How the Weeknd Went From Drake's Discovery to His Competition

Drake and The Weeknd have a long, complex relationship.

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Image via Complex Original
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Drake and the Weeknd's relationship has been hard to keep track of over the years. It was a placement on Drake's OVO blog that first helped the Weeknd break out, and he was later seen all over Drake's sophomore album Take Care. Soon after, though, relations seemed to sour. The Weeknd decided not to sign with OVO, and later had some interesting words about Drake's use of his material on Take Care. Although they were never openly hostile, their relationship never seemed quite the same—until recently, that is. On the eve of the release of his third album Starboy, the Weeknd sat down with Zane Lowe and, suddenly, a full-length Drake collaboration was in the realm of possibility.

We'll have to see what comes of it—the pair's history has been circuitous, ranging from collaborations brimming with hit-making potential to veiled comments suggesting behind-the-scenes drama. Here's a comprehensive timeline of their confusing relationship.

Dec. 12, 2010: The Weeknd's music is featured on OVO's blog

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March 10, 2011: Drake shouts out the Weeknd on Twitter shortly before 'House of Balloons' Drops

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He continues to reference the Weeknd on Twitter throughout the year, promoting OVOXO as a brand. 

Aug. 18, 2011: Drake appears on the Weeknd's mixtape 'Thursday'

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Drake's appearance on "The Zone" marks their first collaboration together on an original song—although the Weeknd previously hopped on a remix of Drake's "Trust Issues."

Nov. 15, 2011: The Weeknd is featured all over Drake's 'Take Care'

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May 30, 2012: Drake hints that he's working on signing The Weeknd

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In an interview with MTV News' Sway Calloway, Drake gushes about his relationship with the Weeknd. "[He's] definitely somebody who, everywhere I go, they love him. They're that loud every single night when I say the Weeknd's name," he said. “As far as on paper, it’s all being worked out, but that’s not really what counts anyway. What counts to me is the fact that the affiliation is so known, and that’s all I really care about. I want to continue being involved in his career and vice versa and keep making music together... We’re definitely a family. It’s definitely a Toronto thing. That’s not changing at all.”

Sept. 11, 2012: The Weeknd signs to Republic Records

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Despite his close friendship with Drake and swirling rumors about a potential record deal, the Weeknd ultimately chooses to sign with Republic. The label will go on to repackage his first three mixtapes as a commercial release, Trilogy. This begins the rumors that Drake and the Weeknd's relationship is on the rocks. Drake later sends out this tweet, which many take as an implicit shot at the Weeknd for not signing with him.

Oct. 3, 2012: Rumors about a rift begin to swirl

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A tweet from OVO affiliate Jonny Roxx sets off a ton of rumors, which neither artist comments on. 

April 13, 2013: Drake shoots down beef rumors in interview with Elliot Wilson

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After much speculation that two of Drake's tracks—"Started From the Bottom" and "5AM in Toronto"—contained subliminal shots at the Weeknd, Drake steps in to cool down the rumor mill. “For people thinking ["5AM in Toronto"] has something to do with the Weeknd, nah. People will name names, and that’s just in their imaginary entertaining rap world. They just want it to be about somebody you know," he told music journalist Elliot Wilson on his "Keep It Thoro" show. The discussion starts around the 23-minute mark.

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When Wilson pressed him on whether OVOXO was done, Drake was a bit coy. “Not necessarily, it’s just like OVO was OVO, and will always be OVO. All we did was embrace somebody that we felt was extremely talented from our city, and instead of hating on it and rejecting it we just completely embraced it. And that was a big part of why it is where it is now," he said, going on to explain that he didn't have hard feelings. "People make their own decisions, man. He went on to do something that he felt was a great decision, and I always like more power to him. I talk to him all the time and I’m looking forward to whatever he has in the future. I wouldn’t call it a parting of ways, I just think people reach a point where they have to make a decision, and whatever decisions they make that’s on him.”

July 15, 2013: The Weeknd has a lot to say about Drake in his first ever interview

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July 27, 2013: Drake and the Weeknd return to the studio together

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Shortly after the release of the Weeknd's Complex interview, the two are seen in the studio together on Drake's Instagram page, seemingly clearing up any beef rumors.

Aug. 5, 2013: Drake brings out the Weeknd during his OVOFest set

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It's starting to look like the two artists are actually cool.

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Sept. 10, 2013: Drake appears on 'Kiss Land'

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The Weeknd finally drops his studio debut, Kiss Land, and it features a surprise appearance from Drake on the track "Live For." Although it marks another positive step for the two, it would turn out to be the pair's final collaboration together for several years.

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Oct. 29, 2013: Drake announces that the Weeknd will open on the European leg of Would You Like A Tour?

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Further burying beef rumors, Drake announces that the Weeknd will be the opener on his Would You Like A Tour? in Europe. The pair spend two months of 2014 performing and traveling in Europe together.

June 8, 2015: They're pictured together after an Apple event

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Both artists are involved in the unveiling of Apple Music. Afterwards, they're pictured backstage together with Dr. Dre.

July 21, 2014: The Weeknd shouts out Drake on "King of the Fall"

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The Weeknd seems to confirm that there was a beef at some point, but that the two had worked past it. "Shout out XO, shout out to the boy/Broke bread on tour, man, it’s all love now," he sings on the track.

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Sept. 5, 2015: Drake drops a remix of the Weeknd's "Tell Your Friends" on OVO Sound Radio

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Although Drake isn't featured on the Weeknd's smash hit album Beauty Behind the Madness, he randomly drops a remix to the track "Tell Your Friends" on OVO Sound Radio.

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Oct. 21, 2015: The Weeknd has more to say about Drake during a Billboard chart battle

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Jan. 31, 2016: Drake references OVOXO on "Summer Sixteen"

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On his first VIEWS single "Summer Sixteen," Drake references OVOXO. It's not quite clear whether or not it's a diss or a shout out. "All your exes know I like my O’s with a V in the middle," he raps. 

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Nov. 23, 2016: The Weeknd takes credit for his own success on "Sidwalks"

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The song premieres as part of his Mania short film, and the first line raises some eyebrows. "I ran out of tears when I was 18/So nobody made me but the main streets/'Cause too many people think they made me/Well, if they really made me then replace me," he sings. Although some speculate it's about his old producer Jeremy Rose, others think it might a subliminal shot at Drake.

Nov. 25, 2016: The Weeknd says he's down for a joint project with Drake

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The night of the release of his third album Starboy, the Weeknd opens up to Zane Lowe about the state of his relationship with Drake. “He came in as my big bro and showed the world what I could do,” he says. “From then on, he’s always been supporting me and I’ve always been supporting him. Behind the scenes, we’re still very close but it’s cool that the world can see us doing our own thing. OVOXO will always be there.”

He went on to hint at the possibility of a joint project in the vein of Watch the Throne. “It’s cool to have both monsters work together as opposed to one monster and one little guy coming in... It’s dope, like Kanye and Jay Z, when [Watch the Throne] happened," he says.

He also had high praise for what Drake has done for Toronto. “At the end of the day, that’s my guy. Oliver, 40, all of Toronto. There wouldn’t be any new artists from there if it wasn’t for Drake making Toronto cool because it wasn’t cool. Let’s be honest. Canada wasn’t ever cool," he says.

Drake even promotes the Weeknd's new album on Instagram.

 

Nov. 29, 2016: 'Starboy' dominates on Spotify

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