{"id":5721,"date":"2023-08-30T00:40:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T19:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/?p=5721"},"modified":"2025-07-17T11:22:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T05:52:04","slug":"how-did-the-weeknd-get-famous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/how-did-the-weeknd-get-famous\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did The Weeknd Get Famous"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, popularly known as The Weeknd started his music career from humble beginnings. From being camera-shy to being one of the most celebrated artists in the music industry, his journey is surely inspiring. So, here\u2019s the timeline of The Weeknd\u2019s remarkable journey to fame, all set to inspire you:<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>Anonymous YouTube debut\u00a0<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In February 2011, The Weeknd anonymously released his \u201cWhat You Need\u201d music video on YouTube. Through YouTube and Tumblr, he released other tracks that combined R&amp;B and pop, immediately gaining interest from music enthusiasts and critics. His mysterious identity sparked curiosity, instantly drawing attention to his music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When asked in an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.complex.com\/music\/a\/damien-scott\/weeknd-interview-cover-story\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> why he had kept his identity hidden in the beginning, he revealed that he was \u201cvery insecure\u201d and camera shy but in the end, he decided to let his music speak for himself showcasing his skills and proving his worth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd - What You Need\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PGCVhhUxnp8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>Breakthrough mixtape<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After bursting onto the scene, The Weeknd wasted no time in leaving a lasting mark with his fresh voice and \u201cenigmatic\u201d personality. Building upon the buzz that surrounded him, he self-released his mixtape &#8220;House of Balloons&#8221; in March 2011. House of Balloons was a unique blend of contemporary and alternative R&amp;B, soul, indie rock, trip-hop, and more. His work also caught the eye of popular artist <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/octobersveryown.blogspot.com\/2011\/03\/weeknd-house-of-balloons.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drake<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WelcomeOVO\/status\/49664358992715777\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shed light on his work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and would later <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/genius.com\/a\/the-weeknd-claimed-he-gave-up-almost-half-of-house-of-balloons-to-drake-for-take-care\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">collaborate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During that same eventful year, The Weeknd showed no signs of slowing down. After dropping \u201cHouse of Balloons\u201d he treated fans to not just one, but two more mixtapes: &#8220;Thursday&#8221; and &#8220;Echoes of Silence.&#8221; Together, these releases would later be celebrated as the &#8220;Trilogy&#8221; series.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd - High For This\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sX9DgavXiN4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>First Appearance<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amid the buzz of his YouTube debut, The Weeknd gave his first live performance in July 2011, at a small venue called &#8220;Mod Club,&#8221; in his hometown Toronto. While he still wanted to keep his privacy intact, there were several leaked photos and videos of his performance flooding the internet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was during this time that he met popular Canadian singer, Drake, who attended The Weeknd&#8217;s first live performance. This encounter sparked a collaboration that brought The Weeknd into the industry&#8217;s spotlight. In fact, The Weeknd is also credited for co-writing 5 tracks from Drake\u2019s second album \u201cTake Care\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd - High For This (Toronto 2011)\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iBpaTahccXw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>First Performance at Coachella<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within just a year of his YouTube debut, The Weeknd gave his first-ever Coachella performance in April 2012. This was a significant moment in his career as it also led to his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefader.com\/2012\/04\/11\/the-weeknd-announces-first-us-tour\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First US tour<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This performance not only solidified his rising star status but also set the stage for his future appearances at Coachella and other major music festivals like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and the famous Super Bowl championship (2021).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd - Live at Coachella Valley Music &amp; Arts Festival 2012\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tFi7q-DIpnk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>Signs with a Major record label and drops Trilogy<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2012, The Weeknd signed a deal with his first major record label, Republic Records. This deal allowed him to release his compilation album titled &#8220;Trilogy.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Trilogy&#8221; includes remastered versions of his previously released mixtapes: &#8220;House of Balloons,&#8221; &#8220;Thursday,&#8221; and &#8220;Echoes of Silence.&#8221; The album also features three additional tracks. The album played a crucial role in his journey toward becoming a mainstream success and also expanding his growing fan base.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"High For This\" width=\"900\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xrKa5d1it3c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>Mainstream Recognition<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In June 2013, he released his debut studio album, &#8220;Kiss Land,&#8221; which entered the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. The turning point came with his second studio album, &#8220;Beauty Behind the Madness,&#8221; featuring chart-topping hit singles like &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.udiscovermusic.com\/stories\/cant-feel-my-face-the-weeknd\/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCan't%20Feel%20My%20Face%E2%80%9D%20was%20nominated%20for%20Record,(it%20won%20the%20latter).'\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can&#8217;t Feel My Face<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; and &#8220;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt4725428\/awards\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Hills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These hits showcased The Weeknd&#8217;s ability to craft radio-friendly tracks that resonated with a broad audience while staying true to his unique style. \u201cBeauty Behind the Madness\u201d won Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 2016 Grammys.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Beauty Behind The Madness\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3XIYasaR1SQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h6><strong>Earned it<\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Weeknd&#8217;s song &#8220;Earned It&#8221; was released in 2014 as part of the soundtrack for the film &#8220;Fifty Shades of Grey.&#8221; &#8220;Earned It&#8221; became a global success, receiving widespread recognition for its smooth blend of R&amp;B, pop, and electronic elements that matched the film&#8217;s theme.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Earned It&#8221; earned him his first Grammy for &#8220;Best R&amp;B Performance&#8221; in 2016. Not only this but &#8220;Earned It&#8221; was also nominated for &#8220;Best Original Song&#8221; at the 2016 Oscars. While it didn&#8217;t win the award, its nomination was a significant milestone, making it his first Oscar nomination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Weeknd won Best R&amp;B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album | 2016 Grammys\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/reo3Bdk0y18?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Weeknd\u2019s stardom does not end here. His winning streak continued with several hits like &#8220;Starboy\u201d, his record-breaking &#8220;Blinding Lights,&#8221; and also landing a major collaboration with Queen Bey Beyonc\u00e9 on &#8220;Lemonade&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From anonymous YouTube uploads to winning Grammys and Oscar nominations, The Weeknd had changed the tide of his career. His journey stands as a testament to aspiring artists, reminding us that with passion, perseverance, and a sprinkle of luck, you too can shape your dreams into reality!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><i>Want to grow your channel? Start here: <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/\"><i>www.flintzy.com<\/i><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, popularly known as The Weeknd started his music career from humble beginnings. From being camera-shy to being one of the most celebrated&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5722,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218],"tags":[1397,1398,1399,1400],"class_list":["post-5721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-youtuber","tag-how-did-the-weeknd-get-famous","tag-how-the-weeknd-got-famous","tag-the-weeknd","tag-the-weeknds-journey-to-fame"],"modified_by":"Flintzy","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5721"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7917,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5721\/revisions\/7917"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5722"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5721"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5721"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.flintzy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5721"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}