6LACK | |
|---|---|
 6LACK in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr.[1] (1992-06-24)June 24, 1992 (age 33) |
| Origin | Atlanta,Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Works | 6lack discography |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Spillage Village |
| Website | 6lack |
Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. (born June 24, 1992), known professionally as6lack (stylized as6LACK, pronounced "black"),[4] is an AmericanR&B singer and songwriter. Born inBaltimore, Maryland and raised inAtlanta, Georgia, he gained recognition following the release of his 2016 single "Prblms", which marked his first entry on theBillboard Hot 100. He signed withLove Renaissance, an imprint of Interscope Records to release his debut studio album,Free 6lack (2016), which was nominated forBest Urban Contemporary Album at the60th Annual Grammy Awards and receivedplatinum certification by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5]
Two years later, he released his second studio albumEast Atlanta Love Letter (2018), which peaked at number three on theBillboard 200. That same year, he released the single "OTW" (withKhalid andTy Dolla Sign) and guest featured onNormani's single "Waves"—which earned anMTV Video Music Award. In June 2020, he released his debut extended play (EP)6pc Hot, which included the single "Know My Rights" (featuringLil Baby). Later that year, he guest performed alongsideElton John onGorillaz's single "The Pink Phantom". His 2021 single, "Calling My Phone" (featuringLil Tjay) peaked at number three on theBillboard Hot 100 and peaked atop theCanadian Hot 100; it remains his highest-charting song on the former chart.[6][7][8] His third album,Since I Have a Lover (2023) was met with moderate critical and commercial reception.
6lack joined the Atlanta-Baltimore musical collectiveSpillage Village—founded byEarthGang andJID—in 2014. He has received threeGrammy Award nominations.
Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. was born on June 24, 1992, inBaltimore,Maryland, and moved toAtlanta,Georgia, with his parents in 1997.[9] He attendedStone Mountain High School andNewton High School.[10] He is the eldest of three siblings. Valentine's firstrecording experience was at 4 years of age, at his father's studio.[11] He began rapping in middle school as abattle rapper and was involved in many freestyle battles in his youth including against rapperYoung Thug.[12]
6lack signed arecord deal withFlo Rida's International Music Group and Strong Arm Records in July 2011. He leftValdosta State University once he signed, and spent the next few years learning about the industry. 6lack spent five years with the label, putting music out on hisSoundCloud account. 6lack had little financial security and spent most of his time sleeping in the studio or outside on the street after moving toMiami,Florida to work on music with the record label.[12] 6lack eventually left his label due to issues over artistic and creative license and management.[13] In 2015, 6lack announced that he had joined the musical collectiveSpillage Village after living with the members ofEarthGang, and appeared on four tracks of Spillage Village EP calledBears Like This Too in 2015.[14]
Once he left the label, he signed withLove Renaissance andInterscope Records.[15] In November 2016,Rolling Stone included 6lack in their list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know".[4] He then went on to release his debut studio album,Free 6lack, which peaked at number 34 on theBillboard 200 chart.[16] The album's single "Prblms" peaked at number 73 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart and became his first platinum record.[17] In April 2017, he joined Canadian singerThe Weeknd as opening act for hisLegend of the Fall tour in North America.
In April 2018, he released the single "OTW" withKhalid andTy Dolla Sign, which has reached at number 57 on theBillboard Hot 100.[18] "OTW" became 6lack's highest peaking song on the Hot 100.[18] The firstsingle for his sophomore album, "Switch", was released on June 22, 2018, with a music video released on July 16.[19] "Nonchalant" was released as the album's second single on August 17, with its accompanying music video.[20][21] On September 14, 2018, 6lack released his second studio album,East Atlanta Love Letter, featuringguest appearances fromFuture,J. Cole,Offset, and Khalid. The album's release was preceded by the singles "Switch" and "Nonchalant."[22] In October 2018, 6lack started a tour for the promotion of the album, with opening actsTHEY.,Tierra Whack,Boogie,Deante' Hitchcock,Summer Walker, andAri Lennox.[23][24] 6lack later featured on several other songs, such as "Waves" byNormani.[25] and "Crowded Room" bySelena Gomez, in 2019 and early 2020, respectively.[26]
In May 2020, 6lack released the track "ATL Freestyle". A few weeks later, on June 24, 2020, 6lack celebrated his birthday with the release of the single "Float". He also announced his EP6pc Hot, which was released on June 26 and included theLil Baby-assisted single, "Know My Rights". He also launched his own hot sauce brand 600 Degrees Original.[27]6lack appeared on two tracks fromSpillage Village'sSpilligion album, released in September 2020.[28] During 2020, he collaborated with British virtual bandGorillaz and singer-songwriterElton John on the track "The Pink Phantom", for the band's seventh studio album,Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez,[citation needed] and with rappersLil Durk and Young Thug for the song "Stay Down" from the former's sixth studio album,The Voice. The song peaked at number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100.[29]
In 2021, he released "Calling My Phone" with Bronx rapperLil Tjay.[30] In 2022, he was featured on Canadian singer-songwriterJessie Reyez's albumYessie, in her song "Forever", and its accompanying music video.[31]
On March 24, 2023, 6lack released his albumSince I Have a Lover. The 19-track album featured the artistsQUIN,Wale, andDon Toliver. The album was nominated forbest progressive R&B album at theGrammys. In an interview withComplex, 6lack stated that the title responds to questions such as "Where have you been? What have you been doing? What's the inspiration?" that people asked him.[32] On March 22, 2024, 6lack released his acoustic projectNo More Lonely Nights. It featured 6 songs off his albumSince I Have a Lover.
6lack's music focuses or is based on personal and business relationships frequently, especially the topic ofheartbreak.[33] 6lack has said that his songwriting is influenced mainly by his personal experiences and failed relationships.[34]Billboard magazine has described 6lack's music as "moody hip hop" that "spotlights vulnerability and honesty in a way the emoji generation can understand."[13] 6lack has citedSade,T-Pain,The-Dream, andUsher as his influences.[35]
Headlining
Supporting
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Soul Train Music Awards[36] | Best New Artist | Himself | Nominated |
| 2018 | Grammy Awards[37] | Best Urban Contemporary Album | Free 6lack | Nominated |
| Best Rap/Sung Performance | "Prblms" | Nominated | ||
| iHeartRadio Music Awards[38] | Best New R&B Artist | Himself | Nominated | |
| Soul Train Music Awards[39] | Best Collaboration | "OTW"(withKhalid andTy Dolla Sign) | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Grammy Awards[40] | Best Rap/Sung Performance | "Pretty Little Fears"(withJ. Cole) | Nominated |
| MTV Video Music Award[41] | Best R&B Video | "Waves"(withNormani) | Won | |
| 2024 | Grammy Awards[42] | Best Progressive R&B Album | Since I Have a Lover | Nominated |
| 2026 | Grammy Awards | Best Melodic Rap Performance | "Wholeheartedly"(withJID andTy Dolla Sign) | Pending |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
