The chorus is a thesis statement of sorts for After Hours as Abel sings, “Why? ‘Cause I’m heartless/ And I’m back to my ways ’cause I’m heartless/ All this money and this pain got me heartless/ Low life for life ’cause I’m heartless.” “Heartless” was the first taste of The Weeknd’s After Hours era, introducing fans to that chaotic, raunchy energy that would go on to define his most successful era to date. Listen to the best of The Weeknd on Apple Music and Spotify. The best Weeknd songs, below, offer a glimpse into his extraordinary ascent. His innate ability to not only stay ahead of the curve but actually be the curve has made him one of pop’s greatest disruptors, while his music continues to shape the pop landscape. With every incarnation, however, The Weeknd’s lyrical themes have never strayed: he remains a keen chronicler of sex, drugs, and emotional extremes. After dropping a string of mixtapes and joining a new class of R&B renegades, The Weeknd entered the pop fray – teaming up with Swedish super-producer Max Martin and others on the way to becoming the global superstar we know today. In the past decade, the Canadian artist (born Abel Tesfaye) has risen from the underground to become one of the biggest stars in the world.

Like his ambiguous alias, The Weeknd’s music revels in vivid tales of late-night debauchery before facing up to their sobering aftermaths.

Lyrics weekend comin out strong