Thursday is the second mixtape by Canadian singer The Weeknd, originally released in 2011. It is the middle instalment of the trilogy that began with House of Balloons and ended with Echoes of Silence, later bundled as Trilogy. The dark, atmospheric alternative R&B was largely produced by Doc McKinney and Illangelo. 'The Zone' features rapper Drake, who introduced The Weeknd to a wide audience during this period. Tracks such as 'Lonely Star', 'The Birds Part 1' and 'The Birds Part 2' explore themes of fame, temptation and destructive relationships. The mixtape series laid the foundation for Abel Tesfaye's international breakthrough.