XO (record label) (Redirected from XO Records)

XO
Parent companyUniversal Music Group
Founded2011; 13 years ago (2011)
Founder
StatusActive
Distributor(s)Republic Records
Genre
Country of originCanada

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 serves as the label's 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 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.

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.

To this day, it’s still unconfirmed as to what the meaning of “XO” really is. Many fans argued that it means the idea of hugs and kisses whereas other fans argued that it means ecstasy and oxycontin. During The Weeknd’s early uprising of his career, there were times when he produced music, he did it under the influence of drugs. “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 self-titled mixtape. The duo left the label in 2020. Singer Black Atlass joined in 2018, he left the label in 2022. Singer Chxrry22 joined in 2022, becoming the first female artist signed to XO.

As of the 6th of June 2018, The Weeknd announced his new radio show “Memento Mori” run by his record label XO on Apple Music 1. The first show aired on the 8th of June,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 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 2011
DaHeala 2013
DannyBoyStyles 2013
Belly 2013
Nav 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 WeekndKiss 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 NavReckless
  • 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
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
BellyImmigrant
  • 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
2019 Nav – Bad Habits
  • Released: March 22, 2019
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: CD, vinyl, download
  • Chart position: #1 U.S.
  • RIAA certification: Gold
2020 88Glam – Close to Heaven Far from God
  • Released: April 17, 2020
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
  • Cancelled, was released independently after leaving the label
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
Black Atlass – Dream Awake
  • Released: April 3, 2020
  • Label: XO, Republic
  • Formats: download
  • Chart position: uncharted
  • RIAA certification: uncertified
Nav – Good Intentions
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
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 BoominPerfect 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

This page was last updated at 2024-02-04 14:48 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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