The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, Timeless | Dazzling Duets

In the ninth edition of Dazzling Duets (2026), R&B singer-songwriter The Weeknd and rapper Playboi Carti collaborate on “Timeless.” 

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case regarding Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight striking songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column. In the ninth edition of Dazzling Duets (2026), The Weeknd and Playboi Carti collaborate on “Timeless”. Let the dazzle begin!

The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) enlists Playboi Carti (Jordan Carter) on the timeless song, “Timeless”. “Timeless” is the 13^th track from The Weeknd’s 2025 album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.  The collaboration between these two popular artists impacted the pop charts.  “Timeless” peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent 41 weeks total. A collaborative composition,  The Weeknd wrote “Timeless” with Pharrell Williams (!), MIKE DEAN, Twisco, BBYKOBE, BL$$D, Ojivolta (Mark Williams and Raul Cubina), and Keith Lawson. Williams and Ojivolta produced the dark, minor-key record, which features colorful keys, synths, and lit drum programming.

The Weeknd performs the intro on “Timeless,” which sets the tone – establishes the vibe. Playboi Carti takes the reins in the first verse, with some ad-libs from The Weeknd.  His performance is playful, with what could be described as various vocals. “Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit… / Shawty keep wanna come ‘round, she wanna get hit,” he raps confidently, and continues, “She think she the main because I keep her by my side / Double-O, bust down the watch, she know that I’m timeless.” Ooh-wee, Playboi Carti! Throughout the verse, he references superficial and sometimes sketchy ‘hip-hop’ things: drugs (lean, specifically), guns, drip, and sex.  Concluding his verse, he asserts, “I’m wrestlin’ all of my demons, I feel like The Rock.” The Weeknd performs the crowning achievement, the chorus, where he references a woman tattooed with his label (XO), as well as Carti’s label (Double-O). Once more, we hear about being a jit, which Carti spat in the first verse (“Ever since I was a jit, I been legit”).  Following the chorus, Tesfaye performs the second verse.  The pop culture he serves up is alluring: “Feel like Skateboard P, BBC boys on the creep / Feel like ’03, Neptune drum with a beam.” That is quite Pharrell-ean to say the least! Also alluring is the toxicity his girl inherits from him/his lifestyle, including love for money and the scene.  The toxicity affects The Weeknd, who, after being heartbroken, looks to his faith… or something along those lines (“And I got a priest, he got a cross / Get out of line, send him to God…”). From there, The Weeknd performs the final chorus and the outro. “Timeless”, which has been played more than 1.37 billion times on Spotify alone, is intriguing.  No, it’s not a traditional duet, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t dazzle, nonetheless.  The personality-laden performances by The Weeknd and Playboi Carti are what make it cook.