What makes The Hills by The Weeknd notable?

'The Hills' debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing The Weeknd's growing influence in pop music. Its dark themes and innovative sound played a pivotal role in shaping the alternative R&B genre and solidifying his status in contemporary music culture. By the time 'The Hills' was released in May 2015, The Weeknd had already achieved significant acclaim with his previous album, 'Beauty Behind the Madness.' This single served as a lead-up to that album, marking a crucial moment in his transition from underground sensation to mainstream pop icon.

How many songs are on The Hills?

The Hills has 1 track, running approximately 4 minutes.

The Hills

The Weeknd · 2015

4 min · 1 track · contemporary R&B

Dark, atmospheric production melds with haunting vocals to explore themes of desire and excess in a contemporary R&B landscape.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
The Hills — As the title track, it encapsulates the album's exploration of fame, hedonism, and personal conflict through its moody production and introspective lyrics.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The track combines dark production with haunting vocals, effectively exploring themes of desire within a cohesive structure.

What we noticed

The production features a heavy bassline and layered synths that create a dark, atmospheric soundscape.
Vocals are delivered in a breathy, haunting style, often overlapping to enhance the sense of urgency and desire.
The song's structure includes a repetitive chorus that contrasts with more varied verses, emphasizing the thematic content.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Helped establish The Weeknd's reputation with a number one debut on the Billboard Hot 100.
Themes: Hollywood excess· late-night escapism· fame's shadows
Career context: By the time 'The Hills' was released in May 2015, The Weeknd had already achieved significant acclaim with his previous album, 'Beauty Behind the Madness.' This single served as a lead-up to that album, marking a crucial moment in his transition from underground sensation to mainstream pop icon.
Stylistic neighbors: Frank Ocean· Miguel· SZA