Origins
- Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada
- Raised in Scarborough.
Kin Kane (2008)
Before becoming The Weeknd, Abel Tesfaye performed under the stage name Kin Kane
- Kin Kane featured early music and performances in Toronto underground music scene
- Formed a duo with Jessy Ray called "Bulleez N Nerdz", followed by a mixtape release.
- Kin Kane experimented with his musical style and with multiple genres until he developed his now unique and iconic sound
The Noise (2009)
- Formed a production team called "The Noise" with Kid Klassic.
- Tracks were leaked by producers that worked with The Weeknd via YouTube.
- The Noise disbanded in 2010
The Weeknd (2010)
- Adopted the stage name "The Weeknd" in 2010
- Removed the "e" to avoid copyright issues with a Canadian band called "The Weekend"
- Became a part of The Noise, a production team
- Released three mixtapes in 2011: House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence
- Signed to Republic Records under his label "XO" in 2012
House of Balloons (2011)
Released: March 21, 2011
- First mixtape that gained widespread critical acclaim
- Known for "Wicked Games" and "House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls"
Thursday (2011)
Released: August 18, 2011
- Second mixtape of the Trilogy series
- Known for "The Zone" and "The Birds Pt. 1"
Echoes of Silence (2011)
Released: December 21, 2011
- Final mixtape of the Trilogy series
- Known for "D.D." and "Initiation"
Trilogy (2012)
Released: November 13, 2012
- Remastered compilation of the three mixtapes
- Included three additional songs
- Known for "Twenty Eight" and "Valerie"
Kiss Land (2013)
Released: September 10, 2013
- First studio album
- Known for "Adaptation" and "Live For"
Beauty Behind the Madness (2015)
Released: August 28, 2015
- Known For "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills"
- Won 2 Grammy Awards:
First #1 album on Billboard 200
First artist to hold top 3 spots on Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart
Starboy (2016)
Released: November 25, 2016
- Won Grammy Award for "Best Urban Contemporary Album"
- Known for "Starboy" and "I Feel It Coming"
My Dear Melancholy, (2018)
Released: March 30, 2018
- Known for "Call Out My Name" and "I Was Never There"
- Debuted at #1 on Billboard 200
After Hours (2020)
Released: March 20, 2020
- Known for "Heartless", "Blinding Lights" and "Save Your Tears"
- "Blinding Lights", the second-released single of the album, is the #1 Billboard Hot 100 song of all time
Dawn FM (2022)
Released: January 7, 2022
- Debuted at #2 on Billboard 200
- Includes "Take My Breath" and "Sacrifice"
- Features Jim Carrey as radio host
Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
Release Date: January 24, 2025
- Upcoming studio album
- Known for "Dancing In The Flames", "Timeless (feat. Playboi Carti)"
- Release date was announced via Twitter, Instagram, Youtube & TikTok