XO (record label) explained

Bgcolor:	000000
Parent:	Universal Music Group
Status:	Active
Distributor:	Republic Records
Country:	Canada

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]

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" has been debated by fans over time. Many fans argued that it means "hugs and kisses", whereas other fans argued that it 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

Act	Year signed	Releases under the label
The Weeknd	Founder	12
Belly	2015	7
Nav	2016	7
Chxrry22	2022	2

Former acts

Act	Year signed	Releases under the label
88Glam	2017–2020	2
Black Atlass	2018–2022	2

In-house producers

Act	Year
Illangelo^[16]	2011
DaHeala^[17]	2013
DannyBoyStyles^[18]	2013
Belly	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

Year	Album details	Details
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
2015	The 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
2016	The 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 Atlass – Pain 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
	88Glam – 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 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
2021	Belly – See You Next Wednesday^[26] Released: August 27, 2021 Label: XO, Roc Nation Formats: download	Chart position: #191 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified
2022	The Weeknd - Dawn FM Released: January 7, 2022 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, vinyl, cassette, download	Chart position: #2 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified
2022	Nav – Demons Protected by Angels Released: September 9, 2022 Label: XO, Republic Format: CD, download	Chart position: #2 U.S. RIAA certification: uncertified

EPs

Year	EP details	Details
2018	The 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^[27] 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 details	Details
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
	The Weeknd – The Highlights Released: February 5, 2021 Label: XO, Republic Formats: CD, download	Chart position: #2 US RIAA certification: uncertified
2023	The Weeknd – Live at SoFi Stadium Released: March 3, 2023 Label: XO, Republic Formats: download	Chart position: uncertified RIAA certification: uncertified

Mixtapes

Year	Album 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: download
	Nav – 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Who Is Signed To XO? Dissecting The Weeknd's Canadian Collective. Umusic. November 6, 2017. May 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200522141850/http://www.umusic.ca/2017/10/24/weeknd-xo/. dead.
2. Web site: The Weeknd (@theweeknd). Instagram. November 6, 2017.
3. The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl. Billboard. 2021.
4. November 15, 2018. XO Records CEO Wassim 'SAL' Slaiby Cancels Annual Birthday Party Due to California Wildfires. July 14, 2020. Billboard.
5. Web site: Republic Records . universalmusic.com . February 21, 2019.
6. NAV's 'Good Intentions' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. May 17, 2020. May 17, 2020.
7. Web site: Keating. Lauren. The Weeknd Launches A Vape That Plays His Hit Single 'The Hills' As You Smoke. Tech Times. November 4, 2015. November 13, 2016.
8. Web site: Jr . Robert Yaniz . 2021-02-13 . Why Do The Weeknd Fans Call Themselves the 'XO Crew'? . 2022-12-13 . Showbiz Cheat Sheet . en-US.
9. Web site: 88GLAM ANNOUNCE FIRST HEADLINING CANADIAN TOUR . Umusic . June 28, 2020 . March 11, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220311091530/https://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/88glam-announce-first-headlining-canadian-tour/ . dead .
10. Web site: Berry. Peter. 88GLAM SIGN TO XO RECORDS, DROP '88GLAM: RELOADED' PROJECT. XXL. April 28, 2018.
11. Web site: Gheciu . Alex Nino . 88GLAM Talk 'New Mania,' Leaving XO, and That 'Independent Flex' . Complex . June 27, 2020 . en . June 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200629084452/https://www.complex.com/music/2020/06/88glam-talk-new-ep-leaving-xo-going-independent . dead .
12. Web site: Goddard. Kevin. Did The Weeknd Sign R&B Singer Black Atlass To XO Records?. HotNewHipHop. February 8, 2018.
13. Web site: Marsh. Ryan. The Weeknd signs Black Atlass to XO Records. Rap Wave. November 13, 2016.
14. Web site: Pavlakos . Louis . Newest XO Signee Chxrry22 Releases the Other Side EP . Complex . 2022-10-03 . 2022-11-22.
15. Penrose . Nerisha . 2018-06-06 . The Weeknd Announces New Beats 1 Radio Show Memento Mori . 2022-12-13 . Billboard . en-US.
16. The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl . Billboard. 2011.
17. The Weeknd Co-Manager SAL Joins Guy Oseary's Maverick: Exclusive . Billboard. 2016.
18. DannyBoyStyles, Producer for Beyonce, The Weeknd & Belly, On His Rise to Grammy Success . Billboard. 2017.
19. Web site: Who Is Signed To XO? Dissecting The Weeknd's Canadian Collective. October 24, 2017. November 6, 2017. May 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200522141850/http://www.umusic.ca/2017/10/24/weeknd-xo/. dead.
20. Web site: Kiss Land by The Weeknd on Apple Music. iTunes Store. October 12, 2016.
21. Web site: Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd on iTunes. iTunes Store. October 12, 2016.
22. News: The Weeknd released a new single with Daft Punk and revealed a release date for his album. Lynch. John. September 22, 2016. Business Insider. October 12, 2016.
23. Web site: Pain & Pleasure by Black Atlass on Apple Music . iTunes Store . July 12, 2018.
24. Web site: Black Atlass Announces 'Dream Awake' Album. exclaim.ca. en-ca. March 13, 2020.
25. Web site: NAV ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM 'GOOD INTENTIONS'. Rap-Up. April 27, 2020. April 28, 2020.
26. Web site: Grant. Shawn. August 21, 2021. Belly Set to Drop 'See You Next Wednesday' Album on August 27. August 26, 2021. The Source. en-US.
27. Web site: NAV's 'Brown Boy' EP Surprise Released by Cash XO. Highsnobiety. Giulione. Bianca. March 14, 2019. March 16, 2019.