6LACK

Dazed slow jams are the primary mode of Atlanta-based contemporary R&B/rap artist Ricardo Valentine, a singer-slash-MC who goes by the name 6LACK ("black"). Prior to connecting with LVRN (Love Renaissance), the creative agency that has supported fellow Georgia native Raury, Valentine was signed to a label that he felt restricted his creativity. After a few years of being held back, he made significant gains — across 2015 and 2016 — with contributions to the Spillage Village compilation Bears Like This Too, as well as singles such as "Bless Me" and "Loyal." Once he was linked with Interscope, "Prblms" was officially released in September 2016 as his first major-label-affiliated track. The following month, it entered Billboard's Twitter Emerging Artists chart at number five. That single set up the release of FREE 6LACK, his debut album, which arrived the following month. The effort peaked in the Billboard Top 40 and climbed to number five on the rap chart. The following year, 6lack released a series of singles, including "That Far," "Grab the Wheel" with Timbaland, and "First Fuck" with Jhene Aiko. Two singles followed in 2018 with "Cutting Ties," and "Pretty Little Fears" featuring J. Cole. ~ Andy Kellman