# Timeless (The Weeknd and Playboi Carti song)

"Timeless" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on September 27, 2024, through XO and Republic Records. Originally released as the second single from the former's sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025), it later replaced "Dancing in the Flames" as the lead single following its removal from the final tracklist. Produced by Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, Ojivolta, and Jarrod "Twisco" Morgan, the song peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the Billboard Global 200, and debuted in the top ten in 15 countries.

## Background and promotion

The Weeknd and Playboi Carti first collaborated on the song "Popular" with American singer Madonna, released as part of the now scrapped soundtrack album from The Idol. Following the collaboration, the Weeknd went on to praise what he and Carti brought together on the track and during their sessions. On August 26, 2024, Carti posted on his Instagram a photo of himself and the Weeknd on FaceTime, hinting at a possible second collaboration.
On September 7, during his "one night only" concert in São Paulo, Brazil, the Weeknd performed eight tracks off of his then-upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow, including a live debut of "Timeless" and a medley of "Fein" by Travis Scott and Carti, as well as the Weeknd's "Until I Bleed Out". The concert was followed up by the release of "Dancing in the Flames", which was intended to be the lead single of the Weeknd's then-upcoming album Hurry Up Tomorrow. On September 25, The Weeknd shared a social media post with a screenshot from the music video of "Timeless". He simultaneously confirmed the song to be released on September 27 as the album's second single.

## Music video

The music video would be teased two days before the single's initial release; a still picture from the music video was posted on the Weeknd's Instagram page. The music video was eventually released on the Weeknd's YouTube page, three days after the song's release. Directed by Gunner Stahl and LouieKnows, who both previously had worked frequently with Playboi Carti, the video depicts the two musicians performing with young women inside a dark, blacked out soundstage, briefly followed by visuals of the previous album, After Hours, depicted as "Hell", the first part of Divine Comedy.

## Critical reception

Upon release, "Timeless" received generally positive reviews from music critics. Pitchfork praised the track's "tasteful" and "seamless" sound, describing it as "cosmic lounge music." However, the reviewer critiqued the song's deeply manicured production and strategic timing, noting that despite its title, both artists seem aware that "their fame won't last forever." Mark Chinapen of Medium praised the song's bouncy energy and the Weeknd's return to a trap-inspired sound, showcasing the Weeknd's "braggadocio, 'King of the Fall' aura" and highlighting his catchy chorus and signature falsetto. He praised Playboi Carti's performance and felt that his verse succeeded at complementing the beat. However, the reviewer saw the production as somewhat "basic" and not as special as expected. Despite this, Chinapen considered "Timeless" a solid second single from Hurry Up Tomorrow, with its inclusion alongside "Dancing in the Flames" hinting at an album with "an amalgamation of different sounds." There is speculation that the song was created using artificial intelligence, particularly on Playboi Carti's verse and vocals, but this has yet to be confirmed or denied by the artists.

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.
* The Weeknd – vocals, songwriting, keyboard, associated performer
* Playboi Carti – vocals, songwriting
* Mike Dean – co-production, songwriting, mixing, synthesizer, mastering, studio personnel, associated performer
* Ojivolta – co-production, songwriting
* Pharrell Williams – production, songwriting, mixing, studio personnel
* Twisco – co-production, songwriting
* Gozshu - songwriting
* Devon "Lawson" Chisolm – songwriting
* Jarrod "Twisco" Morgan – songwriting
* Kobe "BbyKobe" Hood – songwriting
* Mark Williams (Oji) – songwriting
* Raul Cubina (Volta) – songwriting
* Tariq "BL$$D" Sharrieff – songwriting
* Tommy Rush – assistant mixing, studio personnel
* Sage Skolfield – co-mixing, engineering, studio personnel
* Mike Larson – engineering, studio personnel
* Marcus Fritz – vocal mixing, studio personnel

## Certifications

Certifications for "Timeless" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 20,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 2× Platinum | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Gold | 45,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 100,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Gold | 25,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Greece (IFPI Greece) | 2× Platinum | 4,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||