diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/annex.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/annex.py
index 382615d0..172f4e07 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/annex.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/annex.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 from .base import MetadataExtractor
 
-from six import text_type
 import logging
 lgr = logging.getLogger('datalad.metadata.extractors.metalad_annex')
 from datalad.log import log_progress
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ def __call__(self, dataset, refcommit, process_type, status):
         # limit query to paths that are annexed
         query_paths = [
             # go relative to minimize cmdline footprint of annex call
-            text_type(Path(s['path']).relative_to(ds.pathobj))
+            str(Path(s['path']).relative_to(ds.pathobj))
             for s in status
             # anything that looks like an annexed file
             if s.get('type', None) == 'file' \
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/core.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/core.py
index 14696c08..2831e388 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/core.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/core.py
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@
 from datalad.utils import (
     Path,
 )
-from six import (
-    iteritems,
-    string_types,
-)
 
 import logging
 lgr = logging.getLogger('datalad.metadata.extractors.metalad_core')
@@ -319,7 +315,7 @@ def _get_urls_from_whereis(wi, prefixes=('http', 'dl+archive:')):
     from "whereis" output"""
     return [
         url
-        for remote, rprops in iteritems(wi.get('remotes', {}) if 'status' in wi else wi)
+        for remote, rprops in (wi.get('remotes', {}) if 'status' in wi else wi).items()
         for url in rprops.get('urls', [])
         if any(url.startswith(pref) for pref in prefixes)
     ]
@@ -433,7 +429,7 @@ def whereis_file_(self, paths):
         with keys: 'description', 'here', 'urls' (list) that contain
         the values of the respective 'git annex whereis' response.
     """
-    if isinstance(paths, string_types):
+    if isinstance(paths, str):
         raise ValueError('whereis_file(paths): paths must be '
                          'iterable, not a string type')
 
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/custom.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/custom.py
index f77b751d..6d4818f3 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/custom.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/custom.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 from .base import MetadataExtractor
 
 import os.path as op
-from six import text_type
 import logging
 lgr = logging.getLogger('datalad.metadata.extractors.custom')
 
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ def get_required_content(self, dataset, process_type, status):
         if process_type in ('all', 'dataset'):
             srcfiles, _ = _get_dsmeta_srcfiles(dataset)
             for f in srcfiles:
-                f = text_type(dataset.pathobj / f)
+                f = str(dataset.pathobj / f)
                 if op.lexists(f):
                     yield dict(path=f)
 
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ def __call__(self, dataset, refcommit, process_type, status):
                 meta_fpath = _get_fmeta_objpath(ds, mfile_expr, rec)
                 if meta_fpath is not None and op.exists(meta_fpath):
                     try:
-                        meta = jsonload(text_type(meta_fpath))
+                        meta = jsonload(str(meta_fpath))
                         if isinstance(meta, dict) and meta \
                                 and '@id' not in meta:
                             # in case we have a single, top-level
@@ -136,7 +135,7 @@ def _get_dsmeta_srcfiles(ds):
     # OK to be always POSIX
     srcfiles = ['.metadata/dataset.json'] \
         if not cfg_srcfiles and op.lexists(
-            text_type(ds.pathobj / '.metadata' / 'dataset.json')) \
+            str(ds.pathobj / '.metadata' / 'dataset.json')) \
         else cfg_srcfiles
     return srcfiles, cfg_srcfiles
 
@@ -154,7 +153,7 @@ def _get_fmeta_objpath(ds, expr, rec):
         return
     # build associated metadata file path from POSIX
     # pieces and convert to platform conventions at the end
-    return text_type(
+    return str(
         ds.pathobj / PurePosixPath(expr.format(
             freldir=fpath.relative_to(
                 ds.pathobj).parent.as_posix(),
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ def _yield_dsmeta(ds):
                 # no further operation on half-broken metadata
                 return
         lgr.debug('Load custom metadata from %s', abssrcfile)
-        meta = jsonload(text_type(abssrcfile))
+        meta = jsonload(str(abssrcfile))
         dsmeta.update(meta)
     if dsmeta:
         if '@id' not in dsmeta:
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/runprov.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/runprov.py
index a92aab7b..fc71c457 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/runprov.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/runprov.py
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@
     get_file_id,
     get_agent_id,
 )
-from six import (
-    text_type,
-)
 from datalad.support.json_py import (
     loads as jsonloads,
     load as jsonload,
@@ -203,7 +200,7 @@ def _finalize_record(r):
         if not isinstance(rec, dict):
             # this is a runinfo file name
             rec = jsonload(
-                text_type(ds.pathobj / '.datalad' / 'runinfo' / rec),
+                str(ds.pathobj / '.datalad' / 'runinfo' / rec),
                 # TODO this should not be necessary, instead jsonload()
                 # should be left on auto, and `run` should save compressed
                 # files with an appropriate extension
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_annex.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_annex.py
index a774b240..dc8dfcb5 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_annex.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_annex.py
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 # ## ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ##
 """Test annex metadata extractor"""
 
-from six import text_type
-
 from datalad.distribution.dataset import Dataset
 from datalad.tests.utils_pytest import (
     assert_equal,
@@ -29,7 +27,7 @@ def test_annex_contentmeta(path=None):
     (ds.pathobj / 'ignored').write_text(u'nometa')
     ds.save(result_renderer="disabled")
     ds.repo.set_metadata(
-        text_type(mfile_path.relative_to(ds.pathobj)),
+        str(mfile_path.relative_to(ds.pathobj)),
         init={'tag': 'mytag', 'fancy': 'this?'}
     )
     res = ds.meta_extract(extractorname='metalad_annex', path=str(mfile_path))
@@ -38,7 +36,7 @@ def test_annex_contentmeta(path=None):
     assert_result_count(res, 1)
     assert_result_count(
         res, 1,
-        path=text_type(mfile_path),
+        path=str(mfile_path),
         type='file',
         status='ok',
         action='meta_extract')
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_custom.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_custom.py
index 452641ad..a0ca0ece 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_custom.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_custom.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 """Test custom metadata extractor"""
 
 import json
-from six import text_type
 
 from datalad.distribution.dataset import Dataset
 from datalad.tests.utils_pytest import (
@@ -177,7 +176,7 @@ def test_custom_contentmeta(path=None):
 
     assert_result_count(
         res, 1,
-        path=text_type(ds.pathobj / 'sub' / 'one'),
+        path=str(ds.pathobj / 'sub' / 'one'),
         type='file',
         status='ok',
         action='meta_extract')
@@ -212,7 +211,7 @@ def test_custom_content_broken(path=None):
     assert_result_count(res, 1)
     assert_result_count(
         res, 1,
-        path=text_type(ds.pathobj / 'sub' / 'one'),
+        path=str(ds.pathobj / 'sub' / 'one'),
         type='file',
         # specific message does vary a lot across platforms
         #message=
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_runprov.py b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_runprov.py
index 4b1e3d66..895529b1 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_runprov.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/extractors/tests/test_runprov.py
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 # ## ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ### ##
 """Test runprov metadata extractor"""
 
-from six import text_type
-
 from datalad.distribution.dataset import Dataset
 from datalad.tests.utils_pytest import (
     assert_in,
@@ -48,7 +46,7 @@ def test_custom_dsmeta(path=None):
     res = ds.meta_extract(extractorname='metalad_runprov', path='dummy0')
     assert_result_count(res, 1)
     eq_(res[0]["type"], "file")
-    eq_(res[0]["path"], text_type(ds.pathobj / 'dummy0'))
+    eq_(res[0]["path"], str(ds.pathobj / 'dummy0'))
     for r in res:
         # we have something from the extractor
         md = r.get('metadata_record', {}).get('extracted_metadata', None)
@@ -80,7 +78,7 @@ def test_custom_dsmeta(path=None):
         extractorname='metalad_runprov', path='dummy0')
     assert_result_count(fileres, 1)
     assert_result_count(
-        fileres, 1, type='file', path=text_type(ds.pathobj / 'dummy0'))
+        fileres, 1, type='file', path=str(ds.pathobj / 'dummy0'))
 
     # smoke test to see if anything breaks with a record in a sidecar
     # file
@@ -97,7 +95,7 @@ def test_custom_dsmeta(path=None):
     assert_result_count(res, 1)
     eq_(res[0]['type'], 'file')
     assert_result_count(
-        res, 1, type='file', path=text_type(ds.pathobj / 'dummy_side'))
+        res, 1, type='file', path=str(ds.pathobj / 'dummy_side'))
 
     # check that it survives a partial report (no _core metadata extracted)
     # for JSON-LD reporting
diff --git a/datalad_metalad/tests/__init__.py b/datalad_metalad/tests/__init__.py
index d2a5fddd..5b2f0adc 100644
--- a/datalad_metalad/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/datalad_metalad/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-from six import text_type
 from datalad.api import (
     Dataset,
     save,
@@ -20,7 +19,7 @@ def make_ds_hierarchy_with_metadata(path):
     ds.repo.set_metadata('file.dat', reset={'tag': ['one', 'two']})
     subds = ds.create('sub')
     # we need one real piece of content for metadata extraction
-    (subds.pathobj / 'real').write_text(text_type('real'))
+    (subds.pathobj / 'real').write_text('real')
     ds.save(recursive=True, result_renderer="disabled")
     return ds, subds
 
diff --git a/requirements-devel.txt b/requirements-devel.txt
index bd215efc..cea54f19 100644
--- a/requirements-devel.txt
+++ b/requirements-devel.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ pre-commit
 pyyaml
 pytest
 pytest-cov
-six
 
 # required for extractor tests
 ExifRead
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index b94b33d3..01bcfbb7 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-six
 datalad>=0.18
 sphinx>=1.7.8
 sphinx-rtd-theme
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index c4f40c19..e82c41b4 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ classifiers =
 [options]
 python_requires = >= 3.7
 install_requires =
-    six
     datalad >= 0.18
     datalad-metadata-model >=0.3.10
     datalad-deprecated