· Marcus Adetola · Trending

The Weeknd & Playboi Carti’s Timeless: A Neon-Soaked Tribute to Chaos and Control

<p>The Weeknd and Playboi Carti’s Timeless song review explores its 80s synth-inspired production, emotional depth, and themes of fame and legacy. Learn about Pharrell and Mike Dean’s influence on this must-listen track in Hurry Up Tomorrow.</p>

Step into Timeless and you’re not sure if you’re in a neon-drenched arcade from the ‘80s or a futuristic rave where the beats feel like they’re wired directly to your brain.

What’s clear though—this track is a straight banger. It’s what happens when you blend Pharrell Williams, Mike Dean, and two musical innovators—it’s part nostalgic, part futuristic adventure.

Nostalgic synths? Hell yeah. Lyrics that flex with confidence but hint at cracks beneath the surface? Without question.

A Dance of Chaos and Control: Synths, Style, and Sonic Warfare

From the very beginning, Timeless achieves what few tracks can—it feels both familiar and entirely new.

Pharrell and Mike Dean are at their best here, creating a soundscape that’s as vibrant as a neon-drenched dream.

It’s like someone lifted the soundtrack from an ‘80s video game, layered it with futuristic beats, and somehow ended up with something that slaps.

Carti kicks off the track as if he’s strolling through a party he already owns: “Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit.”

It’s typical Carti—effortlessly cool, flexing about his luxurious lifestyle, all while sounding like he’s barely trying​.

But when The Weeknd enters halfway through, the tone shifts.

Suddenly, it’s emotional. You can almost sense the weight of fame hanging over him, like a velvet rope he’s been tripping over for years.

This is where the track goes from just a bop to something deeper—like a duel between Carti’s swagger and The Weeknd’s introspection, chaos wrestling with control.

Playboi Carti: The Master of Minimalist Flex

Carti opens the track by reminding us that he’s been this cool since he was a “jit.”

If that word isn’t in your vocabulary, congratulations—you’ve officially aged out of Carti’s core audience.

His verses slide in with his signature nonchalance, like he’s scrolling through his designer wardrobe and heartbreaks at the same time—just another day at the office for him. 

“She thinks she’s the main ’cause I keep her by my side,” he raps, with the kind of detachment that makes you wonder if any of this even matters to him.

That’s Carti’s magic—he makes the extravagant seem easy. His lines about designer clothes and “busting down” luxury watches aren’t there to shock—they’re simply part of the world he inhabits.

The flex is minimal, the confidence maximal, and Carti manages to make it all sound like an afterthought.

The Weeknd’s Emotional Spin

Then The Weeknd steps in, and the mood changes. Carti’s laid-back bravado is replaced by Abel Tesfaye’s trademark blend of vulnerability and detachment.

His voice is as smooth as ever, but it carries the weight of someone who’s been at the top of the fame ladder long enough to know how isolating it can be. 

“I wait by the phone / I knew you would call,” he sings, and it feels like he’s not just talking about one relationship—he’s talking about all the missed connections and phone calls that never came.

This is where The Weeknd adds depth to Timeless. He’s always excelled at showing the darker side of fame—the way it strains relationships, isolates you, and leaves you craving something real.

While Carti might be flaunting his wealth and status, The Weeknd’s verses remind us that even with all the success in the world, something vital is always missing.

This tension between Carti’s carefree verses and Abel’s emotional gravitas is what makes the track so compelling.

Production as Storytelling

Pharrell and Mike Dean aren’t just crafting a beat—they’re building a world.

The synths pulse with a throwback feel, but there’s an undercurrent of something unsettling, like a sunny day with storm clouds on the horizon.

The ‘80s influence is unmistakable, but it’s been warped into something entirely new.

Pharrell’s pop expertise is evident, yet it’s filtered through Mike Dean’s brooding production, creating a sound that feels as uncertain as it is exciting.

It’s the type of track that draws you in with its brightness, only to leave you questioning what’s really going on beneath the surface.

The Clash of Legacy and Fame

But Timeless isn’t just about catchy hooks and impressive verses—it’s also about legacy.

Playboi Carti flaunts his material success, while The Weeknd, true to form, wrestles with what it means to leave a lasting mark.

What does it mean to be timeless? You can hear the uncertainty in The Weeknd’s voice: Sure, the fame is great, but what’s left after the applause dies down? ​

This is familiar territory for The Weeknd, but in Timeless, it feels even more poignant.

With rumours swirling about him possibly retiring his Weeknd persona, the song feels almost like a reflection on what he’s leaving behind—his influence on music, culture, and the fans who have grown up with his sound.

Carti might be flaunting luxury watches, but Abel’s contemplating whether any of this truly lasts.

Fan Frenzy: Real-Time Reactions

Of course, no track like Timeless would be complete without the fans weighing in.

Over on Reddit, people are buzzing about Carti’s ad-libs and The Weeknd’s layered vocals.

Comments like “The Peaknd did it again” sum up the general consensus: this track delivers.

Fans are loving Carti’s unique delivery (which they’ve dubbed “Cartinese”) and are all-in on the song’s darker, introspective vibe.

Conclusion: Or Is It?

Timeless leaves us in limbo, wondering if we’re witnessing The Weeknd’s grand finale or just another metamorphosis.

Either way, this track doesn’t just aim for relevance—it stares down the future while reflecting on a legacy that’s still in the making.

If this really is The Weeknd’s swan song, he’s certainly not bowing out quietly. 

Timeless is more like a high-speed chase through neon-lit streets, with Carti grinning in the passenger seat and Abel wondering where it all goes from here.

The Weeknd & Playboi Carti Timeless Lyrics

Intro: The Weeknd
XO
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah, no

Verse 1: Playboi Carti & The Weeknd
Ever since I was a jit, knew I was the shit (Ooh, yeah)
Shorty keep wanna come ’round, she wanna get hit (Wanna get hit so hard)
She think she the main because I keep her by my side
Double-O, bust down the watch, she know that I’m timeless (Timeless)
I put my son in some Rick
I pull that gun off the hip
Pockets hold twenty-two clips (Ah)
I break her heart, Comme Garçons
Put on a shirt, get put on a blimp
Bitch like a stain, get ready to lick
I had to tell her that ever since I was a jit, knеw I was the shit(Oh)
She singin’ my songs, she wanna diе lit, tryna get hit
House like a bank, deposit this bitch, deposit that check
Smile on my face, ain’t playing shit, come and get checked (Uh)
Ice on my neck, double-O wrist
She in the Scat, hell of a ‘Cat
Fresh out the trench, four hundred packs
Uh, yeah, I’m spinnin’ in Paris (Uh)
Dress for these hoes, they finna flock
Just poured a four in a soda, it pop
Them drugs finna hit, I’m feelin’ ill
I’m wrestlin’ all of my demons, I feel like The Rock

Chorus: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
(Shit, uh, yeah)
Ever since I was a kid, I been legit (Jit, ooh, nah)
If I was you, I would cut up my wrist (Dumb bit’)
XO tatted all over her body, yeah (Yeah)
She just wanna roll and I don’t mind it, yeah
Ever since I was jit, I been legit (Ooh, nah, uh)
You should let her go, she wanna be it (Oh, yeah)
Double-O tatted on her body, yeah
It don’t matter what they say, I’m timeless, yeah (Schyeah)

Verse 2: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
Oh, city on fire when I’m comin’ home
Fill up the sky (Yeah), I fill up the Dome
They’ll play it one day (Yeah), it’s a hell of a show
But it’s gonna hurt ’cause we did it first
Feel like Skateboard P, BBC boys on the creep
Feel like it’s ’03, Neptune drum with a beam (Yeah)
She hippie-flippin’ a bean, she wanna fuck with the team
She fell in love with the cream (Yeah), she fell in love with the scene
Ooh, yeah, her man quiet, not a peep (Oh, nah)
Broke his heart, PTSD (Oh, nah)
Hold his chest, let it breathe
Let it breathe, niggas scheme
And I got a priest, he got a cross
Get out of line, send him to God
I shed a tear, pray for a loss, ooh, yeah (Yeah)

Chorus: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
Ever since I was a kid, I been legit (Homixide, Homixide, Homixide, oh, oh)
If I was you, I would cut up my wrist (Ah)
XO tatted all over her body, yeah (Body, yeah)
She just wanna roll and I don’t mind it, yeah
Ever since I was jit, I been legit (Yeah, ooh, nah)
You should let her go, she wanna be it (Oh, nah)
Double-O tatted on her body, yeah (Body, yeah)
It don’t matter what they say, I’m timeless

Outro: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
Timeless (Oh), timeless, timeless
Timeless, timeless, timeless, we timeless, oh
Timeless, timeless, timeless (Yeah), timeless
Timeless (Yeah), timeless, timeless, we timeless, oh
Oh (Blatt)
Oh (Yuh, lit)

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