Free 6lack

Free 6lack
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 18, 2016[1]
Recorded2016
Genre
Length58:21
Label
Producer
6lack chronology
Free 6lack
(2016)
East Atlanta Love Letter
(2018)
Singles from Free 6lack
  1. "Ex Calling"
    Released: July 25, 2016
  2. "Prblms"
    Released: September 23, 2016

Free 6lack is the debut studio album by American singer 6lack.[3] It was released on November 18, 2016, by LVRN and Interscope Records.[3] The album was supported by two singles: "Ex Calling" and "Prblms". It was nominated at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Release

[edit]

On November 13, 2017, three additional new songs were added to the album to celebrate the album's anniversary.[4]

Singles

[edit]

The first single from the album, "Ex Calling", was released on July 25, 2016.[5] The song contains samples of "Perkys Calling" by Future from the mixtape Purple Reign. The music video for "Ex Calling" was released on December 5, 2016.[6]

The second single from the album, "Prblms", was released on September 23, 2016.[7] The music video for "Problems", featuring 6lack rapping next to a grizzly bear,[8] was released on October 14, 2016.[9]

Commercial performance

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Free 6lack debuted at number 68 on the US Billboard 200 for the chart dated December 10, 2016 and has since peaked at number 34.[10]

Track listing

[edit]
Free 6lack track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Never Know"
4:09
2."Rules"
  • Valentine
  • Trevor Slade
  • David Moreau-Hispard
  • Joshua Scruggs
  • Ozan Yildirim
  • Syk Sense
  • OZ
  • Singawd
3:31
3."Prblms"
  • Valentine
  • Jeryn Peters
Nova4:06
4."Free"
  • Valentine
  • Peters
4:23
5."Learn Ya"
  • Valentine
  • Slade
  • Jakob Rabitsch
  • Harry Edwards
  • Singawd
  • Rabitsch
3:35
6."MTFU"
  • Valentine
  • Bankole
  • Andre Robertson
  • FWDSLXSH
  • Bizness Boi
  • JT Gagarin[b]
3:28
7."Luving U"
  • Valentine
  • Slade
  • Matthew Kidd
Singawd4:12
8."Gettin' Old"
Isaac3:35
9."Worst Luck"
3:26
10."Ex Calling"3:31
11."Alone / EA6"
9:13
Total length:47:00
Free 6lackBonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Glock Six"
  • Valentine
  • Jon Castelli
  • Julian Bohorquez
  • Jon Castelli
  • JulianBeatz
3:10
13."In Between" (featuring Banks)
  • Blomkamp
  • Singawd
  • Rabitsch
3:25
14."One Way" (featuring T-Pain)
4:46
Total length:58:21

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer
  • ^[c] signifies an uncredited producer

Sample credits

  • "Rules" contains samples of "Shadow Knows" performed by Aqua Nebula Oscillator.
  • "Luving U" contains a sample of Slow Meadow's original composition "Lachrymosia".[11]
  • "Ex Calling" contains samples of "Perkys Calling" performed by Future.

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Free 6lack
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[18] Platinum 80,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[19] Gold 10,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 60,000
United States (RIAA)[21] Platinum 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Duricy, Brian (November 29, 2016). "6LACK: FREE 6LACK". PopMatters. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. ^ "FREE 6LACK – 6LACK". AllMusic. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Platon, Adelle. "6lack Talks Industry Growing Pains, Love Songs & Moody Debut Album 'Free 6lack'". Billboard. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  4. ^ Street, Mikelle (November 14, 2017). "6lack released 3 bonus tracks for the anniversary of Free 6lack". The Fader. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ex Calling - Single - FREE 6LACK". Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  6. ^ "6LACK Shares "Ex Calling" Video". The Fader. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  7. ^ "iTunes - Music - PRBLMS - Single by 6LACK". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-09-23. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  8. ^ Schmelling, Clay Skipper, Michael (2017-03-30). "How 6LACK Went From Sleeping in a Recording Studio to Touring with The Weeknd". GQ. Retrieved 2017-04-18.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "6LACK Shares "PRBLMS" Video". Pigeons and Planes. 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2016-11-18.
  10. ^ "Billboard 200 - December 10, 2016". Billboard 200. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  11. ^ "My track "Lachrymosia" was sampled in this song by @6LACK. This probably my favorite use of any of my music so far". Retrieved 24 August 2017 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  13. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  14. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "6LACK Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  16. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  17. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "Canadian album certifications – 6lack – Free 6lack". Music Canada. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "Danish album certifications – 6lack – Free 6lack". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – 6lack – Free 6lack". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – 6lack – Free 6lack". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 20, 2020.