The Weeknd Reveals The True Status Of His "Retirement"

BY Alexander Cole
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The Weeknd performs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 30, 2022.Entertainment The Weeknd Concert At State Farm Stadium
The Weeknd performs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 30, 2022. Entertainment The Weeknd Concert At State Farm Stadium USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Weeknd is one of the biggest artists in the entire world, and months ago, he made it appear as though he was done.

Amidst the rollout for Hurry Up Tomorrow, The Weeknd made it seem as though he was on the verge of retiring. That he would be shedding The Weeknd moniker for good and going by another name, all while engaging in other endeavors.

However, following the release of his most recent project, the artist went on one of the biggest and longest world tours we have ever seen. While we haven't received any new music during this time, there has been this looming sense that the artist has no plans to actually retire.

The Weeknd confirmed this to be the case during an interview with GQ Hong Kong. He noted that he did, indeed, retire for a little bit, but it just wasn't for him. Instead, he is ready to continue working under his alias.

“I had a glimpse of what retirement looked like, and it isn't for me," The Weeknd said. "[...] It’s a real privilege to do what I do... The Weeknd isn’t going anywhere.”

The Weeknd Is Not Going Anywhere

The Weeknd hinted at his next chapter, revealing that he is excited about what the future holds. He also spoke about how much he loves his job, and that he can't just let it go that easily.

“Every chapter has taught me something new about myself, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the next few reveals," The Weeknd explained. “[...] There’s nothing else like this job. The gratitude I’ve felt over the last year has been overwhelming. I’m going to keep doing this for as long as I possibly can.”

The Weeknd's most recent era includes albums like After Hours, Dawn FM, and Hurry Up Tomorrow. These are some of his most mature projects and feature heavy elements from the 80s.

While this era will go down as one of his best, it does seem as though The Weeknd is ready to try something new musically.

About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!

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