In a time where gimmicks are the standard not the exception, The-Weeknd has always managed to have an allure to him. Initially touted as potentially the next big international R&B superstar, his growth and development as an artist is a journey that I found interesting as an early adopter of his music. Through that growth he as also broadened his range and fan base without truly sacrificing who he is as an artist and visionary. While he isn’t quite the emotionally charged vocalist floating through riffs in his falsetto about muses lost in the world of sex, drugs, and entertainment; he still manages to dabble into those topics from a more metaphorical sense. Honestly his current state allows him to gain a lot of new ears, and can potentially allow him to catapult his stardom to a greater plateau.
Abel’s initial mystique was centered around his image which was the lack of his actual visibility. The fact the music came from such a dark and raw place was almost unparalleled. Once he did finally make himself a public feature, his look and style was as abstract as his material. His uniqueness warranted some of the loftiest projections for a singer we had seen in some time. To think before he made his first major appearance in the U.S. he made a remake to Dirty Diana, that at the time of its release some stated was better than the original. That type of reaction and proclamation alone stated the exactly what could become for The-Weekend. From that point he continued to keep listeners guessing with the route of his material, never truly doing what would be expected of him which in turn could be declared as a niche for him.
The-Weeknd has transitioned from those cryptic records on padded minor scales to a certified pop star. From a man as private with his image as the King of Pop was with his children; to a headliner feature in endorsements, soundtracks, and award shows. Even more recently he had ditched his trademark dreads for a cropped tapered fro, as seen in a recent Puma Ad and SNL appearance. Still adapting and ever changing is Abel, and now possibly more unpredictable than ever. This can even be said with his material. Starboy is more streamline than what we are accustomed to from him, but False Alarm is almost an untraveled direction for him. It is a completely upbeat high tempo dance record. I am sure it will be played in clubs and on radio until we know every word and break in the song.
Predictable is genuinely the last word that comes to mind with The-Weeknd. As his success continues if he keeps this pace and versatility he will achieve things we will have never witnessed. To add he has recently even become a partial owner in the UFC. In my eyes that is just another move from left field that none of us saw coming. Always exciting and constantly changing, with the world seemingly his oyster; the best may be yet to come from Abel.