@THE WEEKEND.........The Weeknd, born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, in Toronto, Canada, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his unique blend of alternative R&B, pop, and new wave...........He first gained recognition in 2010, anonymously uploading songs to YouTube. His 2011 mixtapes—House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence—helped define his dark, moody sound. He signed with Republic Records and released his debut studio album Kiss Land (2013), followed by Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), which featured hits like Can't Feel My Face and The Hills.