OH. MY. GOSH!!! Never have I been this excited to do an artist spotlight. This has been long overdue (but better late than never). If you have turned on the radio in recent weeks, I'm sure the name The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, comes to no surprise. However, for some of you who refuse to become victim to the mainstream and the artists that come out of it, let me reassure you that his sound, though on mainstream media, resembles no other. For most of us sex, drugs, and rock & roll sounds all too familiar. But The Weeknd puts his own spin to the term by substituting rock & roll with R&B. Rhythm and Blues is often sad and/or love songs that often get tiresome. Abel's talk of depression, drug use, his inability to be loved, and being homeless, separates him from your average R&B singer. Dark and often gloomy beats accompanied with these lyrics that few R&B artist touch on, is what gives Abel is platform. One can only say compliments so much. The proof is in the pudding, Tune into WNJR 91.7FM for a listen to his new album The Beauty Behind the Madness.
