On Oct. 10, Robert Glasper released a new song and tribute collaboration featuring the late Mac Miller titled “Therapy Pt. 2.” The first addition to Glasper’s forthcoming deluxe edition of his latest album titled Black Radio 3 Supreme Edition, due on Oct. 14 via Loma Vista Recording. The song is a congruent and nostalgic reminder of the artistic and personal friendship Glasper and Miller cultivated. “Therapy Pt. 2” remedies a sequel track, referencing Millers’ 2014 song “Therapy” from his early mixtape Faces.
Glasper spoke to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe on Monday about how the foundation of the song came to be: “Mac was a good friend, man. I was in another studio session and he called me one night like ‘what are you doing?’ And I said, ‘actually man I’m in the studio.’ He said ‘man, I’m in the lab too… I need to be inspired. Send me something!’ I was like, ‘work ok’ so I just sent him the track and I was working on and he literally sent that joint back in like 45 minutes to an hour. The whole thing was done in 45 minutes to an hour. He was always like that, he always wanted to work. Few times he came and sat in with me, some of my shows, always talking about music. He just really lived off music. Music was literally his air. Gonna miss that dude.”
"Therapy Pt. 2" exudes a special chemistry between the renowned artists as Glasper’s chopped and slightly bit crushed piano loop blends with Miller’s anthem chorus, “How’s it feel (To be around somethin’ real)” which delivers a reawakened view of 2014 Miller’s persona as he goes on to say “I just got the iPhone 6/ It looks like Steve Jobs done ran out of tricks” before scatting over the instrumental in the outro with his infamously humorous carefree energy. Glasper had contributed piano to the Pittsburgh rapper’s 2016 track “God Is Fair, Sexy Nasty” on his album The Divine Feminine.
In a press statement, the estate of Miller commented on the song's release: “We’re honored to share this beautiful song that Malcolm created with Robert Glasper with the world. Anyone that followed Malcolm’s career closely is already aware of the respect he held for Robert’s work. The song is the product of the friendship the two shared and perfectly encapsulates the musical gifts of both Malcolm and Robert.”
It's also notable that Glasper is currently in the midst of his October residency at The Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City, lovingly known as Robtober. See a gallery from one of the evenings here.
Listen to “Therapy Pt. 2” below.
