Ink, ink set, ink jet recording method, ink cartridge and ink jet recording apparatus

An ink for use in an ink jet recording method in which an ink is ejected from a recording head through action of thermal energy,

• wherein the ink comprises a pigment represented by the general formula (1), a dispersant, a water-soluble organic compound and an aggregation inhibiting substance for inhibiting aggregation after dispersion breakdown of the pigment,
• wherein the content (mass %) of the water-soluble organic compound is 5.0 mass % or more to 16.5 mass % or less with respect to the total mass of the ink,
• wherein the content (mass %) of the aggregation inhibiting substance with respect to the total mass of the ink is 0.4 times or more to less than 1.3 times of the content (mass %) of the pigment with respect to the total mass of the ink;
• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, an alkoxyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a sulfonic acid group or an alkaline earth metal salt thereof, an N-phenylaminosulfonyl group, a carboxyl group or an alkaline earth metal salt thereof, a carboamide group, an N-phenylcarbamoyl group, an a ureylene group, an iminodicarbonyl group or a carboxylate group.