In addition to Michael Jackson, the Weeknd also draws from punk influences. He became known as “the dark prince of emotional R&B,” (Helmore 2). He presented a new type of R&B that is weary and heavily drug related. His songs can be very depressing as he talks about needing drugs (cocaine, codeine, heroin, marijuana) to overshadow his low confidence and numb the pains of hardship; he also sings about the isolation and emptiness that follows a high. Most drug references in hip hop are seen as something fun to do at a party, but The Weeknd makes sure to also emphasize its negatives. Like in punk, which is a genre built on radicality and confrontation. It allowed people to be aggressive, speak their minds, and talk about taboo topics. Girls were cursing, dressing androgynously, and talking about sexual encounters. Drugs in general are very popular lyrically in punk; however, it is the Weeknd’s sense of challenging hip hop norms that really reflects his punk influences especially in his song.
These are some of the The Weeknd’s rap collaborations which allowed him to crossover into the hip hop charts. He has worked with well known names in Hip Hop such as Wiz Khalifa, Future, Drake, and Travis Scott. Hip Hop loves to glorify drugs; artists like to do drugs to have fun and party. The Weeknd, however, makes sure to emphasize the damaging effects of drugs, specifically how he uses them to shield his low self confidence and the isolating post high feelings.
In “the after party,” half of the song, The Weeknd is trying to decide if it was a good idea to hook up with this girl, and as this occurs the effects of the drugs start to become stronger. With his high intensifying as well as his feelings, his strained but mellow voice reflects this conflict. He sings like he is longing for an answer about what to do in this scenario but as he gets more high, his thoughts become more destructive. The Weeknd sings about how girls just want his money and fame, but not his love. He then proceeds to say that if he does not get attention, he will “start drowning from his wrist,”. This depressing lyric essentially says that the Weeknd wants attention so bad, and if he does not get it, he will shoot more drugs This is definitely not something common to sing about in hip hop and /R&B. Drugs are normally seen as an enhancement, not as a means of escaping strong emotions. The ironic part is that this section has such a smooth melody and he sings it in a minor key; it can be hard for the listeners to notice how sad the lyrics are. This also contributes to the Weeknd’s more “sexual” sound. The audience gets to see the vulnerable side of The Weeknd, who opens up about why he believes he needs drugs to function. Unlike in the hip hop world, where artists would be more hesitant to admit to personal flaws, The Weeknd does it here, which speaks to the sexual appeal of vulnerability, (Smiley 60).
Punk artists such as Siouxsie and the Banshees, were also able to talk about taboo topics such as gender norms, sexuality and were able to do it in an aggressive, “unladylike” manor. They had an androgynous look, staggered vocals, and lyrics that focused on negative experiences, (Mueller 34). Their gothic elements allowed them to connect with their audience more as they created a “…sense of mutual empathy,” (Mueller 34). Being able to express repressed emotions so passionately allowed for other people who were feeling those similar emotions to connect with these artists on a more intimate level. The Weeknd does so similarly for men, drug addicts, abusers, and those that may battle depression. Especially in hip hop, where prestige and toughness are a priority, people rarely get to hear men being depressed and going through difficult emotional times. The Weeknd tears down this “men having no feelings” barrier, while Siouxsie and the Banshees tears down this “all women are innocent and pure” barrier . Both of these artists give shape and voice to emotions that are hard to express. Punk artists spread their message through screaming and aggressive attitudes, while The Weeknd just does it through soft, lush harmonies and smooth R&B rhythms.