Basquiat Meets The Weeknd: A Cover Story in Ink and Sound
A 1977 drawing by Jean-Michel Basquiat will appear on the special collector’s edition of Hurry Up Tomorrow, the upcoming album from The Weeknd. Sourced from Basquiat’s early sketchbooks, the artwork—titled Upon Leaving the 'Norm’—features a cityscape, floating figures, and hand-scrawled text reading “Working Class Heroes” and “Ho-Hum.”
The balloon motif connects visually to House of Balloons, The Weeknd’s debut mixtape, and reflects his long-standing admiration for Basquiat’s work and style. This limited-edition release joins other versions of the album featuring art by Frank Miller and Hajime Sorayama, and coincides with an upcoming film starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan.
Basquiat’s artwork has appeared on several influential records, including Beat Bop by Rammellzee and K-Rob, The Offs, and The Strokes’ 2020 album The New Abnormal. His legacy continues to expand across music, fashion, and global culture, including a recent collaboration between H&M and Who Decides War, inspired by the Basquiat estate’s King Pleasure exhibition.