AceShowbiz - It’s a rainy weekday evening in May, and while most New Yorkers hurry indoors, 6LACK, the rapper and R&B artist, embraces the gentle drizzle with calm and purpose. Before sitting down for dinner at his favorite downtown izakaya, he takes a brief stroll through the Lower East Side, seeking a moment of peace after a demanding day spent promoting his upcoming album, Love Is the New Gangsta.

At 33 years old and a five-time Grammy nominee, 6LACK—born Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr.—has come a long way from his early days growing up in east Atlanta. His relationship with New York City has evolved as well. “Five years ago, I didn’t like it because I was always here for work,” he reflects. “It felt so high-volume. Everybody’s beeping, folks are a little more aggressive, you go from venue to building to interview and traffic is soaking up all of your time. I figured out that I need space when I come here.”

His stage name, 6LACK, is a nod to his childhood neighborhood, Zone Six, symbolizing his roots and identity. Outside of music, he values simplicity and cherishes spending time with loved ones, visiting farmer’s markets, and being near water. At dinner, he confidently orders a spread that includes shishito peppers, cucumber salad, spicy tuna crispy rice, hamachi serrano peppers, steak, salmon, and oxtail rice. He notes how his palate has matured: “Wings were always number one for me, but at this point in my life I think sushi is top, for sure.”

Beyond his culinary tastes, 6LACK has grown profoundly as an artist, father, and partner. He recognizes the vital role that balance and space play in his creative and personal life. These themes are central to Love Is the New Gangsta, set to release on May 22. The album’s development coincided with a transformative period for him and his partner, artist Bianca Leonor Quiñones, known as Quiñ, as they anticipated the arrival of their daughter, Blaze, who is now 10 months old.

“Before the pregnancy, our relationship was on the rocks,” 6LACK admits. At that time, he had just returned to Atlanta and was collaborating with rapper and producer Childish Major. “I just started to vent and have open conversations about what I was going through, and we just knew we had to make an album about it.” The creative process became a therapeutic outlet, allowing him to confront his mental health and relationship struggles openly.

He describes the making of the album as “an ongoing session of therapy, accountability, and being creative.” Whether through dialogue or jamming on guitar and keys, ideas flowed naturally, and songs began to emerge. “We just started cooking up. It was fun,” he says with enthusiasm.

As the oldest of three siblings, 6LACK was naturally introverted. His first experience with rapping came early—at age four—when he performed a song called “Blues,” written by his father, who is also a rapper. “My verses didn’t rhyme or nothing crazy. It was just, ‘When I grow up, I want to be somebody. I’m believing God. I believe in me,’” he recalls. This early exposure planted the seeds for his passion, though much of his artistic growth happened in solitude. “My seriousness, my passion, and curiosity really came from just being in my room to myself.”

His mother also influenced his musical taste, often playing R&B artists like Monica, Brandy, and 112. These sounds became foundational to his style, along with the Atlanta hip-hop scene of the early 2000s. He fondly remembers listening to acts like Jadakiss, Dipset, Jeezy, OutKast, and battle rappers Cassidy and Reed Dollaz. “From there, once I had some space to myself, I just started venturing off into whatever I could find,” he explains. Currently, his tastes span alternative and jazz genres, which permeate his new project. “I’m all over the place,” he admits. “I’m just curious and a fan. I think the biggest compliment that you can get from someone listening to your music is them having to stop and question, ‘What is this?’”

6LACK’s music serves as a personal diary, offering listeners a glimpse into his emotions and experiences. The album opens with “Bounty,” a smooth yet lyrically sharp track about a woman scorned and seeking emotional vengeance. “All That Matters,” featuring Grammy-nominated artist AZ Chike and Grammy winner Leon Thomas, uses a bass line that pulses like a heartbeat, symbolizing his deep love for his partner. Both songs blend his alternative influences with his unique voice.

Another standout track is “Sunday Again,” featuring 2 Chainz. It captures the essence of his ideal Sunday—making love and enjoying a hearty meal to recharge. The lyrics cleverly play with the calendar motif: “You know you good for catching me on my weak days.” “Wifey Baby Mama” delves into the challenges of his introverted nature, including lines like “You loved a poet who can’t get his words right sometimes.” Meanwhile, “Out of Body,” featuring Quiñ, was the most time-consuming to perfect. “Just to get the right mix and feel super confident in how our voices were weaving in and out of each other. Just being more considerate overall, because just because I like something doesn’t mean that it’s the best version of what it can be,” he explains.

The story of how 6LACK and Quiñ connected is equally compelling. Thirteen years ago, he stumbled upon her music on YouTube while at a friend’s house. “A girl I used to kick it with was playing me some stuff she listened to and there was a video of [Quiñ] singing an acoustic song. From that moment, I was locked,” he recalls. After finding her on Twitter, he nervously tweeted, “I love you, bye.”

From there, their relationship grew slowly but steadily. He supported her releases, and when he was leaving his first record deal, he reached out for advice. Her response: “Follow what your gut feels.” They exchanged numbers and maintained daily communication through texts and FaceTime for a year before he flew to Los Angeles to meet her in person. “It was a storybook moment,” he says. “You see the person you’ve been talking to for a long time and it’s like, ‘Oh shit. Where have you been?’ It was so familiar. I could feel it in my chest. I could feel it in my stomach. I had butterflies and was nervous. We kicked it that whole week, but it was still platonic.”

They waited another year before exploring romance, choosing to protect the strength of their friendship. “We took a little break and that was my first real version of heartbreak,” 6LACK shares. To cope, he immersed himself in work and reflection, deepening his understanding of himself and his needs.

Throughout his journey, 6LACK has learned that balance isn’t just a luxury but a necessity for growth in both art and life. His forthcoming album, Love Is the New Gangsta, embodies that philosophy, weaving together his personal struggles, triumphs, and evolving artistry. As he continues to navigate fatherhood, partnership, and creative expression, he remains committed to authenticity and openness, inviting listeners to join him in his ever-changing world.