Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Goodwill Ambassador, is allocating $2.5 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to support WFP’s humanitarian response in Gaza. This generous contribution, translating to four million emergency meals, will finance 820 metric tons of food parcels, sustaining over 173,000 Palestinians for two weeks.
Tesfaye’s commitment is timely, addressing the urgent needs of over one million Gazans teetering on the brink of starvation. Since the crisis onset on October 7th, WFP, in collaboration with UN agencies and local partners, has supplied food assistance to 764,000 Palestinians, including hard-to-reach areas. The recent humanitarian pause allowed WFP to reach over 121,000 people with essentials like fresh bread, date bars, canned food, flour, pasta, tomato paste, and oil.
“This conflict has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe beyond reckoning. WFP is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza but a major scale up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can,” said WFP’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer. “We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abel’s example and support our efforts.”
Tesfaye, a Goodwill Ambassador since October 2021, has actively supported WFP’s global hunger-relief mission, with $1.8 million in personal donations. His commitment to donating a portion of concert ticket sales from his 2024 After Hours ’til Dawn tour further amplifies his dedication to addressing global hunger.
We’ve seen Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, move through countless creative eras in his career so far, but arguably one of the best was Starboy. Today (November 25) marks the seven-year anniversary of the LP’s release, and to commemorate, we’re spotlighting the sole female collaboration on the tracklist. Tesfaye opens his album with the titular single featuring Daft Punk (who also appear on the closing title, “I Feel It Coming”), and we also hear bars from Future and Kendrick Lamar on “All I Know” and “Sidewalks” respectively.
The song we’ve chosen for your consideration, though, is “Stargirl Interlude” featuring Lana Del Rey. Very little singing is actually done over the synth-heavy beat, but the vocals we do hear from The Weeknd and his longtime friend are nothing short of dreamy. “I had a vision / A vision of my nails in the kitchen,” the “Diet Mountain Dew” hitmaker croons in a sultry tone after the intro. After further setting the sexy scene, Tesfaye takes over to sing words of affirmation over his counterpart.
Our Starboy Shines Alongside Lana Del Rey on “Stargirl Interlude”
“I just wanna see you shine ’cause I know you are a stargirl,” the Uncut Gems actor repeats as the nearly two-minute-long effort closes out. Elsewhere on Starboy, we hear Lana provide background vocals on “Party Monster,” and before that, she and Tesfaye connected on “Prisoner” for his Beauty Behind The Madness. Since then, the Canadian and American have also joined forces on “Lust For Life” in 2017.
Revisit Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd’s ethereal vocals on “Stargirl Interlude” above. If that small highlight has you in the mood to stream the full Starboy album, you can find it on Spotify/Apple Music. For more HNHH release recommendations, check out our weekly Fire Emoji playlist update at the link below.
I had a vision A vision of my nails in the kitchen Scratchin’ countertops, I was screamin’ My back arched like a cat My position couldn’t stop, you were hittin’
With just a couple of days to go until Thanksgiving, Billboard has released its year-end charts (the music industry, much like all those turkeys, pretty much dies with the holidays, so it is usually best not to count the last month of the year, which Mariah Carey rules with an iron fist anyway). Those charts tabulate all the sales and streams up til the second week of November (including, last year’s December stats), then tell us what we’ve listened to the most collectively (like Spotify Wrapped but for the US as a whole).
While country music, pop, and the rap-R&B of SZA dominated as a whole, the top hip-hop track of the year (at No. 5 overall) was Metro Boomin’s take on a mid-2000s classic. “Creepin’” featuring The Weeknd and 21 Savage covers Mario Winans’ 2004 hit “I Don’t Wanna Know,” which itself sampled the Fugees’ 1996 song “Ready or Not,” which in turn sampled Enya’s 1987 song “Boadicea.” Released on January 27 as a single from Metro’s then-latest album Heroes & Villains“Creepin’” peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 on February 6. It currently has over 1 billion streams on Spotify and 86 million cumulative views on YouTube across its visualizer, official music video, and audio stream (not including the seemingly dozens of bootleg streams).
Of course, if you don’t want to count that as the “top rap song” of 2023 since it only features a rap verse from 21 Savage, the next qualifying track also includes 21 Savage. “Rich Flex,” from Drake and 21’s joint album Her Loss also ranked near the top of the year-end list, coming in at No. 14. Sorry, Pusha T stans and Drake haters (same difference, right?) — it doesn’t look like The Boy has lost his touch just yet.
Other top tracks include “All My Life” by Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “Just Wanna Rock” by Lil Uzi Vert, and “Fukumean” by Gunna. Also, Ice Spice really did prove to be the reigning princess of rap, appearing no fewer than four times on the list — the most of any female rapper.
In 2015, The Weeknd’s album Beauty Behind the Madness emerged as a transformative work in contemporary R&B and pop music landscape. This album marked a significant evolution for The Weeknd. It transitioned from his earlier work’s shadowy, enigmatic style to a more accessible yet still deeply nuanced sound. Beauty Behind the Madness was not just a commercial breakthrough but an artistic statement. It highlighted The Weeknd’s unique ability to fuse moody, introspective themes with mass appeal.
With its mix of haunting melodies and raw emotion, Beauty Behind the Madness resonated with a wide audience. It earned The Weeknd newfound levels of fame and recognition. The album was a cohesive collection of tracks that highlighted his evolving artistry. It broadened the brooding sensibilities of his earlier music with a polished, contemporary production.
Beauty Behind The Madness: A Tapestry Of Dark Melodies & Pop Sensibilities
The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness represents a masterful blend of his signature dark, atmospheric sound with broader pop sensibilities. The album’s production, marked by its cinematic scope and meticulous craftsmanship, created a lush and emotionally resonant soundscape. Each track served as a piece in a larger narrative, exploring themes of love, excess, and vulnerability.
The album’s lead single, “Can’t Feel My Face,” departed from The Weeknd’s typically somber tone. It offered a more upbeat, infectious rhythm that became a chart-topping hit. This track, along with others like “The Hills,” showcased The Weeknd’s ability to craft commercially appealing songs rich in complex, introspective lyricism.
Beauty Behind the Madness also demonstrated The Weeknd’s talent for storytelling through music. Tracks like “Earned It” and “In The Night” wove intricate narratives of romance and turmoil set against the backdrop of his distinctive sound. The album’s cohesive blend of moody R&B and accessible pop elements marked a significant moment in The Weeknd’s career. His appeal widened while maintaining the depth that characterized his earlier work.
Chart Dominance & Critical Acclaim
Beauty Behind the Madness marked a high point in The Weeknd’s career. It wasn’t just artistically but in its sweeping commercial success. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, clearly indicating its widespread appeal. It became one of the best-selling albums of 2015. The project cemented The Weeknd’s transition from a niche R&B artist to a global pop phenomenon. The album’s commercial performance was bolstered by its singles, with “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” both reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The success of Beauty Behind the Madness extended beyond its chart positions. It was certified multi-platinum, indicating significant sales transcending The Weeknd’s previous records. The album’s critical reception parallelled this commercial achievement. Critics praised the album for its cohesive production, The Weeknd’s evocative songwriting, and the seamless blending of genres.
Enduring Significance: The Legacy Of Beauty Behind The Madness
The legacy of The Weeknd’s Beauty Behind the Madness extends far beyond its initial release, resonating profoundly in the landscape of modern music. The album also represents a pivotal chapter in The Weeknd’s career, marking his metamorphosis from a cult favorite to a mainstream star. Its influence on the industry is evident in how it redefined the boundaries between R&B and pop, blending emotive storytelling with broad appeal.
Beauty Behind the Madness is more than a collection of hit songs; it’s a cohesive artistic statement that captures the complexities of The Weeknd’s persona and musicality. Tracks like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills” continue to be staples in his repertoire, signifying the enduring popularity of the album. The Weeknd’s exploration of darker themes within a pop framework opened new avenues for artistic expression, influencing subsequent artists and albums.
Moreover, the album’s success played a crucial role in shaping contemporary R&B and pop music narrative. It showcased the potential for introspective, alternative R&B to achieve widespread commercial success without compromising artistic integrity. The Weeknd’s groundbreaking approach on Beauty Behind the Madness inspires a new generation of artists, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the music world.
Fans of The Weeknd that were looking to see him in Australia or New Zealand will have to wait a little while longer. In a released statement, The Weeknd will postpone the set of Dates from Nov. 20 to Dec. 9 due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must reschedule the Australia/New Zealand tour. New dates will be announced next year and current tickets will be valid for the new shows. Refunds will be available for those unable to attend the new dates. Deeply disappointed but can’t wait to be there with you!”
Having achieved unprecedented success, The Weeknd’s global stadium run has garnered over $350 million in revenue, breaking attendance records along the way. Recent highlights include breaking attendance records at London Stadium with 160,000 concertgoers over two nights and a record-breaking headline show at Wembley Stadium with 87,000 tickets sold. His performances in Milan, Paris, Nice, and more have also seen exceptional ticket sales and historical milestones.
Proceeds from this tour’s ticket sales will once again contribute to the XO Humanitarian Fund, which supports the United Nations World Food Programme’s efforts to combat global food crises. The fund raised over $1 million during the European leg of the tour and continues to make a positive impact worldwide.
No celebrity Halloween costume round-up is complete without power couples making a great dynamic duo fit pairing. Up next are John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, who recently welcomed a son, their fourth child, via surrogate. However, even though they are seen as a pretty wholesome, albeit clowned and individually controversial couple, they clearly wanted to go against that perception for this Hallow’s Eve. Moreover, they dressed up as Lily-Rose Depp’s character Jocelyn and The Weeknd’s character Tedros from the HBO series The Idol. That was one of the more divisive shows in recent memory, and anyone who’s seen it knows that Jocelyn and Tedros are not exactly the most functional or healthy pairing.
Furthermore, they seemed to have a lot of fun with their fits, taking some pictures together that emulate the show’s vibe. All we can hope for, honestly, is that they didn’t try to go too far in really embodying these characters. Jokes aside, it’s fair to say that, in terms of pop culture relevance and a simple adherence to their aesthetics, Chrissy Teigen and John Legend walked away with a W here. Sure, it’s not the most impressive or complex of fits, but anyone who knows The Idol at least somewhat immediately knew what they were doing.
Still, the two have steep competition when it comes to celebrity couples emulating other famous pairings. While John Legend and Chrissy Teigen looked to the small screen for inspiration, Ozzy Osbourne and Sharon Osbourne looked to the world of rap gossip. They dressed up as Kanye West and Bianca Censori, complete with Ozzy covered in all-black in head to toe and Sharon wearing just a pillow. Yeah, just a pillow; we’d say she nailed the vibe.
Meanwhile, as John and Chrissy’s family continues to grow, we’re sure that typical antics and “couple goals” moments will follow. They might not have even close to the most admired Twitters of all time, but they’ll still get a lot of love. What’s more important is the love they show each other, and we hope that they didn’t look to The Idol for inspiration for that, too. On that note, log back into HNHH for the latest news and updates on John Legend and Chrissy Teigen.
Everyone knows that The Weeknd is an incredible performer, and his recent show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil proves that to a completely new level. Moreover, many clips of his concert emerged online that depict him performing to the same standard of quality- despite the pouring rain in the stadium. Of course, it’s always pretty inconvenient for the crowd to face rain during a show, but that bother is exponentially higher for artists. It’s amazing that things ran as well as they did from the looks of it, and the Canadian superstar still captivated the crowd as they sang along to his hits. Sure, the rain also just adds a coolness factor, so it ended up working out just fine.
Furthermore, the performances during this tour is only part of the greatness it’s offering. For example, apparently The Weeknd’s trek in Colombia boosted the nation’s economy considerably, and that takes a big dent. It’s been one of the most sought-after and also acclaimed concert series of the past few years, and it spans two full studio albums- with one project left to complete the trilogy. Abel Tesfaye might be hanging up his moniker soon, but it’s clear his creativity and artistry won’t be held back, whether by rain or otherwise.
Unfortunately, we’re starting to get the final stages of The Weeknd right now, starting off with his final feature under that name. That came in the form of Diddy’s new album The Love Album: Off The Grid, and fans loved what they heard on the R&B-centric LP. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he will completely cut off music in the pursuit of future endeavors in entertainment and beyond. As such, the XO superstar might just perform and record under a different name, and his catalog will remain a gem in the 2010s and 2020s decades.
Meanwhile, with more shows to go, the 33-year-old has plenty more chances to look cool in the rain. Even without that extra stage design, another incredible run of shows where he gives it all onstage will follow. The sky is stormy, but the future looks bright for The Weeknd. Keep checking in with HNHH for more news and the latest updates on the “Snowchild” hitmaker.
The Weeknd, the Canadian pop singer known for hits like “Earned It,” recently concluded his show in Bogotá, Colombia, as part of his “After Hours Til Dawn” Global Stadium Tour. However, his impact on the Latin country goes beyond entertainment. The concert mesmerized fans and boosted the Colombian economy by providing 1,500 job opportunities for […]
Late last night Drake dropped his highly-anticipated new album For All The Dogs. Fans are still processing the record’s 23 songs and numerous high-profile features. The tracklist includes SZA, Bad Bunny, J. Cole, 21 Savage, Sexyy Red, Teezo Touchdown, Yeat, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Chief Keef, and Lil Yachty. One person it doesn’t include is The Weeknd. While he and Drake have collaborated in the past, The Weeknd claims that he’s done doing features and that his appearance on Diddy’s album last month was his final guest appearance.
One way The Weeknd does appear on For All The Dogs, however, is in the lyrics. In the second half of the record the song “All The Parties” contains lyrics that reference him directly. “My b*tches playin’ PND and them, the shorties only listen to The Weeknd. The exact meaning behind the lyrics is still up for debate but some jumped immediately to it being a diss. Others pointed out that PND is a deeper cut for many Drake fans and still has a closer connection to the rapper artistically. Even then though, it gets into the long-running rumors of beef between PND and The Weeknd dating back to their time at OVO. Check out the entire song below.
Another artist that doesn’t appear on For All The Dogs is Nicki Minaj. After Drake had initially promised a new track from the long-running collaborators he seemingly didn’t deliver. That has Nicki’s notoriously rabid fanbase of Barbz pretty heated at the rapper online.
Shortly after the release of For All The Dogs, Drake claimed that he would be taking a break from music for a little while. He’s released extremely prolifically for years including two entire albums last year. Now he will seemingly take a break for a while to focus on his own health. Do you think Drake’s mention of The Weeknd on one of his new songs is intended as a diss? Let us know in the comment section below.
Drake has finally shared his new album For All The Dogs. The album has plenty of features from artists like SZA, 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, Lil Yachty, Sexyy Red, and more, but there’s also some beef — not between J. Cole and NBA YoungBoy, it would seem, but there are rumors of a diss from Drake about another famous musician.
Fans are pointing out a lyric in the track “All The Parties” that goes, “My b*tches playin’ PND and them / The shorties only listen to Weeknd.” However, the lyric shown on Genius keeps changing, so it’s not confirmed that those are the real words. Also, listeners are debating over whether it’s even a diss or not; some are claiming that Drake and Abel Tesfaye are friends, and that there’s no need to read into the line and create unnecessary drama.
The most recent discussion about both Drake and The Weeknd was when an AI-generated collaboration between them called “Heart On My Sleeve” circulated in April. Universal Music Group issued a takedown notice once it went viral. In September, the Academy CEO, Harvey Mason, Jr stated that the song was “absolutely eligible” for a Grammy Award “because it was written by a human,” later offering clarification.
For All The Dogs is out now via OVO Sound. Find more information here.
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