If he isn’t already, Abel Tesfaye is about to become your latest obsession. His hair may resemble that of a rooster, but his peculiar hairstyle isn’t nearly the most memorable aspect of the hip-hop artist.
This vocalist, songwriter, and record producer has a killer smile, and a sexy voice that’ll make you weak in the knees.
Don’t know whom I’m talking about yet? I’m referring to none other than The Weeknd.
Tesfaye’s most recent album “Beauty Behind the Madness” was released on Aug. 28, 2015 and is already ranked as the number one album on Billboard 200.
If you would’ve asked me a month ago what I thought of The Weeknd, I wouldn’t have had much to say on the subject. I’d heard a couple of his singles on the radio throughout the summer and I could stumble through the choruses without too much trouble, but that’s it.
The truth is, I usually steer away from most hip-hop, R&B, and rap. I don’t like it. In addition to the lack of variety and promotion of materialism, I’d sometimes find the lyrics utterly offensive. So many of the lines would hyper-sexualize and objectify women, which is incredibly degrading. Because of this common theme among them, I’d basically given up on these genres. However, “The Weeknd” changed my perspective.
His single “The Hills” came out on May 27, and once it hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100, I finally heard it on my way to work and I surprisingly liked it. I say “surprisingly” because the lyrics embody everything I just told you I didn’t like. “Can’t Feel My Face” came out on June 8, and “I love[d] it.” At that point I officially considered myself a fan of The Weeknd.
The album was released by Republic Records under his label XO, and I decided to check it out last week. Tesfaye did not disappoint. He is passionate throughout every song, but there are a few tracks where he uncovered a whole other level of soul. It was glorious.
If you pay attention to the lyrics, it’s no secret that Tesfaye is a heavy drug user, and his preference seems to be cocaine. In fact, he dedicated an entire song, “Prisoner,” to explain his struggle as a drug addict.
I’m sure there are people out there who’s ears pick up on a couple of lines and automatically assume that Tesfaye’s promoting drug use. While he definitely has no shame in what he does, promotion is the last thing the artist is doing.
In addition to “Prisoner,” there are lyrics in many of The Weeknd’s songs that reference his battle with addiction. The message I got from the album is that he’s just learned to accept the lifestyle he chose and be content with himself.
Whether you think you’ll become a die-hard fan like me, I definitely recommend that you give “Beauty Behind the Madness” a listen.
Maybe it’ll open your mind to exploring more genres you’re unfamiliar with, maybe not. At the very least, you’ll be putting it on repeat.
