In the final installment of his modern trilogy and last project as The Weeknd, singer-songwriter Abel Tesfaye cemented himself as one of the 21st century’s greatest Pop/R&B megastars with the release of 22-track Hurry Up Tomorrow. 

When the Canadian artist first stepped into the game in 2011 with his three-pronged trilogy, House of Balloons, Tuesday and Echoes Of Silence, we were introduced to Tesfaye’s early sound. Driven by his fight against loneliness and depression, his dark-impulsed music garnered him a niche, yet faithful fanbase. 

With the release of Beauty Behind the Madness in 2015, including hit songs Earned It, The Hills and Can’t Feel My Face, The Weeknd shot to stardom. He began to master his craft, blending those same somber lyrics over more radio-friendly beats.

Fast forward to now, Hurry Up Tomorrow has arrived. Inspired by an LA concert that ended with him losing his voice onstage, the album represents the singer lamenting his life of sin. 

From a production standpoint, this album might be his best yet. From every kick drum to distorted synth, the project captivates a genius sound that provides an experimental element while still giving us that familiar Weeknd vibe we all know and love. 

With legendary music producer Mike Dean and collaborators DaHeala and Metro Boomin taking center stage, these flawlessly executed glitchy electronics allow for Tesfaye to shine sonically. Michael Jackson’s Thriller is even indirectly sampled in his opening song, Wake Me Up. 

Some of the seamless transitions and interludes spread between or during songs, seen in tracks two, three and four as well as Baptized In Fear into Open Hearts, contribute to the cohesiveness of this album. 

A detail I must mention is that his last song on his last ever album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, transitions into the first song on his first ever album, High For This. Perhaps alluding that the Weeknd will never die? That he’s continuously reborn again? 

The album is well-structured, containing a mix of attention-grabbing songs like Cry For Me and Baptized in Fear early on in the track-list, ending with euphoric tracks such as Take Me Back To LA and Red Terror. Rarely has an album with this much length been able to keep my attention span when listening. There aren’t any filler songs, and it isn’t just a collection of hit singles—Tesfaye was purposeful and careful with the organization of his concluding project. 

Tesfaye brings his Weeknd character arc full circle with his mature storytelling. Throughout his first trilogy, themes of addiction, hedonism and sin are prevalent. As his music progresses, particularly in albums like After Hours and Dawn FM, there is a noticeable shift. 

Themes of redemption and self-awareness with spiritual undertones emerge, with lyrics that reflect on coming to terms with his past. In his final album, his testimony to faith becomes pronounced, wishing to die at his summit with a yearning to connect with a higher power.   

I rate this album a 9/10. I don’t think it quite trumps a project like After Hours, however it’s an exceptionally produced album with lyrical depth that certainly places it in the upper half of his work. 

Although it’s sad to say goodbye, this was a fitting way for Abel to say farewell to the Weeknd — our modern day Michael Jackson has conquered his final peak: “Everything needs to feel like a challenge. And for me right now, the Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do the Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now,” Tesfaye said in a 2023 interview.  

An artist who’s accompanied us on late night drives, sorrowful nights and miscellaneous extravaganza. If this really is the end for the Weeknd, then it’s an alluring demise.

His ‘After Hours Til Dawn’ tour begins May 9 in Phoenix, AZ.

My top 5: 

1. Niagara Falls

2. Baptized In Fear 

3. Cry For Me 

4. Wake Me Up 

5. Open Hearts 

HM: Take Me Back To LA, Timeless, Enjoy The Show

Career at a glimpse: 

• Highest Streamed Male artist of all time

• First and only artist to have 25 songs with over 1 billion streams on Spotify.

• Blinding Lights is the No.1 All-Time Billboard song.

• Blinding Lights is the No.1 Spotify Streamed song of all time

• • Starboy is No. 5

• Five albums that have gone certified Triple Platinum

• 7 Total RIAA awards