The Weeknd

House of Balloons is the critically acclaimed debut mixtape by Canadian singer The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), released for free online on March 21, 2011. It is widely recognized for pioneering the alternative R&B genre with its dark, atmospheric sound and raw lyrical content.

The mixtape's title comes from the nickname Tesfaye gave to his actual former home in Parkdale, Toronto, where he and his friends would throw drug-fueled parties.

House of Balloons is regarded as a major influence on contemporary R&B, known for its exploration of loneliness, heartbreak, drug use, and promiscuity.

It was later commercially released as part of the 2012 compilation album Trilogy, which also included his other 2011 mixtapes, Thursday and Echoes of Silence.