About The Weeknd

Early Life

Abel Tesfaye, known as The Weeknd, was born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada, to Ethiopian immigrant parents. His early upbringing was shaped by his Ethiopian heritage, and his first language was Amharic. Tesfaye dropped out of high school in grade 11 and moved out, beginning a lifestyle of partying and music that would influence his future work.

Career Beginnings

While working at American Apparel, Tesfaye started writing songs about drug use, alienation, and romance. In 2010, he anonymously uploaded tracks to YouTube under the name "The Weeknd," catching the attention of Canadian rapper Drake. By 2011, he released three critically acclaimed mixtapes: House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence.

Rise to Fame

Following the mixtapes' success, The Weeknd signed with Republic Records and released Trilogy (2012), a remastered collection of his early works. His 2015 album, Beauty Behind the Madness, featuring hits like "Can't Feel My Face" and "Earned It," brought him mainstream stardom. He continued his rise with Starboy (2016), winning multiple Grammy Awards, and My Dear Melancholy, (2018), which revisited the darker tones of his early music.

Recent Projects

The Weeknd’s cinematic album After Hours (2020) delivered the global smash "Blinding Lights," and his 2021 Super Bowl halftime show performance further elevated his legacy. In 2022, he released Dawn FM, a critically acclaimed album described as a "dance party in purgatory." In 2025, he completed his album trilogy with Hurry Up Tomorrow. Beyond music, he has expanded into acting, appearing in Uncut Gems (2019) and co-creating and starring in the TV series The Idol (2023).

Today, The Weeknd is recognized as one of the most influential and innovative artists of his generation, blending emotional storytelling, sonic exploration, and visual artistry across the worlds of music, film, and culture.