XO (also known as XO Records) is a Canadian record label founded by singer the Weeknd, his managers Wassim Slaiby and Amir "Cash" Esmailian, and his creative director La Mar Taylor. Slaiby also is the CEO. As of 2012, it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Republic Records.
The label's current acts include the Weeknd, Belly, Nav and Chxrry. The label has had seven projects debut at number one on the Billboard 200: Beauty Behind the Madness, Starboy, My Dear Melancholy, Bad Habits, After Hours, Good Intentions and Hurry Up Tomorrow.
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.
The meaning of "XO" stands for ecstasy and oxycontin. During the Weeknd's early uprising of his career, he would occasionally record music under the influence of drugs, stating, "There were songs on my first record that were seven minutes long."
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 joined the label's roster. XO signed hip hop duo 88Glam in 2017, following the independent release of their mixtape 88Glam. The duo left the label in 2020. Singer Black Atlass joined in 2018, he left the label in 2022. Singer Chxrry joined in 2022, becoming the first female artist signed to XO.
On June 6, 2018, the Weeknd announced his new radio show Memento Mori run by the label on Apple Music 1. The first show aired on June 8, 2018, where the Weeknd would play a mixture of songs that have influenced him in the music scene. Often, he would invite his fellow XO members as well for other musicians as guests to host their own episodes in the scene to share their own taste in music. Each episode is run in the span of 2–3 hours.
Roster Current acts Act Year signed Releases under the label The WeekndFounder12 Belly20157 Nav20167 Chxrry20223
Former acts Act Year signed Releases under the label 88Glam2017–20202Black Atlass2018–20222
In-house producers ActYear Illangelo 2011 DaHeala 2013 DannyBoyStyles 2013 Belly 2013 Prince85 2013 Nav 2016
Discography XO has officially released seventeen studio albums, four EPs, and four compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Unofficially, the label has released thirteen mixtapes.
Studio albums Year Album detailsDetails 2013 The Weeknd – Kiss Land Released: September 10, 2013 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, download Chart position: #2 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold 2015 The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness Released: August 28, 2015 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: 4× Platinum 2016 The Weeknd – Starboy Released: November 25, 2016 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: 3× Platinum 2018 Nav – Reckless Released: May 18, 2018 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, download Chart position: #8 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold Black Atlass – Pain and Pleasure Released: July 12, 2018 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified Belly – Immigrant Released: October 12, 2018 Label: XO, Roc Nation, Republic Formats: CD, download Chart position: #169 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified88Glam – 88Glam2 Released: November 16, 2018 (initial) April 5, 2019 (2.5) Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified 2019 Nav – Bad Habits Released: March 22, 2019 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: Gold 2020 The Weeknd – After Hours Released: March 20, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: 2× platinum 88Glam – Close to Heaven Far from God Released: April 17, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Cancelled, was released independently after leaving the labelBlack Atlass – Dream Awake Released: April 3, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertifiedNav – Good Intentions Released: May 8, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified 2021Belly – See You Next Wednesday Released: August 27, 2021 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download Chart position: #191 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified 2022The Weeknd – Dawn FM Released: January 7, 2022 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download Chart position: #2 U.S. RIAA certification: platinumNav – Demons Protected by Angels Released: September 9, 2022 Label: XO, Republic Format: CD, download Chart position: #2 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified 2025The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow Released: January 31, 2025 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: TBA 2026 Chxrry – U, Me & My Ego Released: May 29th, 2026 Label: XO, Republic Format: Digital download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified
EPs Year EP detailsDetails 2018The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy, Released: March 29, 2018 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, download Chart position: #1 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified 2019 Nav – Brown Boy Released: March 14, 2019 Label: XO, Republic Format: Digital download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified 2022 Chxrry22 – The Other Side Released: September 28, 2022 Label: XO, Republic Format: Digital download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified 2023 Chxrry22 – Siren Released: October 27, 2023 Label: XO, Republic Format: Digital download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified
Compilation albums Year Album detailsDetails 2012 The Weeknd – Trilogy Released: November 13, 2012 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, download Chart position: #4 U.S. RIAA certification: 3× Platinum 2018 The Weeknd – The Weeknd in Japan Released: November 21, 2018 (Japan) Label: XO, Republic, Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, download Chart position: uncharted RIAA certification: uncertified 2021The Weeknd – The Highlights Released: February 5, 2021 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, download Chart position: #2 US RIAA certification: uncertified 2023The Weeknd – Live at SoFi Stadium Released: March 3, 2023 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Chart position: uncertified RIAA certification: uncertified
Mixtapes Year Mixtape details 2011 The Weeknd – House of Balloons Released: March 21, 2011 Label: XO Formats: download The Weeknd – Thursday Released: August 18, 2011 Label: XO Formats: download The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence Released: December 21, 2011 Label: XO Formats: download 2015 Belly – Up For Days Released: May 7, 2015 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download 2016 Belly – Another Day in Paradise Released: May 27, 2016 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download Belly – Inzombia Released: November 11, 2016 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download 2017 Nav – Nav Released: February 24, 2017 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download Nav and Metro Boomin – Perfect Timing Released: July 21, 2017 Label: Boominati, XO, Republic Formats: download Belly – Mumble Rap Released: October 6, 2017 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download 88Glam – 88Glam Released: November 16, 2017 (initial) April 20, 2018 (re-released) Label: Self-released (initial) XO, Republic (re-released) Formats: download 2020 Nav – Brown Boy 2 Released: May 11, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: downloadNav – Emergency Tsunami Released: November 6, 2020 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download 2023 Belly – Mumble Rap 2 Released: May 19, 2023 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download
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