Since I Have A Lover

“Cold Feet” is atmospheric with elements of folk instruments (the acoustic guitar) setting the tone. That continues onto the title track of the album, which comes in psychedelic proportions hinting at how that type of R&B may be a mainstay for quite some time. Throughout, 6lack’s vocoder-laced vocals are a stark reminder of his unique quality which made Free 6lack a stellar standout in 2016, when just about everyone mainstream delivered magnum opuses of their careers. One song that recalls the traditionalism of Free 6lack is “Fatal Attraction,” while “Tit For Tat” recalls the heavier trap boom on East Atlanta Love Letter.

This is a side of 6lack we’ve never fully experienced before. On “Inwood Hill Park” he mentions, “Colors startin' to feel real vibrant/Remember it was all black and white/I'm nothin' like I was when I first dropped/'Cause I would hate to do the same thing twice.” It’s a rarity for an R&B artist of today’s stature to actually change their sonic wave, but 6lack does something unorthodox for her listeners and succeeds during the process. Since I Have A Lover is a journey from start to finish– whether it's being played during a drug trip or a workout session.

What many R&B albums from male artists of today have been lacking is the balance of vulnerability. “Playin House” is a slow timebomb that gets deep in the feels, as it’s quiet in delivery with an eventual jazzy crescendo into a high pitch sample of UK R&B sensation Yebba. If anything this album feels as though it morphed Bryson Tiller’s Trapsoul with 6lack’s Free 6lack.

The influences of 6lack’s peers radiate throughout Since I Have A Lover– almost as if he is approaching an R&B album like that of a rapper, where rappers show they’re at the top of the game by imitating and perfecting the styles of what is hot in their respective genre. “Spirited Away” and “Talkback” have a slime-like cowboy aesthetic, almost like the music of Mariah The Scientist, who has been very vocal about her relationship with Young Thug. While, “Chasing Feeling” mirrors the work of SiR. Then there is the bar in “Preach”: “But I’m Chrisean, I can’t leave the blue face alone,” referring to their toxic on-and-off again relationship that has dominated social media conversations. “Wunna Dem” features his showmance partner Quin, in an unconventional duet where their vocals echo against one another over the cascade of violins. “Rent Free” takes a page out of the tropical vibes that Yung Bleu incorporates in his style of R&B.

“Temporary” stands out for how it incorporates UK garage ticks– something that can be heard on The Weeknd’s “Too Late” and Tinashe’s “Gravity,” which is subtly emerging in today’s R&B. Also a rarity, we’ve been getting very few all male collabs when it comes to two R&B singers, making “Temporary” stand out for the enhancement of Don Toliver. Another stand out collab is “Stories In Motion,” which has Wale rapping in his best form.

When it comes to studio albums, 6lack is 3 for 3. He rarely misses, and comes into each project with strong intention. It makes sense why his fans begged for a new album. 6lack is still premiere contemporary R&B, and it’s a shame that most aren’t paying as much attention as he does when it comes to crafting a solid project with character.