XO (record label)
| XO | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Universal Music Group |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | |
| Distributor(s) | Republic Records |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | Canada |
XO (also known as XO Records)[1][2] is a Canadian record label founded by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd, his managers Wassim Slaiby and Amir Esmailian, and his creative director La Mar Taylor.[3] Slaiby also serves as the label's CEO.[4] As of 2012, it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Republic Records.[5]
The label's current acts include the Weeknd, Belly, Nav, and Black Atlass. The label has had six projects debut at number one on the Billboard 200: Beauty Behind The Madness, Starboy, My Dear Melancholy, Bad Habits, After Hours and Good Intentions, with the latter two both achieving this in the first half of 2020.[6] XO and Drake-lead OVO Sound are unofficially connected, as both labels hail from Toronto.
History[]
In 2011, the Weeknd, Wassim Slaiby, Amir Esmailian and La Mar Taylor founded XO as an unofficial imprint to release the Weeknd's three mixtapes; House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence. The mixtapes earned the Weeknd a following and recognition from mainstream publications, and helped grow the record label's reputation through various performances, song references and business ventures.[7]
When the Weeknd signed with Republic Records in 2012, XO was assumed as a subsidiary label. In 2015, rappers Belly and Derek Wise were signed to XO. In 2016, rapper Nav and singer Black Atlass joined the label's roster.[8][9] XO signed hip hop duo 88Glam in 2017,[10] following the independent release of their self-titled mixtape.[11] The duo left the label in 2020.[12]
Roster[]
Current acts[]
| Act | Year signed |
Releases under the label |
|---|---|---|
| The Weeknd | 2012 | 10 |
| Belly | 2015 | 5 |
| Nav | 2016 | 6 |
| Black Atlass | 2018 | 2 |
Former acts[]
| Act | Year signed |
Releases under the label |
|---|---|---|
| 88Glam | 2017–2020 | 2 |
In-house producers[]
| Act | Year |
|---|---|
| Illangelo[13] | 2011 |
| DaHeala[14] | 2013 |
| DannyBoyStyles[15] | 2013 |
| Belly[16] | 2013 |
| Nav[17] | 2016 |
Discography[]
XO has officially released twelve studio albums, two EPs, and three compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Unofficially, the label has released twelve mixtapes.
Studio albums[]
| Year | Album details | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Weeknd – Kiss Land |
|
| 2015 | The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
|
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| 2016 | The Weeknd – Starboy
|
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| 2018 | Nav – Reckless
|
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Black Atlass – Pain and Pleasure
|
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Belly – Immigrant
|
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88Glam – 88Glam2
|
| |
| 2019 | Nav – Bad Habits
|
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| 2020 | The Weeknd – After Hours
|
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Black Atlass – Dream Awake[22]
|
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Nav – Good Intentions[23]
|
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| 2021 | Belly – See You Next Wednesday[24]
|
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EPs[]
| Year | EP details | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy,
|
|
| 2019 | Nav – Brown Boy[25]
|
|
Compilation albums[]
| Year | Album details | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | The Weeknd – Trilogy
|
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| 2018 | The Weeknd – The Weeknd in Japan
|
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The Weeknd – The Highlights
|
|
Mixtapes[]
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 2011 | The Weeknd – House of Balloons
|
The Weeknd – Thursday
| |
The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence
| |
| 2015 | Belly – Up For Days
|
| 2016 | Belly – Another Day in Paradise
|
Belly – Inzombia
| |
| 2017 | Nav – Nav
|
Nav and Metro Boomin – Perfect Timing
| |
Belly – Mumble Rap
| |
88Glam – 88Glam
| |
| 2020 | Nav – Brown Boy 2
|
Nav – Emergency Tsunami
|
References[]
- ^ "Who Is Signed To XO? Dissecting The Weeknd's Canadian Collective". Umusic. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
- ^ "The Weeknd (@theweeknd)". Instagram. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
- ^ "The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl". Billboard. 2021.
- ^ "XO Records CEO Wassim 'SAL' Slaiby Cancels Annual Birthday Party Due to California Wildfires". Billboard. November 15, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ "Republic Records". universalmusic.com. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ^ Keating, Lauren (November 4, 2015). "The Weeknd Launches A Vape That Plays His Hit Single 'The Hills' As You Smoke". Tech Times. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ Goddard, Kevin. "Did The Weeknd Sign R&B Singer Black Atlass To XO Records?". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
- ^ Marsh, Ryan. "The Weeknd signs Black Atlass to XO Records". Rap Wave. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "88GLAM ANNOUNCE FIRST HEADLINING CANADIAN TOUR". Umusic. Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Berry, Peter. "88GLAM SIGN TO XO RECORDS, DROP '88GLAM: RELOADED' PROJECT". XXL. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
- ^ Gheciu, Alex Nino. "88GLAM Talk 'New Mania,' Leaving XO, and That 'Independent Flex'". Complex. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl". 2011.
- ^ "The Weeknd Co-Manager SAL Joins Guy Oseary's Maverick: Exclusive". 2016.
- ^ "DannyBoyStyles, Producer for Beyonce, The Weeknd & Belly, On His Rise to Grammy Success". 2017.
- ^ "DannyBoyStyles, Producer for Beyonce, The Weeknd & Belly, On His Rise to Grammy Success". 2017.
- ^ "Who Is Signed To XO? Dissecting The Weeknd's Canadian Collective". October 24, 2017.
- ^ "Kiss Land by The Weeknd on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd on iTunes". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ Lynch, John (September 22, 2016). "The Weeknd released a new single with Daft Punk and revealed a release date for his album". Business Insider. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
- ^ "Pain & Pleasure by Black Atlass on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- ^ "Black Atlass Announces 'Dream Awake' Album". exclaim.ca. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "NAV ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM 'GOOD INTENTIONS'". Rap-Up. April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ Grant, Shawn (August 21, 2021). "Belly Set to Drop 'See You Next Wednesday' Album on August 27". The Source. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Giulione, Bianca (March 14, 2019). "NAV's 'Brown Boy' EP Surprise Released by Cash XO". Highsnobiety. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
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Categories:
- XO (record label)
- Companies based in Toronto
- Record labels established in 2012
- Vanity record labels
- Republic Records