The Evolution of The Weeknd

From Internet mystery to R&B's next star.

The Evolution of The Weeknd - The Weeknd is finally here. No, not Friday night through Sunday evening — but something almost as good. The Weeknd, the Drake-affiliated singer from Toronto, is graduating from Internet sensation to major-label artist with Trilogy, which drops today, Nov. 13. But it took more than a mere five weekdays to get to this big moment. Click on to follow the evolution of The Weeknd. —Alex Gale(Photo: Universal Republic Records)

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The Evolution of The Weeknd - The Weeknd is finally here. No, not Friday night through Sunday evening — but something almost as good. The Weeknd, the Drake-affiliated singer from Toronto, is graduating from Internet sensation to major-label artist with Trilogy, which drops today, Nov. 13. But it took more than a mere five weekdays to get to this big moment. Click on to follow the evolution of The Weeknd. —Alex Gale(Photo: Universal Republic Records)

Initiation - The Weeknd was born Abel Tesfaye on February 16, 1990. He's of Ethiopian descent, but was raised in Toronto, Ontario.(Photo: Universal Republic Records)

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Initiation - The Weeknd was born Abel Tesfaye on February 16, 1990. He's of Ethiopian descent, but was raised in Toronto, Ontario.(Photo: Universal Republic Records)

Next - The Weeknd started out making straight-ahead R&B, but things began to click when he turned left toward his current dark, drowsy emo-soul blend. The new sound impressed fellow Toronto native Drake and his OVO crew, who were early backers of the young singer.(Photo: facebook/theweeknd)

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Next - The Weeknd started out making straight-ahead R&B, but things began to click when he turned left toward his current dark, drowsy emo-soul blend. The new sound impressed fellow Toronto native Drake and his OVO crew, who were early backers of the young singer.(Photo: facebook/theweeknd)

House of Balloons - The Weeknd leaked his first release, the nine-song House of Balloons, for free via his personal website in March 2011. (Photo: XO Records)

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House of Balloons - The Weeknd leaked his first release, the nine-song House of Balloons, for free via his personal website in March 2011. (Photo: XO Records)

Lonely Star - The Weeknd initially refused to do any shows or interviews and didn't make any pictures or videos public. But word about House of Balloons spread nonetheless, aided by Drake, who tweeted about the album. (Photo: XO Records)

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Lonely Star - The Weeknd initially refused to do any shows or interviews and didn't make any pictures or videos public. But word about House of Balloons spread nonetheless, aided by Drake, who tweeted about the album. (Photo: XO Records)

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Outside - The Weeknd finally pulled down his shroud of mystery — slightly — by performing at three shows in Toronto in July 2011. The final show, at Drake's annual OVO Fest, was the singer's biggest breakthrough yet.  (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Outside - The Weeknd finally pulled down his shroud of mystery — slightly — by performing at three shows in Toronto in July 2011. The final show, at Drake's annual OVO Fest, was the singer's biggest breakthrough yet.  (Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Redferns via Getty Images)

Thursday - In August 2011, The Weeknd released another mini-album, Thursday, for free via his website. The album featured "The Zone," the first official collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd, and was trumpeted by critics once again.(Photo: facebook/theweeknd)

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Thursday - In August 2011, The Weeknd released another mini-album, Thursday, for free via his website. The album featured "The Zone," the first official collaboration between Drake and The Weeknd, and was trumpeted by critics once again.(Photo: facebook/theweeknd)

Echoes of Silence - That same month, The Weeknd released his third free project, Echoes of Silence, which was once again hailed by critics and a rapidly growing number of fans. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Echoes of Silence - That same month, The Weeknd released his third free project, Echoes of Silence, which was once again hailed by critics and a rapidly growing number of fans. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

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"Crew Love"  - The Weeknd's buzz got another major bump with his gorgeous performance on "Crew Love," one of the best songs from Drake's blockbuster 2011 album Take Care.

Life of the Party - The Weeknd kept the good news coming in 2012, signing to Universal Republic. He also took his music on the road in a major way, performing in Europe and all across the States — including the Coachella Festival in April, his biggest show yet. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

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Life of the Party - The Weeknd kept the good news coming in 2012, signing to Universal Republic. He also took his music on the road in a major way, performing in Europe and all across the States — including the Coachella Festival in April, his biggest show yet. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)

The Weeknd, Trilogy - Give your special some-person a sexy holiday hint with The Weeknd's major-label debut, which packages his three amazing, previously released mixtapes with a handful of smoky new songs.  (Photo: Universal Republic Records)

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Trilogy - Today, Nov. 13, The Weeknd will release his first major-label album, Trilogy. The project will feature remastered versions of his three earlier releases, plus three brand-new songs. Does this mean The Weeknd will finally come out from the shadows? We hope so.(Photo: Universal Republic Records)