While Starboy often reflects an increased opulence in the personal and professional aspects of Tesfaye's life - from more upscale pronouns to expensive collaborations with the likes of Daft Punk (two) and 'Can't Feel My Face' producers Max Martin and Ali Payami (four) - the dark moments of vulnerability are pitch black. He sings of being a 'Starboy' with access to a fleet of sports cars, but he's a 'motherfuckin' starboy,' one who is 26 years old and proud to observe his woman snort cocaine off his fancy table. It comes as no surprise that Tesfaye, on his third proper album, doesn't attempt to optimize the reach of his biggest hit by consciously targeting youngsters. He notes the absurdity in taking a 'kids' show' award for 'Can't Feel My Face,' in which he was 'talkin' 'bout a face numbin' off a bag of blow.' The track actually lost to Adele's 'Hello,' but it clearly, somewhat comically, reached an unintended demographic. On this follow-up's fourth track, a blithe midtempo cut where Tesfaye takes a swipe at pretenders while boasting about drinking codeine out of one of his trophies, the level of success is a source of amusement. The extent of the 2015 Weeknd commercial rebound, symbolized by platinum certifications for Beauty Behind the Madness and all four of its singles, didn't merely embolden Abel Tesfaye.

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