The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Born on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he is best known for his unique music production, artistic reinventions, and signature use of the falsetto register.
The Weeknd has received numerous accolades, including 4 Grammy Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 Juno Awards.
Profile
- Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
- Nickname: The Weeknd
- Date of Birth: February 16, 1990
- Age: 33 years
- Gender: Male
- Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Nationality: Canadian
- Profession: Singer, songwriter, record producer
Early Life & Education
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, on February 16, 1990, and is 33 years old as of 2023.
He is the only child of Ethiopian immigrants Makkonen Tesfaye and Samrawit Hailu, who separated shortly after his birth.
Tesfaye was brought up in the district of Scarborough by his mother and grandmother. He has an estranged relationship with his father, whom he has seen only a few times. Tesfaye attended West Hill Collegiate Institute and Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute for his education.
Personal Life
The Weeknd has been in high-profile romantic relationships throughout his career. From April 2015 to August 2019, he was in an on-again, off-again relationship with American model Bella Hadid.
Before that, he dated American singer-actress Selena Gomez from January to October 2017. The details of his current relationship status are not publicly known.
Career
The Weeknd began his career in 2009 by anonymously releasing music on YouTube. He gained recognition for his mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence, released in 2011.
In 2012, he signed with Republic Records and re-released the mixtapes as a compilation album titled Trilogy.
This album marked his transition into mainstream success. Tesfaye’s debut studio album, Kiss Land, was released in 2013 and was followed by Beauty Behind the Madness in 2015, Starboy in 2016, After Hours in 2020, and Dawn FM in 2022.
Throughout his career, The Weeknd has experimented with various genres, including pop, R& B, hip hop, dance, alternative, and new wave. Unconventional production, introspective lyrics, and distinctive falsetto vocals characterize his music.
He has collaborated with artists such as Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, and Ariana Grande, among others. The Weeknd’s discography includes hit songs like “Can’t Feel My Face,” “The Hills,” and “Blinding Lights,” which have topped charts worldwide.
Net Worth
The Weeknd has an estimated net worth of $70 million, putting him on the map as one of the highest-paid singers in the world.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @theweeknd
- Twitter handle: @theweeknd
Discography
- Kiss Land
- Beauty Behind the Madness
- Starboy
- My Dear Melancholy
- After Hours
- Dawn FM
- The Hills
- Can’t Feel My Face
- Blinding Lights
