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With The Weeknd gearing up for his highly anticipated upcoming sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, the singer has released another single off the LP's tracklist, titled, TIMELESS.
The new record follows up on the album's lead single, Dancing In The Flames, which was delivered to DSPs (Digital Streaming Platforms) on September 13, 2024.
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The Weeknd teams up with Playboi Carti for their second career collaboration on TIMELESS, which was distributed to all major streaming platforms today (Sept. 27) via The Weeknd XO Music ULC, Republic Records, and UMG Recordings Inc.
Weeknd's TIMELESS was previewed live for the first time during the singer's concert in São Paulo, on September 07, with Carti, who performed alongside him on stage.
Two days before the track's official streaming release, a demo of the new record was allegedly leaked online, building up anticipation amongst fans. Carti then posted a picture of the two artists on his story, hinting at their collaboration, a day before TIMELESS was released.
Bar-For-Bar: Dissecting The Weeknd and Playboi Carti's new single TIMELESS
Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye and Playboi Carti's TIMELESS has a complete runtime of four minutes and 16 seconds, with an enticing, spacy, production credited to Pharrell Williams, Ojivolta, Twisco, and MIKE DEAN.
The record was released alongside an official lyric video, which captures The Weeknd and Playboi Carti's performance of TIMELESS at the São Paulo live concert. Notable themes their new collaboration dives into are listed below:
- Success
- Wealth
- Luxury
- Status
- Fashion
- Excess
- Hedonism
- Substance Abuse
- S*x
- Intimacy
- Relationships
- Love
- Loyalty
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
(Verse 1)
"Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the s--t (Ooh, yeah) / Shorty keep wanna come 'round, she wanna get hit (Wanna get hit so hard) / She think she the main because I keep her by my side / Double-O, bust down the watch, she know that I'm timeless (Timeless)"
Playboi Carti opens TIMELESS with an enticing vocal performance bouncing between a melodic cadence and his signature high-pitched delivery.
The Atlanta rapper starts his verse by highlighting that ever since he was a "jit," a southern slang used to refer to someone young, Carti always knew he would be successful.
A majority of Playboi Carti's verse seemingly revolves around themes of s*x, substance abuse, excess, luxury, success, and status. He ends the bars by citing instances of encrusting a "Double-O," i.e. Audemars Piguet's watch, with diamonds as a double entendre when referring to his artistry as "timeless".
"I put my son in some Rick / I pull that gun off the hip / Pockets hold twenty-two clips (Ah) / I break her heart, Comme Garçons / Put on a shirt, get put on a blimp / B---h like a stain, get ready to lick / I had to tell her that ever since I was a jit, knеw I was the s--t (Oh)"
The rapper then flexes his immense wealth and status within the fashion industry by stating that he dresses his son, Onyx, in "Ricks". This is a shout-out to Rick Owens, a Luxury streetwear designer whose pieces Carti has been seen sporting in public appearances for several years.
He leaves another subtle remark about his increasing wealth by comparing the sizes of his pockets to extended magazines for firearms that can reportedly hold 22 rounds or more at any given time. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the "stacks of cash" the rapper is seen flexing in many of his music videos.
The rapper ends his bar by shouting out another luxury fashion designer, Comme des Garçons when suggesting he breaks hearts like the brand's "heart with eyes" logo.
"She singin' my songs, she wanna diе lit, tryna get hit / House like a bank, deposit this b---h, deposit that check / Smile on my face, ain't playing s--t, come and get checked (Uh) / Ice on my neck, double-O wrist / She in the Scat, hell of a 'Cat / Fresh out the trench, four hundred packs"
Carti then delivers a bar where he references his debut studio album Die Lit when citing why women in his life love the music he makes. The rapper goes on to draw comparisons between depositing a check at a bank and bringing home a new partner, highlighting a life of excessive philandering.
Playboi Carti's hedonistic traits are well noticed in this bar as he breaks down the various pleasures he desires, which include luxury clothing, expensive jewelry, and fast cars.
"Uh, yeah, I'm spinnin' in Paris (Uh) / Dress for these h--s, they finna flock / Just poured a four in a soda, it pop / Them drugs finna hit, I'm feelin' ill / I'm wrestlin' all of my demons, I feel like The Rock"
Carti then makes references to his excessive lifestyle citing instances of substance abuse, luxury travel, women, and parties. The final bar on Playboi Carti's verse finds him explaining how the drugs he takes, although make him feel ill at times, help him battle his inner "demons".
The rapper also humorously draws a comparison between himself and WWE Superstar Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, when suggesting he wrestles with his emotions before the verse ends and The Weeknd opens on the song's hook.
(Chorus)
"Ever since I was a kid, I been legit (Jit, ooh, nah) / If I was you, I would cut up my wrist (Dumb bit') / XO tatted all over her body, yeah (Yeah) / She just wanna roll and I don't mind it, yeah"
The Weeknd opens on the song's hook, backed by Playboi Carti's energetic, hyper-vocal ad-libs. The soft cadence matched with an effortless delivery leaves instances from the record's chorus stuck in listeners' heads.
Abel starts the hook by referencing the start of Carti's verse, with the singer substituting the word "jit" for "legit" instead. Major themes the song's chorus revolves around include intimacy, love, self-harm, fantasy, loyalty, and substance abuse.
"Ever since I was jit, I been legit (Ooh, nah, uh) / You should let her go, she wanna be it (Oh, yeah) / Double-O tatted on her body, yeah / It don't matter what they say, I'm timeless, yeah (Schyeah)"
The Weeknd ends the chorus by shouting out his loyal fanbase and those who support his music. He ends the chorus by citing that regardless of the criticism he receives, his music and legacy will always remain "timeless".
The line where he suggests getting XO and Double-O "tatted" is a reference to all the fans who tattooed the logos of his and Carti's record labels on their body.
Abel started XO Records in 2011 and brought on artists like Nav and Belly as part of its roster. Playboi Carti founded Opium Records in 2019, which has since signed upcoming artists like Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang.
(Verse 2)
"Oh, city on fire when I'm comin' home / Fill up the sky (Yeah), I fill up the Dome / They'll play it one day (Yeah), it's a hell of a show / But it's gonna hurt 'cause we did it first"
The Weeknd opens on TIMELESS' second verse with a spacy vocal delivery, supported by Playboi Carti's ad-libs. The verse primarily appears to revolve around themes of success, loyalty, betrayal, intimacy, relationships, and love.
The first bar of Abel's verse finds the singer highlighting the love Toronto has for him whenever he's back in the city, comparing the virality of his homecoming status to a "city on fire".
The singer then flexes his massive arena shows, citing why he believes he was the first artist from his city to put on visually stunning stadium concerts.
"Feel like Skateboard P, BBC boys on the creep / Feel like it's '03, Neptune drum with a beam (Yeah) / She hippie-flippin' a bean, she wanna f--k with the team / She fell in love with the cream (Yeah), she fell in love with the scene"
The Weeknd proceeds to give a shout-out to Pharrell Williams, who led the production on TIMELESS, by referring to the producer's iconic alias "Skateboard P". The singer also references William's production duo, The Neptunes, which he formed alongside Chad Hugo in 2003.
Abel ends the bar by speaking on an instance where an unnamed woman, fueled by substance abuse and intimacy, got addicted to The Weeknd's excessive lifestyle which resulted in her seemingly falling in love with "the scene" instead of him.
"Ooh, yeah, her man quiet, not a peep (Oh, nah) / Broke his heart, PTSD (Oh, nah) / Hold his chest, let it breathe / Let it breathe, n----s scheme / And I got a priest, he got a cross / Get out of line, send him to God / I shed a tear, pray for a loss, ooh, yeah (Yeah)"
The Weeknd ends his verse by speaking on themes of relationships, betrayal, and manipulation, by referencing an instance where a woman cheated on her partner to spend the night with Abel.
The final few lines of his verse delve into themes of religion and faith, with Abel hinting at a close relationship with God when suggesting why anybody who crosses him will face violent consequences.
The song's hook returns for a final run before The Weeknd's spacy outro fades out Timeless.
Following up on the success of their platinum collaboration with Madonna on Popular, which peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, The Weeknd and Playboi Carti return with another banger with TIMELESS, produced by Pharrell Williams.
The record is exceptionally performed and offers listeners a deeper glimpse into their excessive and luxurious lifestyles, blending their spacy vocal deliveries into the track's transient production.
