THE WEEKND

MERCHANDISE DISCOGRAPHY

THE WEEKND

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The Weeknd was born on February 16th, 1990 in Scarborough, Canada. Growing up he succumbed to addiction as his father abandoned his family and mother was forced to work 3 jobs to support him. Hailing from an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian household, his love for Amharic and singing became apparent at church, but then his life his an all time low. He decided to drop out of high school with his best friend Lamar to puruse music, and he states, "The agonizing look on my mom's face conveyed her sense of a failure as a parent." After bouncing from house to house, robbing people for their shoes and shoplifting, he knew that he had to take his music seriously.

THE COME UP

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After composing his initial mixtapes (House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence), Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd became an internet sensation after being discovered by Drake's manager in 2010. After posting the audio files on Drake's OVO blog, Trilogy came to be. Soon, Abel rose to stardom, collaborating with Drake on "Take Care," while selling out shoes left and right. However, no one knew what he looked like...

SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS

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After the commercial success of "Trilogy," Abel was compelled to venture into his niche of Dark R&B, immersing himself in the mysticism of Japan. He soon released "Kiss Land," and despite the album's success, The Weeknd was forced to reinvent the concept manifested in Trilogy as Drake allegedly guzzled half of his album. Upon being offered the oportunity to sign under OVO records he declined because he knew that is talent was generational - a testament to success. By 2014 The Weeknd took control of R&B releasing "Beauty Behind the Madness." With multiple radio hits, JUNO awards, Grammies, etc., he rose to the top as he collaborated with talents like Arianna Grande, Ellie Golding, and Rick Ross. This unfolded a new chapter in his career.