6lack
6lack | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. June 24, 1992 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, songwriter |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Known for | R&B vocals and songwriting |
Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. (born June 24, 1992), professionally known as 6lack (stylized as 6LACK, pronounced "black"), is an American artist specializing in R&B vocals and songwriting. Originating from Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, he rose to prominence with his 2016 track "Prblms", marking his debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He secured a contract with Love Renaissance, an Interscope Records subsidiary, and released his first album, Free 6lack (2016), which received a Grammy nod for Best Urban Contemporary Album and achieved platinum certification.
His sophomore album, East Atlanta Love Letter (2018), reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart. That same year, he debuted the single "OTW" alongside Khalid and Ty Dolla Sign, and appeared on Normani's "Waves", which earned an MTV Video Music Award. In June 2020, he delivered the EP 6pc Hot, featuring the track "Know My Rights" with Lil Baby. Later in 2020, he collaborated with Elton John on the Gorillaz single "The Pink Phantom". His 2021 release "Calling My Phone" featuring Lil Tjay peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and secured the top spot on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting song to date. His third studio album, Since I Have a Lover (2023), garnered mixed reviews both critically and commercially.
Since 2014, 6lack has been part of the Atlanta-Baltimore collective Spillage Village, founded by members of EarthGang and JID. Over his career, he has accumulated three Grammy Award nominations.
Early life
Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. entered the world on June 24, 1992, in Baltimore, Maryland, before relocating with his family to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1997. He attended both Stone Mountain High School and Newton High School. As the oldest among three siblings, Valentine's initial foray into music occurred at age four within his father's recording studio. His middle school years saw him engaging in rap battles and freestyle competitions, including contests against rapper Young Thug.
2011–2017: Early career and Free 6lack
In July 2011, 6lack inked a deal with International Music Group and Strong Arm Records, labels associated with Flo Rida. After signing, he left Valdosta State University to focus on his music career, spending several years honing his craft and sharing tracks via his SoundCloud profile. During this challenging phase, financial instability was common; he often found himself sleeping in studios or outdoors after moving to Miami, Florida to collaborate with the label. Creative differences and management issues eventually led to his departure. In 2015, following a period of cohabitation with members of EarthGang, he joined the collective Spillage Village, contributing to four songs on their EP Bears Like This Too.
Subsequent to leaving his first label, 6lack signed with both Love Renaissance and Interscope Records. By November 2016, Rolling Stone had included him in their "10 New Artists You Need to Know" list. His debut album Free 6lack reached number 34 on the Billboard 200. The track "Prblms" climbed to number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned platinum certification. In April 2017, he served as an opening act for Canadian artist The Weeknd during the North American segment of the Legend of the Fall Tour.
2018–present: East Atlanta Love Letter, 6pc Hot, and Since I Have a Lover
In April 2018, 6lack collaborated with Khalid and Ty Dolla Sign to release the single "OTW", which peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his highest-charting track to date. The initial single from his second album, "Switch," debuted on June 22, 2018, followed by the release of "Nonchalant" on August 17. His sophomore studio album, East Atlanta Love Letter, dropped on September 14, 2018, featuring guest appearances from Future, J. Cole, Offset, and Khalid. The album's promotion was supported by the singles "Switch" and "Nonchalant."
To support the album's release, 6lack embarked on a tour in October 2018 with opening performances by THEY., Tierra Whack, Boogie, Deante' Hitchcock, Summer Walker, and Ari Lennox. Subsequently, he appeared on tracks such as Normani's "Waves" (2019) and Selena Gomez's "Crowded Room" (2020).
In May 2020, he unveiled the single "ATL Freestyle," followed by the birthday-themed track "Float" in June. Around this time, he announced his EP 6pc Hot, which was released on June 26 and included the single "Know My Rights" featuring Lil Baby. Concurrently, he introduced his own hot sauce brand named 600 Degrees Original.
6lack contributed to Spillage Village's Spilligion album in September 2020 and collaborated with Gorillaz and Elton John on the track "The Pink Phantom" from their seventh studio album. He also featured on Lil Durk’s song "Stay Down" alongside Young Thug; this single reached number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2021, he released "Calling My Phone", a collaboration with Lil Tjay. The following year, he was featured on Jessie Reyez's album Yessie with the song "Forever," accompanied by a music video.
On March 24, 2023, 6lack released his third studio album titled Since I Have a Lover, comprising 19 tracks and featuring artists such as QUIN, Wale, and Don Toliver. This album earned a Grammy nomination for best progressive R&B album. In an interview with Complex, he revealed that the title reflects inquiries about his recent artistic evolution. On March 22, 2024, he issued an acoustic project called No More Lonely Nights, which includes six reimagined tracks from Since I Have a Lover.
Artistry
The core of 6lack's musical expression revolves around intimate and professional relationships, frequently delving into themes of heartbreak. His lyricism is heavily influenced by his own life experiences and past romantic disappointments. According to Billboard, his sound can be described as "moody hip hop" that emphasizes vulnerability and sincerity resonating with today's emoji-driven generation. His artistic influences include Sade, T-Pain, The-Dream, and Usher.
Discography
- Free 6lack (2016)
- East Atlanta Love Letter (2018)
- Since I Have a Lover (2023)
Tours
Headlining
- Free 6lack Tour (2017)
- From East Atlanta with Love Tour (2018)
- Since I Have a Lover Tour (2023)
Supporting
- Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour (2017)
- Heartbreak on a Full Moon Tour (2018)
- It Was You All Along Tour (2024)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Soul Train Music Awards | Best New Artist | Himself | Template:Nom |
| 2018 | Grammy Awards | Best Urban Contemporary Album | Free 6lack | Template:Nom |
| Best Rap/Sung Performance | "Prblms" | Template:Nom | ||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best New R&B Artist | Himself | Template:Nom | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | Best Collaboration | "OTW" (with Khalid and Ty Dolla Sign) | Template:Nom | |
| 2019 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap/Sung Performance | "Pretty Little Fears" (with J. Cole) | Template:Nom |
| MTV Video Music Award | Best R&B Video | "Waves" (with Normani) | Template:Won | |
| 2024 | Grammy Awards | Best Progressive R&B Album | Since I Have a Lover | Template:Nom |
| 2026 | Grammy Awards | Best Melodic Rap Performance | "Wholeheartedly" (with JID and Ty Dolla Sign) | Template:Pending |
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1992 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American rappers
- American contemporary R&B vocalists
- 21st-century African-American male rappers
- 21st-century African-American rappers
- 21st-century American male rappers
- African-American male singer-songwriters
- American male singer-songwriters
- Interscope Records artists
- MTV Video Music Award recipients
- Rappers originating from Atlanta
- Singer-songwriters from Maryland
- Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)