Way back in mid-2011, the Weeknd was simultaneously the hottest unsigned act in music, and a weird, shadowy mystery. He had been endorsed by Drake, as well as blogs like Pitchfork and 2 Dope Boys. At the same time, people weren't sure if the Weeknd was a solo act or a group, or what gender the vocalist was.
In June of that year, Abel Tesfaye took the stage at the Mod Club for a hometown debut concert that sold out almost instantly.