This article is about the album. For its title track, see House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls.
House of Balloons
Mixtape by
the Weeknd
Released
March 21, 2011
Recorded
2010–2011
Genre
Alternative R&B[1]
Length
49:34
Label
XO
Producer
Doc McKinney
Cirkut
Illangelo
Jeremy Rose
Rainer
The Weeknd
The Weeknd chronology
House of Balloons (2011)
Thursday (2011)
Singles from House of Balloons
"Wicked Games" Released: September 25, 2012
"Twenty Eight" Released: November 13, 2012
House of Balloons is the debut mixtape by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd. It was released on March 21, 2011, by the artist's own record label XO. The mixtape was released for free on the Weeknd's website and was the subject of increased media discussion upon the use of its songs on television, as well as the then-anonymous identity of the individual behind the Weeknd. House of Balloons was entirely recorded in Toronto, with production handled primarily by the Weeknd, Doc McKinney, and Illangelo, alongside additional contributions from Cirkut, Jeremy Rose and Rainer. Its title is derived from the nickname the singer gave to his former home in Parkdale, Toronto.
The mixtape received widespread acclaim, with critics praising its dark aesthetic, production, and lyrical content. It is widely regarded as a major influence on contemporary R&B music, being credited for pioneering alternative R&B. Musically, House of Balloons mixes R&B with elements of rock, electro, and hip-hop. Lyrically, the mixtape explores the Weeknd's drug use and experiences with love, heartbreak, and promiscuity.
House of Balloons was commercially released as part of the compilation album Trilogy (2012) and included the singles "Wicked Games" and "Twenty Eight", the latter of which is a bonus track. On its tenth anniversary, the original mixtape was released in digital formats, and included samples which failed to gain copyright clearance on Trilogy. The reissue was accompanied by a limited edition line of merchandise designed by architect Daniel Arsham.
^Abebe, Nitsuh (August 14, 2011). "R&B Records With an Indie Affect". New York. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
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