The Weeknd Will Be On Travis Scott’s “UTOPIA,” XO Co-Founder Claims

Of course, we all knew that The Weeknd would probably show up on Travis Scott’s highly anticipated album UTOPIA, even without all the briefcase promo. Still, it’s good to see confirmation on this news from a couple of different angles, especially when fans are so close to getting the project after a frustratingly long and cryptic rollout. Moreover, XO Records co-founder and co-manager Amir Esmailian (also known as Cash or Cash XO) just took to his Instagram to double down. He uploaded a picture of himself with the UTOPIA briefcase, tagging La Flame and Abel Tesfaye in the caption along with an hourglass emoji.

Furthermore, this is just the latest tease when it comes to the Houston MC and producer’s next full-length offering. Previously, Travis Scott upgraded from briefcases to tour buses hyping up the release of UTOPIA, with a lockbox combination that hints at a July 21 release. As far as The Weeknd’s involvement, fans can only dream of what heat they have prepared for them on the album. Maybe it will lean a little more melodic, sweet, spacey, and ’80s-tinged considering Abel’s current artistic hand of cards. On the other hand, maybe he’ll enter Scott’s darker, more rage-fueled, and psychedelic world once more.

Read More: Mike Dean Claims The Weeknd Joint Album Is On The Horizon

XO Records’ Cash Teases The Weeknd On UTOPIA

What’s more is that this could be yet another high-profile moment for the Canadian superstar after another one just wrapped up. However, considering the reception to his HBO series “The Idol,” maybe fans will consider The Weeknd’s UTOPIA more of a bounce-back than a continuation of hits. “The finale,” he remarked upon the season finale. “Grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey. @lilyrose_depp @samlev00. Jocelyn Forever.”

Meanwhile, the Rodeo artist almost literally caused an earthquake with his last show, or at least that’s what many close to his Milan, Italy concert believed. Apparently firefighters in the area got a heap of calls fearing about shaking windows and floors. If that’s the kind of energy that people are anticipating UTOPIA with, it’s a good thing that the After Hours crooner will be there to cool things down. Regardless, stick around on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Travis Scott and The Weeknd.

Read More: Travis Scott Reportedly Filming “Utopia” Album Trailer

The post The Weeknd Will Be On Travis Scott’s “UTOPIA,” XO Co-Founder Claims appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd Reflected On The ‘Bumpy’ Journey To ‘The Idol’ Following The Controversial Show’s Season Finale

HBO’s controversial new series The Idol came to an end this past Sunday. While the series has been panned by critics, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, who created the show alongside Sam Levinson and Reza Fahim, stood by the series through its short, five-episode run.

Following its even more polarizing finale, The Weeknd took to Instagram to share a reflective post about the journey to the show.

“the finale,” read the post’s caption. “grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey.”

In the photo carousel are pictures of The Weeknd as his character, the cult leader, Tedros — as well as Lily-Rose Depp, who plays pop star Jocelyn, Levinson, and much of the show’s cast.

And of course, The Idol‘s journey has certainly been bumpy, as he notes in the post’s caption. Back in March, the show was the subject of a scathing Rolling Stone exposé which brought to light the alleged toxic working conditions during the show’s production. It also received several negative reviews from critics during its premiere at Cannes Film Festival back in May.

At the time of writing, it has not yet been confirmed if HBO will bring The Idol back for a second season.

You can see the post above.

The Weeknd Speaks on End of ‘The Idol’ Season 1: ‘Grateful to Share This Moment’

abel the weeknd tesfaye lily rose depp

Don’t count The Idol out just yet. The Weeknd penned a message, inspiring some hope for the future.

“the finale,” The Weeknd wrote. “grateful to share this moment with you all as the season comes to an end. continue to push the vision no matter how bumpy the journey.”

HBO ended The Idol one episode quicker than anticipated. According to TV Line, episode five of the series will be the “season finale.” The show had an original order for six.

A source revealed the takeover of the show by Sam Levinson resulted in significant changes. “The story only ended up requiring 5,” the source said.

The Idol stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star who is influenced by a club promoter, portrayed by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye.

Rumors have discussed the show’s fate, with many believing the series is canceled. HBO combatted the belief by stating a second season has yet to be determined.

The post The Weeknd Speaks on End of ‘The Idol’ Season 1: ‘Grateful to Share This Moment’ appeared first on The Source.

“The Idol” Episode 5 Recap: The Finale

The Idol starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp has proven to be an exceptionally polarizing show. Overall, this has been for a very good reason. There have been some truly disgusting plotlines as well as some acting chops that have left a lot to be desired. Moreover, it was announced that the first season would end one episode earlier than initially advertised. Needless to say, it has been a bit of a mess, albeit one that has proven enticing. In fact, the show can be likened to a catastrophic track wreck that you simply cannot take your eyes off. That said, the season finale aired last night, and it was a doozy.

Jocelyn & Tedros Are Done With Each Other

After having slept with her ex-boyfriend Rob in the previous episode, it was clear that her distaste for Tedros was mounting. Subsequently, in the finale, we get more of that as Joss repeatedly tries to kick Tedros out of recording sessions, to no avail. Everyone in the room seems exasperated with the man, but he maintains his presence. This is all taking place as Joss’ team decides to come to the house to discuss her tour. Unsurprisingly, Tedros sticks around despite Joss’s numerous attempts to get him to leave the premises.

Once her team arrives, they are immediately taken aback by all the odd characters standing around. It is immediately noted that the whole thing feels like a cult. From there, many artists begin performing, and Joss’ managers are amazed. However, things immediately begin to sour as Leia learns that Rob is being accused of rape by the girl he took a photo with in Episode 4. Xander is in on the whole thing and refuses to talk to Leia about it. Overall, it is a disaster, which is happening unbeknownst to Jocelyn. Although, once she does find out about it, she immediately realizes that Tedros is in on it.

Tedros Kicked Off The Idol, Or Is He?

Following this debacle, Jocelyn grabs Tedros and demands he leaves the premises. However, he threatens to kidnap her and kill her if she so much as calls the cops. She subsequently brings Chaim into all of this and tells him to pay Tedros as much as possible to get him out of their lives. This leads to Jocelyn performing her new song for her managers, who are simply blown away. They then say the tour is back on, which proves to be a huge win for her and Tedros’ artists, who will get to open for her.

As this happens, Tedros is taken by security guards take thrown into the back of a van with Chaim. Chaim cuts Tedros a $500K check to leave forever, although he refuses it. This forces Chaim into Plan B, where he goes to the Vanity Fair reporter and gets her to include Tedros’ past in her piece. Of course, she was more than excited to do this as it ultimately enhanced the story. Needless to say, this is presented as the final nail in Tedros’s coffin. However, things can’t just end that easily.

The Grand Finale

Ironically enough, the last stages of The Idol take place on stage. We jump six weeks ahead and it is revealed to us by Chaim and Nikki that she has dropped three hit singles in the span of just a month and a half. Furthermore, she has sold out a stadium tour, with her first stop at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We get numerous shots of soundcheck where Tedros’ artists are excited about their new roles.

Moreover, we find out that bad information came out regarding Tedros. This then leads to a shot of Tedros entering the stadium premises. He goes to the box office and asks if an artist pass has been left for him. Surprisingly, there was an artist pass for him. He then makes his way to Joss’s dressing room, where Destiny meets him. She tells him from now on, he must be on his best behavior. Subsequently, Jocelyn enters the room and says she wants him around and that she loves him. They then head to her stage, and she speaks to her crowd. Shockingly, she brings Tedros up on stage, and her team is mortified, and rightfully so. However, she kisses Tedros, and once he walks off the stage, she faces the crowd and is met with thunderous cheers and applause.

Another Season Of The Idol?

From there, The Idol title card flashes on screen, and the finale comes to a close. Numerous loose ends are left for the viewer to figure out. From Rob to Dyanne, there is a lot unanswered. Although, the final scene tells us there is very little more for this show to do. If I were you, I wouldn’t expect a second season anytime soon. Let us know what you thought of The Idol, in the comments section below.

The post “The Idol” Episode 5 Recap: The Finale appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd & Lil Baby Worship “False Idols” On Our “R&B Season” Playlist Update

On Saturday (July 1), we proudly brought you all the best hip-hop has to offer on our weekly Fire Emoji update. Most of the new arrivals unsurprisingly came from Lil Uzi Vert’s long-awaited Pink Tape, including “Aye” with Travis Scott and “Endless Fashion” featuring Nicki Minaj. Of course, other artists got some love too. Today, it’s time for our R&B Season playlist to shine. While we have fewer titles to talk about, they’re still exciting and worth a listen if you’re hoping to freshen up your playlist this summer.

The first pick of the weekend comes from The Idol soundtrack, which has been delivering consistent bangers despite the show’s disappointing content. For episode five, Abel Tesfaye joined forces with Lil Baby for “False Idols.” The genre-bending track also includes haunting vocals from Suzanna Son and was accompanied by a solo effort from The Weeknd called “Like A God.” After weeks of controversy and online discourse, it was announced recently that the NSFW HBO series will be ending one episode early. At this time, it’s unclear if the Canadian vocalist plans to share the show’s final songs.

Read More: The Weeknd Calls “The Idol” “Almost Educational” Amid Controversy

HNHH R&B Season Playlist

Our second (and final) R&B Season-worthy track of the week comes from highly favoured but incredibly lowkey British singer Sampha. “Spirit 2.0” marks the frequent Drake collaborator’s first song since 2022’s “Backwards” with Lil Silva. Prior to that, we heard him back in 2020 on “Walking Flames” alongside Actress and as a feature on Headie One and Fred again…’s “SOLDIERS.” Last week, our final June round-up was full of heat from Chris Brown, Muni Long, Usher, and Keyshia Cole, the latter of whom shared “Forever Is A Thing” to accompany her emotional new biopic.

Find all of our favourite R&B Season arrivals exclusively on our Spotify playlist above. Which of this weekend’s New Music Friday drops have you had in constant rotation? Let us know in the comments, and find more HNHH release recommendations on our Fire Emoji update at the link below.

Read More: Lil Uzi Vert’s “Pink Tape” Breathes Life Into Today’s “Fire Emoji” Update

The post The Weeknd & Lil Baby Worship “False Idols” On Our “R&B Season” Playlist Update appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd, Lil Baby, And Suzanna Son Warn Of The Dangers Of ‘False Idols’ On Their New Song

HBO’s The Idol is gearing up for its season (and possibly series) finale. Ahead of the upcoming fifth episode, The Weeknd has shared new music. One of the songs The Weeknd has shared tonight is a TK collaboration with Lil Baby and actress Suzanna Son called “False Idols.”

On “False Idols,” The artists offer a warning to those susceptible to the glitz and glamour of the A-List life.

“I done made it out the land of the brave / I can tell you, shake my aunt, daddy’s fate / Free the guys, the ones who never made a stage / Slidin’ with a Drac’, I made it home safe,” raps Lil Baby on the opening verse.

The Weeknd then comes in, instructing the listener to remain alert.

“Be careful who you call God / L.A filled with fake prophecies / They hate it when you get on top / Magazines tarnish legacies / Can you tell me how much did it cost? / A hundred mill’ ain’t a stretch for me,” he sings on the second verse.

Throughout the song, Son, who plays Chloe, a member of The Weeknd’s character, Tedros’ cult, offers sugary harmonies.

You can listen to “False Idols” above.

The season finale of The Idol will air this coming Sunday at 9 p.m. EST on HBO. All episodes will be available to stream on Max.

HBO’s ‘The Idol’ Season Set to End An Episode Early

abel the weeknd tesfaye lily rose depp

HBO is ending The Idol one episode quicker than anticipated. According to TV Line, episode five of the series will be the “season finale.” The show had an original order for six.

A source revealed the takeover of the show by Sam Levinson resulted in significant changes. “The story only ended up requiring 5,” the source said.

The Idol stars Lily-Rose Depp as a pop star who is influenced by a club promoter, portrayed by Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye.

Rumors have discussed the show’s fate, with many believing the series is canceled. HBO combatted the belief by stating a second season has yet to be determined.

The post HBO’s ‘The Idol’ Season Set to End An Episode Early appeared first on The Source.

The Weeknd Reveals Lil Baby Collab On “The Idol” Soundtrack

“The Idol” soundtrack might just be the best part about the HBO series, or at least that’s what people online suggest. Regardless of your thoughts on The Weeknd’s show, his latest announcement on what its original music will feature (or rather who) should get you even more amped. Moreover, Abel Tesfaye recently confirmed that he and Lil Baby will release their first official collaboration as part of “The Idol”‘s soundtrack. This follows other high-profile collabs with the likes of Playboi Carti, Madonna, JENNIE from BLACKPINK, and many more on the project. Still, you might be thinking, “Haven’t I heard these two together before?”

You would be right, as the two didn’t officially collab together on a track of their own. However, the Canadian superstar and the Atlanta trap leader both appeared on Kanye West’s track “Hurricane” from his 2021 album Donda. Not only was that a fan-favorite hit (that still doesn’t touch the original leak in this writer’s eyes), but a commercial smash as well. As such, expectations are high as to what the upcoming “False Idols” could be, and the potential for it to be the best song on the whole soundtrack for rap fans.

Read More: Lil Baby Has New Music Coming Soon, He Confirms

The Weeknd Teases Lil Baby Collab

In other “The Idol”-related news, The Weeknd recently broke down what he and the rest of the team intended with it. “We’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” he remarked to Variety. “And none of this is a surprise. I’m excited for everyone to watch the rest of the show. It’s almost educational, that this is what comes with being incredibly famous. You’re surrounded by people who you’re not sure what their true intentions are, even if it seems like they’re good. You just never know.”

Meanwhile, the 33-year-old continues to respond to fan hate on Twitter concerning the show’s themes, writing, and acting. Unfortunately, a lot of that negative discussion has caused people to not be super invested in the quality tracks that have formed part of the soundtrack. Perhaps this new collab is what will bring it to the forefront of discussion. On that note, keep checking in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on The Weeknd and Lil Baby.

Read More: Mike Dean Claims The Weeknd Joint Album Is On The Horizon

The post The Weeknd Reveals Lil Baby Collab On “The Idol” Soundtrack appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Weeknd Keeps Responding To “The Idol” Hate On Twitter

If you haven’t heard it by now, The Weeknd’s HBO series “The Idol” proved to be a popular but divisive affair. While some fans just can’t stomach the subject matter and its depiction, others took shots at the acting and script quality in particular. The one who’s gotten the brunt of that criticism is Abel Tesfaye himself, particularly on social media sites like Twitter. However, he clearly wants to have a little fun as he lashes back at hate towards the show, whose fourth episode premieres this Sunday (June 25). Moreover, he kept responding to some online discussion of the show, and mockingly replied to one user in particular on Friday (June 23).

“Who has the thread or article on why the idol is bad pls i need it,” the user posted on Twitter. What’s more is that The Weeknd had to dig pretty deep to find this tweet in the first place, which only made people laugh at the idea of him searching “Idol bad” online even more. Nevertheless, the Canadian superstar took issue with people wanting to search popular opinions before coming to their own conclusions. “‘Someone hurry please tell me why I hate something everyone is telling me to hate… hurry before I come up with my own opinion,’” he responded.

Read More: The Weeknd Hit With More Criticism For His Acting In Episode 3 Of “The Idol”

The Weeknd Claps Back At Fan Looking For “The Idol” Hate

In addition, he also retweeted some support of the show, highlighting as much negativity and positivity with his Internet presence. “The Idol ep. 3 reminds me of echoes of silence,” one fan wrote. “i feel like if you took that song and turned it into an episode that would be it. they do such an incredible job at the depiction of someone who’s been through trauma and wants a ‘thrill.’ 10/10 it’s incredible.” Another wrote, “Fr I saw on TikTok a girl that was like I am gonna watch the idol every week and keep y’all updated, girl just say you like it keep it moving.”

Meanwhile, another retweeted fan took note of how much attention the show is getting in the first place, indicating that people are more interested than they’d like to admit. “All these “i watched the idol so you don’t have to: review” videos like hmm sounds like u just wanted to watch the idol,” they expressed. Regardless, let us know what you think of “The Idol” so far and Abel’s responses down below. Also, stay up to date on HNHH for the latest news surrounding The Weeknd and his many endeavors.

Read More: Mike Dean Claims The Weeknd Joint Album Is On The Horizon

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