Abel Tesfaye is a bit of a gatekeeper when it comes to his sonic universe. Honestly, if you look at the tracklists from House of Balloons all the way to the 2025 release of Hurry Up Tomorrow, the pattern of guest spots is never what you expect. Some fans thought he’d go full solo for his big finale. Others expected a "Who's Who" of Billboard chart-toppers.
The reality? The Weeknd album features have always been about texture rather than clout. He doesn’t just "buy" a verse. He integrates humans into a machine.
Why the Guest List for Hurry Up Tomorrow Changed Everything
For the longest time, the "After Hours" era felt like a lonely, cocaine-fueled fever dream. Then Dawn FM hit us with Jim Carrey doing radio segments. But Hurry Up Tomorrow—the final chapter of this specific trilogy—flipped the script on how Abel uses other voices.
You’ve got the heavy hitters, sure. Playboi Carti on "Timeless" and Anitta on "São Paulo" were the big flashy singles that basically owned the clubs by late 2024. But it's the deeper cuts that actually tell the story of Abel's "death" as a persona.
Take "Reflections Laughing."
Most people didn't see Florence + The Machine and Travis Scott sharing a track. It sounds like it shouldn't work. Travis brings that jagged, Houston energy while Florence Welch provides this ethereal, almost haunting backdrop that makes the song feel more like a funeral rite than a radio hit.
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The Evolution of the "XO" Guest List
If you go back to the Trilogy days, features were basically non-existent. Drake was the big one on "Crew Love," but it felt more like a passing of the torch. Since then, Abel has become incredibly picky.
- Future: A frequent flyer. Their chemistry on "Enjoy The Show" is just a continuation of the "Low Life" energy, but darker.
- Lana Del Rey: She’s basically the female counterpart to The Weeknd. On "The Abyss," she plays the role of the siren, pulling the character further into the dark.
- Giorgio Moroder: This was the curveball. Having the father of disco on "Big Sleep" wasn't just a flex; it was a structural necessity for the operatic synth sound Abel was chasing.
The Secret Sauce of The Weeknd Album Features
There’s a huge misconception that these features are just for streaming numbers. If that were true, he’d have a Drake or Taylor Swift feature on every project. Instead, he picks people like Oneohtrix Point Never or Justice.
On "Wake Me Up," the French duo Justice provides a French House foundation that Abel hasn't really touched since "Starboy" with Daft Punk. It’s a full-circle moment. He’s obsessed with the sound of the voice. He treats a guest verse like an instrument—if the frequency doesn't match the mood of the room, he cuts it.
I’ve heard stories of major artists sending back verses that never saw the light of day because they didn't "fit the narrative." It’s ruthless. But that’s why a Weeknd album feels like a movie instead of a playlist.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Collaborations
People often think these features are spontaneous. Kinda like they just ran into each other at a studio in LA.
Actually, for Hurry Up Tomorrow, many of these sessions were mapped out years in advance. Abel was teasing "Take Me Back to LA" for ages before it actually materialized. The involvement of Metro Boomin and Mike Dean isn't just "production"—they are essentially silent features. They shape the vocal performances of the guests as much as Abel does.
Breaking Down the 2025 Guest Roster
The 22-track monster that is the final album carries a lot of weight.
- The Rap Vanguard: Playboi Carti and Future provide the "toxic" edge that fans crave.
- The Pop Power: Anitta brought the global "São Paulo" flavor that bridged the gap between his North American fans and his massive Brazilian fanbase.
- The Legends: Giorgio Moroder’s presence is a nod to the 70s and 80s synth-pop that defines the trilogy’s aesthetic.
It's a weird mix. It shouldn't be cohesive, yet somehow, it is. The transition from the "scuzz" of Future to the operatic synths of Moroder is surprisingly smooth.
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What Happens to Features After "The Weeknd" Dies?
Abel has been very vocal about "shedding the skin." This was his final album under the name. Does that mean the features change?
Probably. When he starts releasing music as Abel Tesfaye, the "The Weeknd" lore ends. The dark, cinematic, drug-laden world that required the likes of Travis Scott and Lana Del Rey might be replaced by something more vulnerable or stripped back.
If you want to understand the trajectory of his career, don't just listen to his lyrics. Listen to who he allows into his world. The guests on Hurry Up Tomorrow are the pallbearers for a character we've known for over a decade.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Go back and listen to "The Abyss" and "Stargirl Interlude" back-to-back. You'll see how his dynamic with Lana Del Rey has evolved from a dream to a nightmare.
- Check the production credits, not just the "feat." tags. Half the "features" are actually found in the synth-work of Mike Dean or the arrangements by Justice.
- Watch the Jimmy Kimmel performance of "Open Hearts." It gives the best visual context for how these new songs are meant to be felt rather than just heard.
The era is over, but the discography is a blueprint for how to build a world with a little help from your friends. Or your "enemies," depending on which song you're listening to.