The Weeknd @ Drai’s LIVE – Jan 9th

by DRAI’S / January 9, 2015

Article

Allegedly “shrouded in mystery” despite a social media presence (with accompanying photos) on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Soundcloud, and YouTube, as well as major support from fellow Torontonian Drake, alternative R&B act the Weeknd — a solo outlet for vocalist Abel Tesfaye — surfaced in March 2011 with House of Balloons. A nine-track, 50-minute mixtape made available for free download on the Weeknd website, House of Balloons was based in morose ballads filled with drug references and sexual longing. Sonically, there were clear traces of radio-friendly contemporary R&B à la Trey Songz, Jeremih, the-Dream, and Drake, while also appealing to listeners who favored left-of-center, production-over-songcraft exponents like Spacek and Sa-Ra.The mixtape, made by Tesfaye in collaboration with producers Doc McKinney and Illangelo, among others, garnered widespread coverage — most of which was gushingly positive — within days of its March 21 release. A second mixtape, Thursday (August 19), preceded several appearances on Drake’s album Take Care. Echoes of Silence (December 21), the third Weeknd mixtape, followed just before the end of the year. The following June, “Crew Love,” off Take Care, reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. A few months later, he was featured on another charting single, Wiz Khalifa’s “Remember You.”After Tesfaye signed with Universal Republic, the three Weeknd mixtapes were remastered and bundled with three new songs for Trilogy, issued in November 2012. The set debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The following April, Tesfaye won Juno Awards in the categories of Breakthrough Artist of the Year and R&B/Soul Recording of the Year. Trilogy was certified platinum by the RIAA the next month. Kiss Land, much darker in tone than its title implied, followed in September 2013.

RECENTLY POSTED

TRENDING TOPICS

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

SUPERSTAR CHRIS BROWN ADDED TO HALLOWEEN WEEKEND LINEUP AT DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB

SUPERSTAR CHRIS BROWN ADDED TO HALLOWEEN WEEKEND LINEUP AT DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB Four Nights of Superheroes and $200,000 in Cash and Prizes Including a Ducati Giveaway Beckon Partygoers to Escape Civilian Life 11 Stories Above the Strip LAS VEGAS (Oct. 22, 2014)– Following the massive announcement of the four day Halloween Weekend Heroes extravaganza, Drai’s Nightclub […]

See more
CHRIS BROWN CLOSES OUT HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB

CHRIS BROWN CLOSES OUT HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AT DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB WITH HOUR-LONG PERFORMANCE LAS VEGAS (Nov. 4, 2014)– While the rest of the world roamed city streets in search of candy bars, superhero partygoers were experiencing an action-packed weekend at Drai’s Nightclub, perched high atop The Cromwell on the Las Vegas Strip. With four nights of […]

See more
THE WEEKND TAKES CENTER STAGE AT DRAI’S NIGHTCLUB AT THE CROMWELL

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 18, 2014)– Following the announcement of Iggy Azalea’s New Year’s Eve concert performance, Drai’s Nightclub at The Cromwell is excited to reveal that The Weeknd will perform two exclusive live concerts at the opulent 65,000 square foot nightclub for two successive Friday night performances: Jan. 2 and Jan. 9. Adding to the […]

See more
The Weeknd @ Drai’s LIVE – Jan 9th

Allegedly “shrouded in mystery” despite a social media presence (with accompanying photos) on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Soundcloud, and YouTube, as well as major support from fellow Torontonian Drake, alternative R&B act the Weeknd — a solo outlet for vocalist Abel Tesfaye — surfaced in March 2011 with House of Balloons. A nine-track, 50-minute mixtape made […]

See more