How Did The Weeknd Get Famous

So, How Did The Weeknd Get Famous? Let's Spill The Tea

Alright, gather 'round, folks. It's storytime. You know The Weeknd, right? The guy who's got more nicknames than a WWE wrestler and more hits than a pinball machine. But how did this Canadian crooner go from singing in his bedroom to selling out stadiums? Let's dive in, shall we?

Once Upon a Time in Toronto...

Picture this: Toronto, 2010. A young Abel Tesfaye, our future Weeknd, is just another kid with a dream and a MySpace page. Now, don't laugh, but yes, MySpace. It was the early 2000s, folks, cut him some slack. He starts posting his music under the name 'The Weeknd' - yes, with a 'The', because why not? He's just a kid, give him his quirks.

Now, you might be thinking, "How did he come up with that name?" Well, according to Abel, it's a reference to Michael Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine" - a song about a girl who's into week-long romances. Or maybe it's just a play on 'weekend'. Either way, it's catchy, and it sticks.

Enter: Drake, The Fairy Godmother of Toronto

So, Abel's been posting his music, getting a few listens here and there. Nothing major. Then, one day, Toronto's own Drake stumbles upon his tracks. Now, Drake's not just a fellow Torontonian; he's the king of the city, the godfather, the fairy godmother. You get the picture.

Drake hears Abel's music, loves it, and decides to give him a shoutout on his blog. Boom! Overnight, Abel goes from 'local guy with a dream' to 'local guy with a dream and a whole lot of new listeners'.

From Blogs to Billboard: The Mixtape Magic

With newfound attention, Abel drops his first mixtape, 'House of Balloons', in 2011. It's a hit. The internet goes wild. People are losing their minds over this mysterious guy with the angelic voice and the weird, dark lyrics. He follows it up with 'Thursday' and 'Echoes of Silence', and just like that, he's got a trilogy on his hands.

But here's where things get interesting. Abel decides to release these mixtapes for free. Yes, you heard it right. Free. No iTunes, no Spotify, just pure, unadulterated music love. It's like he's saying, "Hey, world. Here's my music. Enjoy. No strings attached." And the world eats it up.

How did The Weekend become famous? - Fame Media Blog

XO, The Weeknd

Fast forward to 2012. Abel's signed to Republic Records, and he's ready to give the world his debut album, 'Kiss Land'. But here's the twist: he's not Abel Tesfaye anymore. He's The Weeknd. Full-time. No more 'The'. Just 'Weeknd'. Because, you know, he's a star now.

He drops 'Kiss Land', and it's a success. But it's his next album, 'Beauty Behind the Madness', that really blows the roof off. It's got hits like 'Can't Feel My Face' and 'I Feel It Coming'. You know, those songs that make you want to dance and cry at the same time. Magic, right?

From Super Bowl to Super Stardom

Then, in 2021, The Weeknd performs at the Super Bowl. You know, just your average, run-of-the-mill gig. No big deal. Oh, and he spends a cool $7 million on the performance. Because, you know, why not? It's not every day you get to perform for millions of people.

And that, my friends, is how The Weeknd went from singing in his bedroom to performing at the Super Bowl. It's a tale of talent, luck, and a healthy dose of weirdness. So, the next time you're jamming to 'Blinding Lights', remember: it all started with a kid, a MySpace page, and a dream.