6lack, QUIN, Jordan Ward
“Since I Have A Lover” World Tour
The Ritz
Raleigh, N.C.
Nov. 18, 2023
The beat dropped, the live band began to play, and the crowd was cheering within seconds. 6lack started performing “Rent Free,” and fans sang and rapped right alongside him: “I been through a lot this year/ Had to pay the price this year.”
As the venue darkened, mesmerizing images of purple shapes and waves and matching lights moved and bounced to the slow rhythm of the song on the screen behind him. From a distance, it left 6lack as only a shadow on stage. But it brought the point of the song into focus — he was telling a story about a lost love.
That was the scene Saturday night at the first stop, in Raleigh, of the “Since I Have a Lover World Tour.” QUIN, Jordan Ward and 6lack (pronounced Black) took concertgoers on a melodic journey at the Ritz.
QUIN’s self-described “fantasy soul,” Ward’s soulful raps, and 6lack’s lyrical stylings, were met with a constant stream of applause and cheers and occasional “I love you!“s. At times, the crowd sang every word of their songs, and this energy only pushed the artists to put even more of themselves into their performances.
The Ritz is mainly a standing-room only venue, so finding a spot that you could clearly see the stage from was a bit trickier for the shorter folks. However, ticketholders could upgrade to the seats on the second floor for a price.
QUIN, a Los Angeles native and 6lack’s partner, opened the show with her smooth and cathartic R&B sounds. She commanded the stage with songs from her 2016 album Galactica, and a dynamic display of waterfalls and clouds served as the background. The harmonic tunes from QUIN’s 2019 album, LUCID, intentionally took listeners to a dreamlike dimension. The galaxy-themed backdrop and matching neon lights amplified the experience. Her alternative flow activates the calmness and ease one would get during a yoga class or at the end of a Pilates class going into a final savasana.
Jordan Ward followed up with a crowd-pleasing combination of his most popular songs, ad-libs, dance breaks, and calls for audience participation. The St. Louis native brought a particular blend of style and soul to the stage. Ward performed several tracks from his debut album Forward, including “White Crocs” and “Sidekick.” It was evident that he truly enjoyed performing in front of others. In between songs, he spoke to the crowd about just wanting to be himself and was oozing with positivity.
After Ward finished, the DJ accompanying the trio on tour took control and played well-known hits to get the audience psyched for 6lack’s performance. He played songs by Gunna, Drake, Lil Uzi, SZA, and the Weeknd. Then, with the Tree of Life in the background, 6lack took the stage. The crowd erupted, smoke machines exploded, and bright lights beamed behind him.
6lack opened with “Inwood Hill Park” and “Talkback” from his third album, Since I Have a Lover, which the tour is named after.
He noted that the date of this Raleigh show, Nov.18, was he same date he released his first album, Free 6lack, in 2016. The Atlanta-raised artist paid tribute to the project and called it a stepping stone that helped him get to where he is today.
6lack said that becoming a father, speaking up and letting go of grudges and bad energy helped foster a period for growth, healing, and therapy for him.
He performed his features from Jessie Reyez’s “Imported,” Snoh Alegra’s “I Want You Around,” and Khalid’s “On The Way.” He let fans choose the next song to perform; “Switch,” from his sophomore album East Atlanta Love Letter, was the top pick. Other major hits like “Ex Calling” and “PRBLMS” followed; he ended the set with “Pretty Little Fears.”
Seeing 6lack live brought home for me his talent, drive, and dedication for the craft. Hearing him speak of ways to handle the ups and downs of life left concertgoers with a feeling of reassurance that they weren’t alone. Similar experiences are in store as The Since I Have A Lover tour stops in Orlando, Miami, and Atlanta before going overseas.
