Genres: R&B, Synthpop, Brazilian Funk
Length: 22 tracks — 1h 24m
Features: Lana Del Rey, Playboi Carti, Anitta, Future, Travis Scott, Justice, Florence and the Machine, and Giorgio Moroder.
On January 31, 2025, The Weeknd released his last studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, marking the final chapter of a trilogy that has defined his career. The album is a narrative journey, encapsulating his artistic evolution, personal growth, and emotional catharsis. As his last project under the name “The Weeknd”, Abel Tesfaye closes a profound chapter, signaling a rebirth as he moves forward under his real name.
Critics have described the trilogy–- After Hours, Dawn FM, and Hurry Up Tomorrow–– as a metaphorical passage through hell, purgatory, and heaven. After Hours depicted chaos and torment, Dawn FM explored existential reflection, and now, Hurry Up Tomorrow offers a vision of hope, closure, and liberation.
The album covers visually reinforce this transformation. While After Hours showed The Weeknd’s bloody face grinning down at the screen, and Dawn FM presented him as an aged, solemn figure with regret and fatigue shimmering on his face, Hurry Up Tomorrow features him screaming in pain with a blistered, scarred face; a raw yet triumphant image of breaking free from the shackles of The Weeknd.
Thematically, the album delves into The Weeknd’s reflections on fame, personal struggle, and eventual redemption. Tracks like “Cry for Me”, “Reflections Laughing”, and “Baptized in Fear” expose raw emotional vulnerability, grappling with regret and the toll of fame, while tracks like “Timeless” and “São Paulo” release vibrant Brazilian funk and hectic, fast-paced energy, pushing creative boundaries while ultimately staying true to his own sound.
The closing track, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” seamlessly blends with The Weeknd’s debut track, “High for This,” creating a full-circle moment that signifies his artistic life cycle
Abel Tesfaye’s decision to depart from the alias “The Weeknd” solidified after he lost his voice during a show in Los Angeles on September 3, 2022. This critical moment inspired the track “I Can’t F***ing Sing,” in the album Hurry Up Tomorrow, a 12 second clip with a tense beat build-up featuring the Weeknd screaming out in distress that his voice is failing him.
In interviews, Tesfaye has said, “As The Weeknd, I have said everything I can say… I am definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn”, almost akin to a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis and embarking on its new journey. Hence the title Hurry Up Tomorrow. Reflecting this sentiment — a yearning to move forward and embrace the future apart from The Weeknd.
The release of Hurry Up Tomorrow represents more than just an album drop; it holds a farewell and a celebration. Tesfaye’s journey through pain and healing captures not just a personal tale but a rich story for listeners who have followed his career since the haunting tracks of House of Balloons.
Tesfaye decided to visualize his journey beyond music. His exploration of the challenges of fame extended to the television series The Idol, which he produced. The show, starring Lily-Rose Depp, delved into the pain, hardships, and complexities of the artist’s life; embracing themes mirrored throughout this trilogy.
With the upcoming studio film Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring Abel Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan, this artistic chapter reaches its cinematic climax. The film, set to release on May 16, 2025, is described as a visually stunning and emotionally gripping exploration of Tesfaye’s journey through fame, identity, and transformation. It is said to blend surreal visuals with grounded storytelling, cementing the finale of “The Weeknd.”
In its entirety, the trilogy represents a cycle of pain, introspection, and overcoming, beautifully captured in Hurry Up Tomorrow. As Abel Tesfaye steps into a new creative chapter, this album leaves a lasting impression as a poignant farewell to The Weeknd and a bold prologue for what lies ahead.
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