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The Weeknd: The Evolution of a Global Music Icon

Introduction

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known by his stage name singer, songwriter, and record producer. The Weeknd, is one of the biggest music stars in the world of modern pop and R&B. As a singer, songwriter and record producer with deep and widescreen sound of a haunting voice and controversial lyrics. The Weeknd is undoubtedly one of the biggest artists of the decade. Its not a long time ago Abel released his first few mixtapes. To his present day major labels record breaking albums, his story is a success story that speak volume of hard work, creativity and determination to achieve excellence.

Early Life and Background

Owing his baseline, The Weeknd was born Abel Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, in Toronto Canada in a low income family. Abel’s parents are Ethiopian immigrants to the United States. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He was raised knowing his first language as Amharic, and was exposed to Ethiopian music at an early age which forms part of his present sound. Even growing up in a not-so-conducive environment using social vices such as drugs and alcohol. The main issue that he faced in his childhood was that of identity and loss, but music was a theme that he never let go of. Leaving high school Abel chased his dreams, he rented a small apartment and lives with friends, working exclusively on music.

Rise to Fame: From Mixtapes to Stardom

Till date, The Weeknd’s rise to fame started with uploading three songs to YouTube in 2010 anonymously. These songs; What You Need, Loft Music and The Morning can be considered as those that had a number of people listening to the band and eyeing the industry. In 2011, he released three mixtapes: House of Balloons, Thursday, Echoes of Silence. These projects revealed retrospectives of R’n’B, electronic, and close to alterative sounds which gained a critical success in no time.

Following that breakthrough, Drake a fellow Torontonian crowned him by including him in his Take Care album. Of course, this exposure when combined with the gradual increase in the popularity of the artist promoted The Weeknd to mainstream status.

Breaking Barriers: The Trilogy and Studio Albums

Three of Weeknd’s mixtapes were then assembled and remixed in to a new set known as Trilogy in 2012 these are after the artist started working for the major record label. The album fixed him into the lime light of music industry and kept him there as he continued to refine his skills in song writing and other instrumental contributions to his works.

These albums are well known, Kiss Land (2013), Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), and After Hours (2020) which reveals stage progression of Drake. These songs include; ‘Can’t Feel My Face,” ‘Starboy’ ‘Blinding Light,’ and ‘Save Your Tears,’ which were on high demand globally, gaining him laurels.

The Weeknd’s Fashion Style and His Impact

The Weeknd sings love, heartbreak and soul music, but the characteristic, which sets his music apart from the others, is its general atmosphere of darkness. Part of what makes him different from his peers is that he enlists R&B, pop and electronic music. He has been blasted for challenging conventional sound production but having come up with an experience of lyrics, melodious tunes, and certainly fascinating visuals.

Aside from the music, Abel’s fashion choices have influenced trends inspiring looks and more. His looks just as much his music changed from the dreadlocks during the fame of ‘Old Town Road’ to clean shaven look when he released ‘After Hours’.

Social media journey 

As much as the Weeknd has remained proactive in the use of social media to reach out to fans and publicize work. The use of Instagram, Twitter and You-tube accounts has severely assisted in creating a fan base throughout the world they call the XO Crew. He has a mysterious look, plus the relatable stories he posts on his social media accounts allow his followers to remain interested in him.

That makes The Weeknd not just an influential musician with billions of streams with his songs across platforms, handlers, albums and YouTube channel but also an icon. 2021 Super Bowl Sunday Halftime Show was a good example of his capacity to engage the world on an entertainer level proving to be a modern pop icon.

Collaborations and Ventures

Over the course of his career The Weeknd has worked with some of the industry’s most prominent artists such as David Vink, Jay Z and Mr.Tom and Dre, Ariana Grande and, Kendrick Lamar. These projects have given him record chart successes, and at the same time demonstrated his ability as an all-round musician.

However he ventured in other forms of artism besides music as outlined earlier in this course. He has score in film and has contributed to the scores for Fifty Shades of Grey which includes the song Earned It that received him an Academy Award nomination. He has also started collaborations with companies such as Puma and H&M thus deepening the impact of his impression on the fashion world.

Challenges and Personal Growth

However, there has not been smooth sailing for The Weeknd on his way to the top. He has not been shy to provide information about his mental and personal problems which he has used as themes in his music. This weakness is especially important to fans and enhances his art even further.

This may have been because he was able to balance fame and pressure given to him by focusing on what he needed to do.

Awards and Recognition

Contribution to music by The Weeknd has received accolade from across the world. He has received many Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Juno Awards and many more. His more recent album, After Hours, even broke streaming records for a week and the “Blinding Lights” song became the longest charted song in Billboard Hot 100 list.

These awards also reflect his abilities though they also show how he has shaped the world music industry.

Legacy

The following is an analysis of what The Weeknd has brought outside of his music. He has become a cultural phenomenon oversinging; he has transformed the R&B as well as the pop genre ; he has inspired a number of musicians&&; he has enamored millions of people across the globe. This commitment would and shall define him and his creations and make his craft to be relevant for the generations to come.

More and more, The Weeknd steps beyond the traditional musical genre and proves to be an inspiration not only for fans, but in the realm of the arts as well.

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