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The End Of An Era: 5 Shocking Truths About The Weeknd’s Retirement And His New Identity

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The question of whether The Weeknd is retiring has been the most persistent and anxiety-inducing rumor in the music world for the last two years, but as of this current date in December 2025, the definitive answer is both a resounding 'Yes' and a comforting 'No.' The global superstar, Abel Tesfaye, has officially brought his iconic, decade-long musical persona to a close, confirming that his latest project, the album Hurry Up Tomorrow, is the final chapter for "The Weeknd." However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief, as this is not a retirement from music—it is a dramatic, artistic metamorphosis, signaling the birth of a new era under his birth name, Abel Tesfaye, who will continue to create music, film, and television.

The transition is one of the most significant rebrandings in modern music history, moving from the dark, cinematic, and often nihilistic character of The Weeknd to the man behind the mask, Abel Tesfaye. This shift was cemented with the release of his sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which dropped on January 31, 2025, officially completing the trilogy that began with After Hours and continued with Dawn FM. The move allows the Canadian artist to shed the weight of his alter-ego and explore new creative ventures beyond the confines of his established sound and narrative. The music continues, but The Weeknd is officially laid to rest.

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye: Full Biography and Profile

The man behind the global phenomenon known as The Weeknd is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. His journey from an anonymous upload to YouTube to a Super Bowl Halftime headliner is one of the most compelling narratives in contemporary pop culture.

  • Full Name: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
  • Date of Birth: February 16, 1990
  • Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Ethnicity/Heritage: Ethiopian (Parents are immigrants from Ethiopia)
  • Genres: R&B, Alternative R&B, Pop, Electropop, Trap
  • Labels: XO, Republic Records
  • Breakthrough: Anonymously uploading tracks like "What You Need," "Loft Music," and "The Morning" to YouTube in 2010.
  • Key Albums: Trilogy (2012), Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), After Hours (2020), Dawn FM (2022), Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)
  • Notable Achievements: Multiple Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, an Academy Award nomination (for "Earned It"), and holding the record for the most-streamed song on Spotify ("Blinding Lights").

The Definitive Answer: Retiring The Persona, Not The Music

The confusion surrounding The Weeknd's "retirement" stems from a nuanced distinction that has been lost in translation across news headlines: he is retiring the *persona*, not his *career*. Abel Tesfaye has been vocal in interviews, explaining that he has said all he can say under the guise of The Weeknd.

The stage name "The Weeknd" was never meant to be a permanent fixture. It represented a specific, often dark and hedonistic, character arc that played out across his discography, particularly the recent trilogy. By officially concluding this narrative with the 2025 release of Hurry Up Tomorrow, Tesfaye is freeing himself to create music that is perhaps more personal, mature, and less constrained by the expectations of his established brand.

This decision is a deliberate artistic choice, akin to actors shedding a long-running character or authors ending a beloved series to explore new genres. He has explicitly stated that he will continue to make music, but his work will now be credited to his birth name, Abel Tesfaye. This signals a new creative chapter where his musical output may integrate more closely with his growing interests in film and television production, allowing for a more holistic artistic identity.

The Final Chapter: 'Hurry Up Tomorrow' and The Trilogy's End

The journey to the end of The Weeknd began with the 2020 album After Hours, which introduced the iconic red-suit character, a figure grappling with fame, excess, and existential dread. This storyline continued with 2022’s Dawn FM, a conceptual album set in a purgatorial radio station, guiding the character toward the light. The final album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, serves as the triumphant, yet melancholic, conclusion to this multi-album cinematic narrative.

Released in January 2025, Hurry Up Tomorrow was explicitly promoted as the final LP under The Weeknd moniker. The album is a 90-minute musical journey that ties up all the loose ends of the character’s life and artistic exploration, providing a sense of closure for both Tesfaye and his dedicated fanbase, known as the XO community.

The album’s release was followed by the continuation of the massive "After Hours Til Dawn Tour" in 2025, which acts as a final, celebratory farewell to the character and the music he created. This tour is a crucial part of the transition, giving fans one last chance to experience the full spectacle of the "The Weeknd" era before it is permanently retired.

The shift is not just a name change; it is an artistic rebirth. Tesfaye has expressed a desire to "kill" The Weeknd, suggesting that the artistic space he created has become too restrictive for his evolving creative vision. By retiring the moniker, he is making room for new sounds, new aesthetics, and new collaborations that might not fit the "Alternative R&B" or "Synth-Pop" boxes his previous work was placed in.

What’s Next? The Abel Tesfaye Era and Future Projects

The retirement of The Weeknd opens the door to a host of new projects and a focus on his multifaceted career as Abel Tesfaye. His future work is expected to heavily involve his interests outside of traditional music releases, cementing his status as a true multimedia artist.

1. Music Under His Birth Name

The most immediate change will be new music released under "Abel Tesfaye." While the sound is yet to be fully defined, it is anticipated to be a departure from the dark, synth-heavy tones of the trilogy. This new music will likely be more experimental and personal, reflecting his growth as an artist and individual.

2. Film and Television Production

Tesfaye has significantly ramped up his involvement in Hollywood, both as an actor and a producer. His controversial HBO series, The Idol, served as a major turning point, highlighting his commitment to the film industry. Future projects are expected to see him take on more behind-the-scenes roles, leveraging his XO Records/XO brand into a full-fledged entertainment powerhouse. This focus on cinematic storytelling will undoubtedly influence his music, potentially leading to more soundtrack work and conceptual albums that blur the lines between film and audio.

3. The Evolution of XO Records

His record label and creative collective, XO, will continue to thrive. This entity is the engine for his business ventures, encompassing music, merchandise, and media production. The focus will shift from solely supporting "The Weeknd" to building a legacy brand under the guidance of Abel Tesfaye, mentoring new artists and expanding into new markets.

In summary, the retirement of The Weeknd is not a farewell, but a calculated and dramatic evolution. Abel Tesfaye is not leaving the stage; he is simply changing his costume, ready to embark on a new, unwritten chapter of his career, promising the same level of artistic ambition that made The Weeknd a cultural icon. The music is dead, long live the music.

is the weeknd retiring
is the weeknd retiring

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