6LACK, whose real name is Ricardo Valdez Valentine, was born on June 24, 1992, in Baltimore, Maryland. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he started making music in high school. In 2011, he formed a rap group called “Yungsters” but later on went solo and changed his name to 6LACK. He released his debut mixtape, “FREE 6LACK,” in 2016, which garnered critical acclaim and landed him a record deal with Interscope Records. His debut studio album, “East Atlanta Love Letter,” was released in 2018 and peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. 6LACK has collaborated with artists such as J. Cole, Khalid, and Ty Dolla Sign. He is known for his introspective and moody style of R&B and hip-hop, and has been praised for his honest songwriting about heartbreak, relationships, and mental health. 6LACK has cited influences such as Lauryn Hill, T-Pain, and Usher in his music.
