The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, Kin Kane, Gene Hackerman
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Who is this?
Abel Tesfaye (born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye; February 16, 1990), known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Regarded as an influential figure in popular music, he is known for his light-lyric tenor vocal range and falsetto, alternative R&B sound, and dark aesthetics, as well as the cinematic visuals and storytelling of his music videos. His accolades include four Grammy Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards, 22 Juno Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, and a Latin Grammy Award. Tesfaye began releasing music anonymously in 2009. After co-founding the record label XO, he released three mixtapes—House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence—in 2011. He signed with Republic Records to compile the mixtapes into the compilation album Trilogy (2012), before releasing his debut studio album, Kiss Land (2013). Following collaborations and film soundtrack contributions from 2013 and 2014, Tesfaye blended alternative R&B with pop on his second and third studio albums, Beauty Behind the Madness (2015) and Starboy (2016); both debuted atop the US Billboard 200 and featured the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Can't Feel My Face", "The Hills", "Starboy", and "Die for You". Tesfaye returned to his alternative R&B sound for his debut extended play (EP), My Dear Melancholy (2018), featuring the US top-ten single "Call Out My Name". He began an album trilogy based on three time points, starting with the dream pop and new wave-inspired album After Hours (2020), which spawned the chart-topping singles "Heartless" and "Save Your Tears", as well as "Blinding Lights"—the best-performing song in the Billboard Hot 100's history and the most-streamed song on Spotify. The trilogy's latter two installments, Dawn FM (2022) and Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025), featured the US top-ten singles, "Take My Breath" and "Timeless". Tesfaye also co-created and starred in the controversial and critically panned HBO drama series The Idol (2023), and made his filmmaking debut in the film Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025). Tesfaye is one of the best-selling artists of all time with estimated sales of over 75 million units, and has amassed eight diamond-certified singles from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Time named him one of the world's most influential people in 2020. His After Hours til Dawn Tour (2022–2026) set the record for the highest-grossing tour by a male soloist in history. Tesfaye also hosted the Apple Music 1 radio show Memento Mori (2018–2022) and was appointed goodwill ambassador for the World Food Programme in 2021. He has donated to various causes, and advocates for racial equality and food security.
Career
- 1990Birth
What happened recently
Celebrity Machines 'STARBOY' Metal License Plate - The Weeknd & Daft Punk Music Video Replica (California Style)
The Weeknd at the Stade de France: a giant robot, flames and a barrage of hits — here’s our take on the opening night. - Sortir à Paris
The Weeknd at the Stade de France: show times, opening act... here are all the practical details
The Weeknd debuts post-'plastic surgery' look - but is everything as it seems?
Hitmaker Max Martin Sells Song Catalog Including Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, & Ariana Grande Hits in MAJ...
The Weeknd at the Stade de France: what is the setlist for his "After Hours Til Dawn" tour?
Watching The Weeknd Live: Is The King of The American Night Finally Done With Decadence?
The Objectification Of Lily Rose Depp On The Weeknd & Sam Levinson's "The Idol" Military Aircraft (eCKu6YW8UQ)
THE WEEKND KICKS OFF EUROPEAN LEG OF RECORD-BREAKING AFTER HOURS TIL DAWN TOUR WITH TWO SOLD-OUT SHOWS AT COPENHAGEN'S PARKEN STADIUM
The Weeknd commissioned a record-breaking gold statue for the After Hours til Dawn Tour
The Weeknd Surpasses 3 Million Tickets Sold in 2026 Alone for His 'After Hours Til Dawn' Tour
The Weeknd Tops 3 Million Tickets Sold in 2026 Alone as ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ Tour Kicks Off U.K. and European Legs
Global Superstar The Weeknd Sells 3 Million Tickets, Earns $440 Million in 2026
The Weeknd’s 2026 Shows Add $440 Million and 3 Million Tickets to Record-Breaking World Tour
With 3m global ticket sales in 2026, The Weeknd launches Europe and UK stadium tour in Manchester
The Weeknd’s Record-Breaking Tour Has Sold Over 3M Tickets & Earned Over $440M In 2026 Alone
The Weeknd back in Japan recently, stopping at Ramen Jirō Kameido restaurant in Tokyo
5 years ago, The Weeknd performed “Save Your Tears”, live at The 2021 Billboard Music Awards
'Hurry Up Tomorrow' Review: Not Even The Weeknd's Loyal Fanbase Can Defend this Painful, Egocentric Cinematic Ad
The Weeknd Confessed That He ‘Relates’ to a Famous Comic Book Villain, but Isn't 'Out To Destroy the World'
Scarborough-raised singer, Chxrry, becomes first woman signed to The Weeknd's XO Records
Chxrry, the first woman signed to The Weeknd's XO Records, is coming for the world
Chxrry, the first woman signed to The Weeknd’s XO Records, is coming for the world
I bought a resale ticket from Ticketmaster Poland but the ticket is not visible in my account. Does anyone know how to resolve this issue?
Live Nation Asia Hints That The Weeknd Is Coming To Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong & More
The Weeknd teases 'After Hours Til Dawn' Asia tour, hinting to stops in Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia & more
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