XO (record label)

Last updated

XO
XO - 2.gif
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded2011;13 years ago (2011)
Founder
StatusActive
Distributor(s) Republic Records
Genre
Country of originCanada

XO (also known as XO Records) [1] [2] 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. [3] Slaiby also serves as the CEO. [4] As of 2012, it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed through Republic Records. [5]

Contents

The label's current acts include the Weeknd, Belly, Nav and Chxrry22. 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]

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]

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." [8]

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, [9] following the independent release of their self-titled mixtape. [10] The duo left the label in 2020. [11] Singer Black Atlass joined in 2018, he left the label in 2022. [12] [13] Singer Chxrry22 joined in 2022, becoming the first female artist signed to XO. [14]

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. [15]

Roster

Current acts

ActYear
signed
Releases
under the label
The Weeknd Founder12
Belly 20157
Nav 20167
Chxrry2220222

Former acts

ActYear
signed
Releases
under the label
88Glam 2017–20202
Black Atlass 2018–20222

In-house producers

ActYear
Illangelo [16] 2011
DaHeala [17] 2013
DannyBoyStyles [18] 2013
Belly [18] 2013
Nav [19] 2016

Discography

XO has officially released thirteen studio albums, four EPs, and four compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Unofficially, the label has released thirteen mixtapes.

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsDetails
2013 The Weeknd Kiss Land
  • Released: September 10, 2013 [20]
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, download
  • Chart position: #2 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
2015The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
  • Released: August 28, 2015 [21]
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, download
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 4× Platinum
2016The Weeknd – Starboy
  • Released: November 25, 2016 [22]
  • 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 AtlassPain and Pleasure
  • Released: July 12, 2018 [23]
  • 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: uncertified
88Glam88Glam2
  • Released: November 16, 2018 (initial) April 5, 2019 (2.5)
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
2019Nav – Bad Habits
  • Released: March 22, 2019
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, download
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
2020The 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 label
Black Atlass – Dream Awake [24]
  • Released: April 3, 2020
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Nav – Good Intentions [25]
  • 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 [26]
  • 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: uncertified
2022Nav – 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 24, 2025
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download
  • Chart position: TBA
  • RIAA certification: TBA

EPs

YearEP detailsDetails
2018The Weeknd – My Dear Melancholy,
  • Released: March 29, 2018
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, download
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
2019Nav – Brown Boy [27]
  • Released: March 14, 2019
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Format: Digital download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
2022Chxrry22 – The Other Side
  • Released: September 28, 2022
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Format: Digital download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
2023Chxrry22 – Siren
  • Released: October 27, 2023
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Format: Digital download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified

Compilation albums

YearAlbum detailsDetails
2012The Weeknd – Trilogy
  • Released: November 13, 2012
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, download
  • Chart position: #4 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: 3× Platinum
2018The Weeknd – The Weeknd in Japan
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
2021
The 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

YearAlbum details
2011The 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
2015Belly – Up For Days
  • Released: May 7, 2015
  • Label: XO, Roc Nation
  • Formats: download
2016Belly – 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
2017Nav – 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) [10]
  • Formats: download
2020Nav – Brown Boy 2
  • Released: May 11, 2020
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
Nav – Emergency Tsunami
  • Released: November 6, 2020
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
2023Belly – Mumble Rap 2
  • Released: May 19, 2023
  • Label: XO, Roc Nation
  • Formats: download

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