Race/Related: Robert Glasper leans into a viral beef at the Grammys

Ahead of his fifth annual residency at the Blue Note, the pianist, producer and composer is hungry for a challenge. [View in browser](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP4QqAWh0dHBzOi8vbWVzc2FnaW5nLWN1c3RvbS1uZXdzbGV0dGVycy5ueXRpbWVzLmNvbS90ZW1wbGF0ZS9vYWt2Mj9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcHJvZHVjdENvZGU9UlImcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVyaT1ueXQlM0ElMkYlMkZuZXdzbGV0dGVyJTJGMWJmOTdhOTMtZTE0OS01YjU5LWI4NGYtYTBjNzVlOTU2ZDA1JnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)|[nytimes.com](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0SyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~)[Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-ad-marquee) [Marquee Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0SZaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NTgwJmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIzMTAwNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [More Race/Related](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vc3BvdGxpZ2h0L3JhY2U_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) October 7, 2023 Robert Glasper finds scoring films a welcome challenge. “Ease can be a bad thing, and making my own music, a lot of times, is easy,” he said.Jasmine Clarke for The New York Times A Jazz Musician Embracing Pop Culture [Author Headshot](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcmVnZ2llLXVnd3U_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) By [Reggie Ugwu](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vYnkvcmVnZ2llLXVnd3U_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) In February, on the night of this year’s Grammy Awards, the pianist, producer and composer [Robert Glasper](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxMi8wMi8yNi9hcnRzL211c2ljL3JvYmVydC1nbGFzcGVyLWV4cGVyaW1lbnQtdG8tcmVsZWFzZS1ibGFjay1yYWRpby5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) was enjoying himself in the audience at the Microsoft Theater when he realized he didn’t have his phone. He had given it to his assistant earlier in the evening, before taking the stage to accept the award for best R&B album — his second win in that category and fifth career Grammy. When he retrieved the phone, Glasper saw that it was filled with messages about the R&B singer Chris Brown, who was among the nominees whom he had just bested. Brown had reacted to the loss with a discourteous [post to his 131 million followers on Instagram](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmlsbGJvYXJkLmNvbS9tdXNpYy9hd2FyZHMvY2hyaXMtYnJvd24tcm9iZXJ0LWdsYXNwZXItZ3JhbW15cy0yMDIzLWxvc3MtMTIzNTIxMzE3NS8_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~): “Who the [expletive] is Robert Glasper,” appending a crying laughing emoji to the word “who.” The comment, which Brown followed with a video comparing his success on the record charts to Glasper’s, was an attempt to undercut his rival’s achievement. But Brown had fallen into a trap. Over the previous 10 years, Glasper had been methodically chipping away at the boundaries between jazz — the music for which he originally became known — hip-hop and R&B. In some ways, his winning album, “[Black Radio III](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdD02cyZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmdj0yejhwaU9nZ05zd1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~),” was designed to force precisely the kind of showdown with contemporary Black popular music that Brown’s intemperate posting had unwittingly supplied. Scrolling through his phone at the venue, Glasper was almost giddy. “Oh yeah,” he thought to himself. “This is going to be great.” Glasper, 45, whose long face and soft features are capped by closely trimmed hair, [ascended the ranks of modern jazz nearly 20 years ago](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAwNS8xMS8wMy9hcnRzL211c2ljL2EtcGlhbmlzdC1hY2Nlc3NpYmxlLWJ1dC1vcGFxdWUuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). Born and raised in Houston, he arrived in New York to study at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in 1997, right as the neo-soul movement, pioneered by artists like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu, was integrating jazz instrumentation and vocal performance into a chart-topping variant of R&B. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-0) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0SZaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MTc0MTQ5JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIzMTAwNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) At the New School, Glasper befriended the singer Bilal, a member of a loose musicians collective called [the Soulquarians](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOC8wOC8wOC9hcnRzL211c2ljL3BsYXlpbmctY2hhbmdlcy1leGNlcnB0LXNvdWxxdWFyaWFucy1kYW5nZWxvLmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) with D’Angelo, Badu, the producer [J Dilla](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TmaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8wNC8wMy9OWVQtUHJlc2VudHMvai1kaWxsYS1oaXAtaG9wLWRldHJvaXQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD), and the rappers Common, Yasiin Bey (then known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, among others. The group shared recording space at Electric Lady Studios and occasionally attended concerts together. At the same time, Glasper was getting an education in the world of straight-ahead jazz while playing piano in bands led by Christian McBride and Russell Malone — both took him on tour, at the expense of his attendance record — and forming his own acoustic trio. His first album, “[Mood](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9SVJhWEd5ekw0b1VXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” (2004) and two follow-ups for Blue Note Records, “[Canvas](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9Z0xpVkZvb3NxT2NXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” (2005) and “[In My Element](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9d3RuTVNLb0xaU3NXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” (2007), hewed largely traditional, with an occasional nod to hip-hop, as on the “In My Element” track “[J Dillalude](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9QjlCcHQzQUowQ3dXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD).” But by the release of his fourth album, “[Double Booked](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3JnY9QjBWTzV3WHp3TmNXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” (2009) — half featuring the Robert Glasper Trio and half featuring a new electric fusion ensemble called “[The Robert Glasper Experiment](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxOC8xMC8xOS9hcnRzL211c2ljL3JvYmVydC1nbGFzcGVyLWJsdWUtbm90ZS1yZXNpZGVuY3kuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD)” — Glasper’s inner Soulquarian was edging into view. “Real jazz is supposed to reflect the times you’re in; that’s the true history and tradition of the music,” he said. “I’m not supposed to sound like Thelonious Monk did when I have so much more music to be influenced by.” The “Black Radio” series, which Glasper described as a distillation of his brand, made breathing room for those influences. The first album, released in 2012, featured several of his neo-soul compatriots — Badu, Bilal, Musiq Soulchild — as well as rapping from Lupe Fiasco and Bey, with covers of songs by David Bowie and Nirvana thrown in for good measure. [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-1) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0SZaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9MjA3NTc3JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIzMTAwNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) “Black Radio” earned Glasper his first Grammy Award (for best R&B album) and set him on a collision course with popular culture not seen from a jazz musician this century. He played piano on several tracks of Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album, [“To Pimp a Butterfly,”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxNS8wMy8xOC9hcnRzL211c2ljL2tlbmRyaWNrLWxhbWFyLWVtYm9sZGVuZWQtYnV0LWJ1cmRlbmVkLWJ5LXN1Y2Nlc3MuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) released a remix album with the house music producer Kaytranada and was recruited by the actor Don Cheadle to compose the score for [“Miles Ahead,”](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAxNi8wNS8yNi9hcnRzL211c2ljL3JvYmVydC1nbGFzcGVyLW1pbGVzLWRhdmlzLWV2ZXJ5dGhpbmdzLWJlYXV0aWZ1bC5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) a 2015 biopic of Miles Davis. The Blue Note residency (and a related festival in Napa Valley) unites Glasper’s extended universe of friends and forebears in one setting.Vincent Tullo for The New York Times “He has that desire to get to the next level,” said Common, who appeared on “Black Radio 2” (2013) and formed the group August Greene with Glasper and the drummer/producer Karriem Riggins. “He wants to be the one that people will look to and say, ‘Yeah, he was the greatest of that time.’” [Continue reading the main story](#a11y-skip-universal-2) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0SZaHR0cHM6Ly9saXZlaW50ZW50Lm5ld3lvcmt0aW1lc2luZm8uY29tL2NsaWNrP3M9NzI4Njk5JmxpPVJSJm09YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDcmcD1SUl8yMDIzMTAwNyZ0ZT0xJm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) Last month, Glasper arrived at a recording studio in Downtown Brooklyn to work on his latest film score, for a documentary about Luther Vandross, one of his mother’s favorite artists. “The first time I fell in love with acoustic piano wasn’t Duke Ellington, or Monk, or Herbie — it was Luther,” he said, crediting Nat Adderley Jr., Vandross’s longtime pianist and arranger. His large frame was draped in a black T-shirt with a portrait of Dilla, whose idiosyncratic production style inspired a generation of hip-hop and jazz musicians before and after his death in 2006. “Watching him work changed the way I play,” Glasper said. Read the rest of the story [here](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNS9hcnRzL211c2ljL3JvYmVydC1nbGFzcGVyLWJsdWUtbm90ZS1yZXNpZGVuY3kuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD). EDITORS’ PICKS We publish many articles that touch on race and ethnicity. Here are several you shouldn’t miss. [[Article Image] Kim Chandler/Associated Press](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9hbGFiYW1hLWNvbmdyZXNzaW9uYWwtbWFwLWRlbW9jcmF0LXNlYXQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [Alabama Is Ordered to Use Map With Two Districts That Empower Black Voters The new district map is a remedy to Alabama’s illegal dilution of Black voting power, and may lead to the election of two Black representatives for the first time in the state’s history. By Emily Cochrane](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0T1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy9hbGFiYW1hLWNvbmdyZXNzaW9uYWwtbWFwLWRlbW9jcmF0LXNlYXQuaHRtbD9jYW1wYWlnbl9pZD0zNyZlbWM9ZWRpdF9ycl8yMDIzMTAwNyZpbnN0YW5jZV9pZD0xMDQ2MjQmbmw9cmFjZSUyRnJlbGF0ZWQmcmVnaV9pZD03NzY3NDk1MiZzZWdtZW50X2lkPTE0Njc1MiZ0ZT0xJnVzZXJfaWQ9YWE0OTFlZjdmMWQ5NjRlNDk3OWZiNzg0ZTc0ZTAxZDdXA255dEIKZR0WOyFlrzYqqlIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAD) [[Article Image] Eugene Garcia/EPA, via Shutterstock](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNi91cy9iZXJrZWxleS1pbmRpZ2Vub3VzLXBlb3BsZXMtZGF5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [CALIFORNIA TODAY In Berkeley, Indigenous Peoples’ Day Is a Decades-Old Tradition Berkeley was an early adopter of the holiday, in protest of the annual celebration of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. By Soumya Karlamangla](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TkaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNi91cy9iZXJrZWxleS1pbmRpZ2Vub3VzLXBlb3BsZXMtZGF5Lmh0bWw_Y2FtcGFpZ25faWQ9MzcmZW1jPWVkaXRfcnJfMjAyMzEwMDcmaW5zdGFuY2VfaWQ9MTA0NjI0Jm5sPXJhY2UlMkZyZWxhdGVkJnJlZ2lfaWQ9Nzc2NzQ5NTImc2VnbWVudF9pZD0xNDY3NTImdGU9MSZ1c2VyX2lkPWFhNDkxZWY3ZjFkOTY0ZTQ5NzlmYjc4NGU3NGUwMWQ3VwNueXRCCmUdFjshZa82KqpSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAw~~) [[Article Image] Amir Hamja/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNC9hcnRzL3NwaWtlLWxlZS1leGhpYml0LWJyb29rbHluLW11c2V1bS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [A Spike Lee Joint via Movie Posters and Sports Jerseys Lee, the director of “Do the Right Thing” and “Malcolm X,” provided more than 400 items for a Brooklyn Museum exhibition. By Emmanuel Morgan](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0ToaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNC9hcnRzL3NwaWtlLWxlZS1leGhpYml0LWJyb29rbHluLW11c2V1bS5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [[Article Image] Andrea Mohin/The New York Times](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNC9hcnRzL2RhbmNlL3Jldmlldy1vbGl2aWVyLXRhcnBhZ2Etam95Y2UtdGhlYXRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) [CRITIC’S PICK Review: This Dance About Refugees Has Flow and a Groove Olivier Tarpaga’s “Once the dust settles, the flowers bloom” is a subtle work of beauty and mystery. By Brian Seibert](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMy8xMC8wNC9hcnRzL2RhbmNlL3Jldmlldy1vbGl2aWVyLXRhcnBhZ2Etam95Y2UtdGhlYXRlci5odG1sP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) Invite your friends. Invite someone to subscribe to the [Race/Related](~/AAAAAQA~/RgRnA8AWP0TKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vbmV3c2xldHRlcnMvcmFjZS1yZWxhdGVkP2NhbXBhaWduX2lkPTM3JmVtYz1lZGl0X3JyXzIwMjMxMDA3Jmluc3RhbmNlX2lkPTEwNDYyNCZubD1yYWNlJTJGcmVsYXRlZCZyZWdpX2lkPTc3Njc0OTUyJnNlZ21lbnRfaWQ9MTQ2NzUyJnRlPTEmdXNlcl9pZD1hYTQ5MWVmN2YxZDk2NGU0OTc5ZmI3ODRlNzRlMDFkN1cDbnl0QgplHRY7IWWvNiqqUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAM~) newsletter. Or email your thoughts and suggestions to racerelated@nytimes.com. 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