recent conversation with Tidal, Robert Glasper was explaining the roots of his latest album, Black Radio III, an album separated from its predecessors, Black Radio I and II, not only by time (the first two at the end of President Obama) but by a world confronting “police shootings and George Floyd and you name it, everything.”

Ten years since the groundbreaking release of the first Black Radio which introduced the fusion of hip-hop/jazz/R&B/rap that would gain Glasper critical acclaim and his first (of many) Grammy Awards. The times may have changed, but this is a continued celebration of black joy and positivity – even with a discussion of the difficult times.

Black Radio III unfolds like ornate origami, a balance of guest features, storytelling, energizing optimism, and mesmerizing instrumentation. At the center of it all is the grounding presence of Glasper’s keys and production point of view. Everything feels organic and flows – you can tell this is someone comfortable with improvisational jazz – the instruments seem to be talking to each other, you can almost feel the eye contact between the musicians through the music. While discussing isolation and how to connect during Covid there’s still a universal feeling to the song “Better Than I Imagined” and having H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello on the track don’t hurt.

Like the music, the features don’t ever feel forced. Even a cover of Tear for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule the World” (and wow does that song hit different right now) feels original and fresh with Common and Lalah Hathaway trading off vocals. Elsewhere, Killer Mike (Run the Jewels) discusses the “Black Superhero” with BJ The Chicago Kid and Big K.R.I.T. There’s jazz great Gregory Porter and Jennifer Hudson and Q-Tip and India.Arie (among many others) all taking a turn on the mic and each infuse their personality without changing the core energy. Glasper made a choice, to make this album and share his truth in this moment, and what he created feels like a timeless classic that could be returned to and fit times to come.