The Weeknd Announces New Album 'Starboy'

The Weeknd is leaving the madness behind and walking into a new era as a Star. A year after the massively successful Beauty Behind the Madness, Abel introduces fans to Starboy.

Chopping off his trademark locks, the Canadian crooner announced the album title and revealed the cover art. In it, Abel’s dressed in all black, with a blinged-out cross around his neck and ring-filled hands holding onto his freshly-cut hair.

Photographer Nabil, who’s worked with Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Frank Ocean, shot the cover and said there’s more fans can expect from the duo. “Mo fiya to come,” he wrote on Instagram, even adding a fire emoji for good measure.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKn7pSth2pa/

Although it was his second album after Kiss Land, Beauty Behind the Madness became The Weeknd’s breakout, spawning a series of hits on the Hot 100, including two No. 1 singles (“Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills”), a No. 3 smash (“Earned It”), a No. 12 hit (“In the Night”), and a Lana Del Rey collaboration (“Prisoner”), which peaked at No. 47.

Earlier this month, The Weeknd told VMAN that Starboy would be his “best-sounding” album to date with influences ranging from The Smiths and Bad Brains to Prince.

“I think it’ll be the best-sounding album I’ve ever done,” he said. “It’s hard to label the sound because, when I first came out, nobody would label it R&B. I just want to keep pushing the envelope without it feeling forced.”

He went on to say that he’ll be touching on his relationship with religion, as well as “how it ties into my crazy and materialistic life.” “I wrote some of these songs while recording Beauty Behind the Madness,” he added. “It’s like a fictional book inspired by true events.”

Starboy drops Nov. 25. Listen to the Daft Punk-assisted title track here.