Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd): From Scarborough to Global Stardom

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known by his stage name The Weeknd, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Born on February 16, 1990, in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to Ethiopian immigrant parents, Tesfaye has become one of the most influential and successful artists of his generation. Known for his genre-defying music that blends R&B, pop, and electronic sounds with dark and introspective lyrics, The Weeknd’s rise from anonymity to superstardom is a story of talent, reinvention, and perseverance.

Key Information About The Weeknd

Early Life & Childhood

Abel Tesfaye was born to Ethiopian immigrant parents in Scarborough, a suburban district in Toronto. His mother, Samra Tesfaye, worked multiple jobs to support the family after his father left when Abel was young. Raised primarily by his grandmother while his mother worked long hours, Abel grew up speaking Amharic as his first language and attending Ethiopian Orthodox church services.

Tesfaye’s childhood was marked by challenges. He experimented with drugs at an early age and dropped out of high school at 17. Moving out of his home shortly afterward with two friends to live in Toronto’s Parkdale neighborhood, he immersed himself in music while navigating a lifestyle of unbridled partying. These early experiences deeply influenced his music’s dark themes of alienation and escapism.

Education

Abel Tesfaye attended West Hill Collegiate Institute and Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute but did not complete high school. Dropping out at the age of 17 to pursue music full-time was a pivotal decision that shaped his career trajectory. While he lacked formal higher education, Tesfaye’s self-taught approach to songwriting and production became the foundation for his artistry.

Professional Journey & Achievements

The Beginnings: Anonymous Mixtapes

The Weeknd began his music career anonymously by uploading songs on YouTube in late 2010. His first three mixtapes—House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence—released in 2011 under his XO label were groundbreaking. These works introduced audiences to his atmospheric R&B style infused with trip-hop elements.

Breakthrough Success: Trilogy and Kiss Land

In 2012, The Weeknd compiled his mixtapes into the album Trilogy, which gained critical acclaim. His debut studio album Kiss Land (2013) was a commercial success but remained niche compared to what came next.

Global Stardom: Beauty Behind the Madness & Starboy

The release of Beauty Behind the Madness (2015) marked a turning point in The Weeknd’s career. Featuring hits like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills,” the album topped charts worldwide and earned him Grammy Awards. His third studio album Starboy (2016), with its title track featuring Daft Punk, further cemented his place as a global icon.

Recent Projects: After Hours & Dawn FM

The Weeknd’s fourth studio album After Hours (2020) included “Blinding Lights,” which became the longest-charting song in Billboard Hot 100 history. In 2022, he released Dawn FM, an experimental concept album described as a “dance party in purgatory.”

Awards & Recognition

The Weeknd has received numerous accolades throughout his career:

• Grammy Awards: Four wins
• Billboard Music Awards: Twenty wins
• Juno Awards: Twenty-two wins
• American Music Awards: Six wins
• Academy Award Nomination: “Earned It” for Fifty Shades of Grey

Cultural & Social Background

Tesfaye’s Ethiopian heritage plays a significant role in his identity. He has often spoken about how Ethiopian culture influenced him through traditional music and rituals like the coffee ceremony. In 2023, he launched “Samra Origins,” a coffee line named after his mother that celebrates Ethiopian coffee traditions.

Relationships

The Weeknd has been linked romantically to high-profile figures like supermodel Bella Hadid and singer Selena Gomez. While these relationships garnered media attention, Tesfaye has largely kept his personal life private.

Hobbies & Interests

• Music: Beyond performing, The Weeknd is deeply involved in songwriting and production.
• Philanthropy: A World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador since 2021.
• Coffee Culture: Passionate about Ethiopian coffee traditions.

Quotes & Anecdotes

1. “Once you’ve changed who you are or who you’ve portrayed in your music, the fans will catch it.”
2. “I like to tell stories loosely based on real-life events.”
3. “Environment is very important to me… my music does not work in the daytime.”

Did You Know?

1. The Weeknd is the first artist to hold the top three spots on Billboard’s Hot R&B Songs chart simultaneously.
2. He spent $7 million of his own money on his Super Bowl LV halftime show performance.
3. He holds Guinness World Records for being the most popular artist globally as of 2023.
4. His song “Blinding Lights” is the longest-charting song in Billboard Hot 100 history.
5. He co-founded XO Records.
6. His stage name comes from leaving home one weekend and never returning.
7. He speaks fluent Amharic.
8. He once worked at American Apparel while starting his music career.
9. He cites Michael Jackson as one of his biggest influences.
10. He partnered with Blue Bottle Coffee for an Ethiopian coffee line.

Timeline of Life Events

References

1. The Weeknd | The Canadian Encyclopedia
2. The Weeknd | Biography, Songs, Albums, & Facts – Britannica
3. The Weeknd – Abel Tesfaye Latest News – NewsNow
4. The Weeknd – Simple English Wikipedia
5. The Weeknd’s Decade of Dominance | JUNO Awards
6. The Weeknd – Biography – IMDb
7. List of awards and nominations received by The Weeknd – Wikipedia
8. The Weeknd – Wikipedia
9. How The Weeknd Became One of the World’s Biggest Pop Stars | Business Insider
10. The Weeknd’s Journey from Mixtapes to Global Stardom | Rolling Stone