Since I Have a Lover

Since I Have a Lover
Studio album by 6lack
Released	March 24, 2023
Genre	R&B[1] pop[2]
Length	58:23
Label	LVRN Interscope
Producer	Aaron Bow Adriano apob Camper Cobalii Dylan Wiggins EY ForTheNight Fwdslxsh Honeywood Six Joe Reeves Kill September Khris Riddick Marzi Nick Veinoglou Nik D Olu Oz Psymun Rex Kudo Scribz Riley Simon On The Moon Singawd Slimwav Sounwave Steve (Tave) Octave Teddy Walton Yakob
6lack chronology
6pc Hot EP (2020) Since I Have a Lover (2023)
Alternative cover
Singles from Since I Have a Lover
"Rent Free" Released: December 17, 2021 "Since I Have a Lover" Released: March 1, 2023 "Talkback" Released: March 10, 2023 "Fatal Attraction" Released: March 16, 2023

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	68/100[6]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Clash	8/10[3]
The Line of Best Fit	7/10[4]
The Observer	[5]
Pitchfork	6.3/10[2]

Since I Have a Lover is the third studio album by American singer 6lack. It was released on March 24, 2023, through LVRN and Interscope Records. The album received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

On February 21, 2023, 6lack posted a video of a billboard announcing that his next album was releasing in March 2023 with the caption "and finally, we’re 6ack, March 2023 — #SIHAL 💐".[7][8] On February 22, 6lack posted a video snippet for the lead single "Since I Have a Lover", announcing that an album of the same name would be released on March 24, 2023.[9] The single released on March 1.[10] On March 10, 6lack released the single "Talkback".[11][12] On March 16, 6lack released the single "Fatal Attraction".[13][14] The album was released on March 24.[15]

6lack embarked on a world tour in support of the album, supported by Mereba, Jordan Ward, Quin, Spinall, and SadBoi.[16][17] The tour began in October 2023 in Portland and concluded in March 2024 in Oslo.[18][19]

Critical reception

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Since I Have a Lover received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 68 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.[6]

Ammar Kalia of The Observer wrote that the album was "stifled by the weight of its slow and atmospheric fillers" describing it as "the work of an artist in transition, catering to old fans and well-trodden styles while attempting to settle on something new."[5] The review for Pitchfork by Dylan Green concludes: "With mixed results, Lover tries to bring that eye and ear to a brighter musical palette and greener romantic pastures. To paraphrase the great Roy Kent, real love should make you feel like you’ve been struck by lightning. 6LACK manages some sparks here and there, but the tingles fade fast."[2] AllMusic's Andy Kellman described the album as "breezy and uncharacteristically serene" and "lighter -- and more emotionally open -- than either of his first two LPs."[1] Elliot Burr of The Line of Best Fit wrote that the album was "hiding thoughtful romanticisms and nuanced musical flashes that are a delight to discover."[4] Writing for Clash, Robin Murray called the album 6LACK’s "crowning statement" with "some of his most personal work to date."[3]

The album received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[20]

Track listing

Since I Have a Lover track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Cold Feet"	Ricardo Valdez Valentine Jr. Adeyinka Bankole Jakob Rabitsch Alex Gorchesky Simon Hessman Bianca Leonor Quiñones Syx Rose Valentine	Fwdslxsh Psymun Yakob Hessman	2:35
2.	"Inwood Hill Park"	Valentine Bankole Tobias Breuer Tomi Mannonen Octave	Fwdslxsh Rascal Steve (Tave) Octave Kill September^[a]	3:09
3.	"Since I Have a Lover"	Ricardo Valentine Bankole Mark Anthony Spears Dylan Wiggins	Fwdslxsh Sounwave^[a] Wiggins^[a]	4:42
4.	"Playin House"	Valentine Bankole James Francies Mannonen Abigail Smith Trevor Slade Wiggins	Fwdslxsh Kill September Singawd Wiggins^[a]	3:33
5.	"Fatal Attraction"	Valentine Bankole Khristopher Riddick-Tynes Wiggins	Fwdslxsh Khris Riddick Wiggins	3:16
6.	"Spirited Away"	Valentine Bankole London Cyr Kaydence Aaron Paul O'Brien India Shawn	Fwdslxsh London Cyr apob^[a]	3:08
7.	"Chasing Feeling"	Valentine Bankole Alex Blake EY Marcus James Kaydence Mannonen Wiggins	Fwdslxsh EY Wiggins^[a] Kill September^[a]	1:40
8.	"Preach"	Valentine Cobalii Nik D Oz	Cobalii Nik D Oz	2:36
9.	"Tit for Tat"	Valentine Bankole 8AE Fashun Honeywood Six Marzi	Fwdslxsh Marzi Honeywood Six^[a]	2:13
10.	"Talkback"	Valentine Michael Orabiyi Jakob Rabitsch Gordon Sumner	Scribz Riley Nick Veinoglou Yakob	3:04
11.	"Wunna Dem" (with Quin)	Valentine Bankole Quiñones Kill September Mannonen Aaron Paris Rabitsch	Fwdslxsh Kill September	1:51
12.	"B4L"	Valentine Adriano ForTheNight	Adriano ForTheNight	3:48
13.	"Decatur"	Valentine Bankole Kevin Ekofo Alex Goldblatt Olu Fann	Fwdslxsh Olu	2:57
14.	"Talk"	Valentine Aaron Booe Travis Walton Thurdi	Aaron Bow Teddy Walton	3:30
15.	"Temporary" (featuring Don Toliver)	Valentine Anastasiou Astrop Bankole Christian Beau Rabitsch Caleb Zackery Toliver	Fwdslxsh Yakob^[a]	2:58
16.	"Rent Free"	Valentine Bankole Eyobed Getachew Neil Aaron Huntley Elias Knight Kimberly Krysiuk Leon Thomas Rex Masamune Kudo	Fwdslxsh Thomas Rex Kudo EY^[r]	3:22
17.	"Stories in Motion" (with Wale)	Valentine Olubowale Victor Akintimehin Bankole Jerome Monroe Jr.	Fwdslxsh Slimwav	3:22
18.	"Testify"	Valentine Bankole Hessman Alexander Izquierdo Stefan Johnson Ilsey Juber Joe Reeves Kill September Marcus Lomax Singawd	Fwdslxsh Reeves Kill September^[a] Hessman^[a] Singawd^[a]	3:51
19.	"NRH"	Valentine Bankole Darhyl Camper Jr. Jocelyn "Jozzy" Donald Tyrone William Griffin, Jr. Kill September Singawd	Fwdslxsh Camper Kill September Singawd	2:36
Total length:				58:23

Notes

• ^.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}^[a] signifies an additional producer
• ^^[r] signifies a recording producer
• "Talkback" features an interpolation of "Shape of My Heart", as performed by Sting.[2]

Personnel

Musicians

• 6lack – vocals
• Quin – additional vocals (tracks 1, 3, 11)
• Syx Rose Valentine – additional vocals (1)
• Alex Gorchesky – guitar (1)
• Psymun – guitar (1)
• Yakob – guitar (1), string arrangement (11)
• Rascal – drum programming (2)
• Octave – guitar (2)
• Fwdslxsh – synthesizer (2, 7, 13), keyboard arrangements (2); drums, guitar (3); synthesizer (4, 15, 19), drum programming (5, 15, 17), programming (7, 13), string arrangement (11)
• Dylan Wiggins – bass guitar (3), synthesizer (4, 7)
• Alex Goldblatt – guitar (3, 13)
• Sounwave – programming (3)
• Singawd – drum programming (4), synthesizer (18, 19)
• Marco Bernardis – saxophone (4)
• Kill September – synthesizer (4, 18, 19)
• Khris Riddick – drum programming (5)
• India Shawn – additional vocals (6)
• EY – drum programming (7)
• Alex Blake – guitar (7)
• 8AE – additional vocals (9)
• Nick Veinoglou – guitar (10)
• Mereba – additional vocals (12, 19)
• Toian – additional vocals (12)
• ForTheNight – drum programming (12)
• Adriano – guitar (12), piano (12)
• Olu – drum programming (13)
• Kevin Ekofo – guitar (13)
• Syreeta Butler – spoken word (14)
• Beau Nox – background vocals (15)
• Leon Thomas – background vocals (15)
• Don Toliver – vocals (15)
• Slimwav – piano (17)
• Wale – vocals (17)
• Pink Sweats – additional vocals (18)
• Joe Reeves – bass guitar, guitar (18)
• Ashley Williams – choir (18)
• Erik Brooks – choir (18)
• Herman Bryant III – choir (18)
• Shelia Moser – choir (18)
• Steve Epting – choir (18)
• Simon Hessman – guitar (18)
• Crush – violin (18)
• Lauren Jauregui – additional vocals (19)
• Ty Dolla Sign – additional vocals (19)
• Camper – bass guitar, guitar (19)

Technical

• JT Gagarin – mixing
• Jon Castelli – mixing (1–15, 17–19)
• Joshua Deguzman – mix engineering (1–15, 17–19)
• Fwxdslxsh – recording arrangement (1, 2, 13, 15, 18)
• Simon Hessman – recording arrangement (1)
• Rascal – recording arrangement (2, 13)
• Derek "206derek" Anderson – recording (15)
• EY – recording production (16)

Charts

Chart performance for Since I Have a Lover

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[21]	53
French Albums (SNEP)[22]	152
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23]	48
US Billboard 200[24]	24
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[25]	7

References

1. Kellman, Andy, 6LACK - Since I Have a Lover Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, AllMusic, retrieved May 15, 2023
2. Green, Dylan (March 29, 2023). "6lack: Since I Have a Lover". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
3. Murray, Robin (March 24, 2023). "6lack – Since I Have A Lover | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
4. Burr, Elliot (March 24, 2023). "6lack: Since I Have A Lover review – showcases an established, embracing confidence all of his own | 6lack". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
5. Kalia, Ammar (March 26, 2023). "6lack: Since I Have a Lover review – from bedroom beats to the dancefloor". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
6. Since I Have a Lover by 6LACK, Metacritic, retrieved April 19, 2023
7. "6LACK Announces New Album 'S.I.H.A.L.' Comes Out Next Month". HipHop-N-More. February 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
8. Machin, Jennifer (February 22, 2023). "6lack Announces Upcoming Album 'S.I.H.A.L.' Dropping in March". Hypebae. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
9. Wells, Luke (March 1, 2023). "6LACK - Since I Have A Lover". Euphoria. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
10. Sadler, Armon (March 1, 2023). "6lack Feels Romantically Fulfilled In "Since I Have A Lover" Video". Vibe. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
11. Gonzalez, Alex (March 10, 2023). "6lack Shares 'Talkback,' His Spiritually-Empowered New Single". Uproxx. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
12. Samuels, Keithan (March 10, 2023). "6LACK Shares New Motivational Anthem 'Talkback'". Rated R&B. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
13. Mcnab, Kaitlyn (March 17, 2023). "5 Best New Songs This Week: Taylor Swift, Swarm Soundtrack, Tori Kelly & More". Teen Vogue. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
14. Schube, Will (March 16, 2023). "6LACK Returns With New Track 'Fatal Attraction'". uDiscover Music. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
15. Gonzalez, Alex (March 10, 2023). "6lack's Since I Have A Lover: Everything You Need To Know". Uproxx. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
16. Williams, Aaron (October 2, 2023). "Here Is 6lack's 'Since I Have A Lover Tour' Setlist". Uproxx. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
17. Lamarre, Carl (April 25, 2023). "6LACK Announces 'Since I Have a Lover' World Tour". Billboard. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
18. Cho, Regina (April 27, 2023). "6LACK announces 42-city "Since I Have A Lover Tour"". Revolt. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
19. Slingerland, Calum (April 24, 2023). "6LACK Brings 'Since I Have a Lover' to Canada on World Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
20. Enos, Morgan (November 10, 2023). "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". Grammy Awards. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
21. "6lack Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
22. "Top Albums (Week 13, 2023)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
23. "Swisscharts.com – 6lack – Since I Have a Lover". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
24. "6lack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
25. "6lack Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2023.