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Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
Born: February 16, 1990 (age 32) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Singer-songwriter, Record producer, Actor, Businessman
Years active: 2009 - Present
Genres: Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, Dance, Alternative, New Wave
Instruments: Vocals
Labels: XO, Republic
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Father: Makonnen Tesfaye
Mother: Samra Tesfaye
Website: https://www.theweeknd.com/
1990: Born in Toronto, Ontario, to Ethiopian immigrants.
2009: Began releasing music on YouTube.
2010: Uploaded "What You Need", "Loft Music" and "The Morning", which were produced by Jeremy Rose to YouTube and drew some attention. These songs eventually received coverage from Pitchfork and The New York Times.
March 2011: Released his debut mixtape "House of Balloons". It was named as one of ten shortlisted nominees for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize.
August 2011: Released his second mixtape "Thursday".
November 2011: Contributed to four songs on Drake's album "Take Care" as a songwriter, producer.
December 2011: Released his third mixtape "Echoes of Silence".
April 2012: Began his international tour, including performances at Coachella, shows at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City and various European festivals.
November 2012: Released "Trilogy", a compilation album consisting of re-mixed and remastered versions of his 2011 mixtapes and three additional tracks. The album was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and double-platinum by Music Canada.
May 2013: Released the title track to his debut studio album "Kiss Land".
September 2013: Released his debut album "Kiss Land", debuted at No.2 on the Billboard 200. The album was later supported by the singles "Belong to the World", "Love in the Sky" and "Live For" featuring Drake.
November 2013: Contributed to the soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), on the songs "Devil May Cry" and "Elastic Heart" with Sia and Diplo.
February 2014: Remixed Beyoncé's single "Drunk in Love".
August 2014: Collaborated with Ariana Grande on the song "Love Me Harder".
September - October 2014: Began his first headlining tour, the King of the Fall Tour, was held across the U.S.
December 2014: Released the song "Earned It" from the soundtrack for Fifty Shades of Grey (2015). This song won Best R&B Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
May 2015: Released the second single "The Hills" from his album "Beauty Behind the Madness". It was certified diamond by the RIAA.
June 2015: Released the song "Can't Feel My Face" as the album's third single.
August 2015: Released his second studio album "Beauty Behind the Madness". The album was certified double platinum in the U.S and it also won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
September 2015: Was featured on Travis Scott's debut album "Rodeo".
December 2015: Was featured on Belly's single "Might Not".
February 2016: Was featured on Kanye West's seventh studio album The Life of Pablo on the track "FML".
March 2016: Was featured on Future's single "Low Life".
April 2016: Was featured on Beyoncé's sixth studio album Lemonade on the track "6 Inch".
August 2016: Was featured on Cashmere Cat's single "Wild Love" with Francis and the Lights.
September 2016: Released titled track featuring Daft Punk from his third studio album "Starboy".
November 2016: Released his third studio album "Starboy". The album is certified triple platinum by the RIAA and it won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
February 2017: Was featured on Nav's debut single "Some Way".
April 2017: Appeared on the title track from Lana Del Rey's fifth studio album.
August 2017: Was featured on French Montana's track "A Lie". He was also later featured on Lil Uzi Vert's debut album and on Gucci Mane's eleventh studio album Mr. Davis on the track "Curve".
February 2018: Contributed to the soundtrack for Black Panther on the song "Pray for Me" with Kendrick Lamar.
March 2018: Released his debut extended play "My Dear Melancholy".
April 2018: Released the EP's lead single "Call Out My Name".
November 2018: Released his first greatest hits album The Weeknd in Japan.
January 2019: Was featured on Gesaffelstein's song "Lost in the Fire".
April 2019: Released "Power Is Power" with SZA and Travis Scott, the lead single from the Game of Thrones-inspired soundtrack.
November 2019: Released "Heartless" as the lead single from his fourth studio album. His next single, "Blinding Lights" was released after. This song became the longest charting song on the Hot 100 of all-time at 90 weeks.
March 2020: Released his fourth studio album "After Hours" and his album's title track. He became the first artist to lead the Billboard 200, Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Artist 100, Hot 100 Songwriters and Hot 100 Producers charts simultaneously in the album first charting week.
August 2020: Was featured on the late Juice Wrld's single "Smile" and on Calvin Harris' single "Over Now".
October 2020: Appeared on Ariana Grande's song "Off the Table".
November 2020: Appeared on the remix of Maluma's "Hawái".
February 2021: Released his second greatest hits album "The Highlights".
March 2021: Reissued his debut mixtape House of Balloons in its authentic form to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its release.
May 2021: Won ten out of sixteen nominations, including Top Artist and Top Hot 100 Song at the Billboard Music Awards.
June 2021: Appeared on Doja Cat's single "You Right".
July 2021: Appeared on Belly's single "Better Believe" with Young Thug.
August 2021: Reissued his second 2011 mixtape "Thursday" to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its release.
October 2021: Appeared on Swedish House Mafia's single "Moth to a Flame".
November 2021: Appeared on Post Malone's single "One Right Now" and was featured on Rosalía's single "La Fama".
December 2021: Reissued his final 2011 mixtape "Echoes of Silence" to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its release and was featured on Aaliyah's single "Poison".
January 2022: Released his fifth studio album "Dawn FM". He also broke the record for the most simultaneous entries for a male soloist on the Billboard Global 200.
Personal Quotes:
- Why can't I paint a vivid picture in my lyrics? Art is art. If you can create something that can make people feel, then you are an artist.
Photo courtesy of DepositPhotos
