The Weeknd is an influential figure in modern R & B .
The Weeknd has helped to broaden the musical palette of R & B by incorporating indie and electronic music influences ; his work has been categorized as alternative R & B . The Weeknd anonymously uploaded several songs to YouTube under the name `` The Weeknd '' in 2010 and released the critically acclaimed mixtapes House of Balloons , Thursday , and Echoes of Silence in 2011 .
The Weeknd