You’ve probably heard mention of the Weeknd in the past year, and definitely if you get your music from the internet or have an eye on R&B. The gloomy cloud that’s hanging over the genre (see: Usher‘s “Climax”) might have originated with him, while his jagged, falsetto-ed recollections of the high life have become typical for stars like Drake. In 2011, he released three critically acclaimed mixtapes for free through his Tumblr, earning himself a record deal and a clutch of powerful friends. This week, those three tapes have been remastered and repacked  as Trilogy, and early forecasts have it debuting at Number 2 on the Billboard charts next week (trailing, who else but One Direction). Who is this shady game changer with an earthly voice and good internet game?

Find out:

Kaleidoscope Dream is the magical sophomore album by Miguel, an LP in which he infuses the sounds of rock, soul and funk into the expanding box that is modern R&B. On “Adorn,” which is currently No. 1 on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts, he croons about love and intimacy over the funky bass line. “‘Adorn’ is romantic, but it’s dirty at the same time,” he told us the day his album dropped. “It’s all the highs of love with all the coolness of the party.” Then there’s “Use Me,” “Do You,” “Arch & Point,” and “Pussy Is Mine” that explore the beauty of intimacy. While “Do You” is as much about the sensuality (“Do you like hugs? Do you like love?”) as it is about sex (“I wanna do you like drugs tonight”), the provocative “Pussy Is Mine” is completely about Miguel’s friend with benefits making him feel like it is all his. Read more…

Sure the self-directed black and white visual to The Weeknd‘s “Rolling Stone” is minimalistic. There’s Abel Tesfaye with a woman’s arms wrapped around his neck. And a black backdrop. That’s it. What looks like a camera flash flickers and that sums up the video. The beauty, however, is in the simplicity. With little action on screen it’s easier to focus on the instrumentation of the African drums, the soft guitar strings. His voice resembling the serene sound of a waterfall is enough to carry the three minute clip. Sometimes less really is more.

Video: The Weeknd, “Rolling Stone” [Fader]

[Photo: Getty Images]

Wiz Khalifa brings the high energy party vibe to a track whereas The Weeknd‘s Abel Tesfaye offers breathy R&B. For Wiz’s “Remember You” from the pushed back O.N.I.F.C. (set to release December 4) the two collaborated for a mix between a sultry slow jam and smooth rap offerings focused on the good life. Against the deep bass, distant booms and scratches, Abel’s vocals are steady–not low, not quite high–as he pleads for said woman to make him remember her. Read more…

To say that The Weeknd, the shadowy and affected R&B project of Toronto’s Abel Tesfaye, has “buzz” would be to significantly undercut his last two years. Bolstered by a major cosign from Drake, who posted about him on his OVO blog and then featured him prominently on Take Care, and the success of his Florence + The Machine and Lady Gaga remixes, he’s gone from a specter on the Internet to an “Must See” act at all the summer’s big festivals and “must sign” on every record exec’s list. Well, three chillingly good self-released mixtapes and a seat saved next to Diddy later, he’s finally been got.

Earlier this week, Tesfaye announced that he will be re-releasing his trio of 2011 Weeknd mixtapes (House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence), mixed and mastered, as Trilogy with the backing of Universal Republic on November 13th. Additionally, he says he’s back in the studio working on bonus tracks — “New music for my fans” — for his major label debut. Read more…