The Weeknd has teamed up with Brazilian pop star Anitta for a new song called ‘São Paulo’. Abel Tesfaye and Anitta debuted the track in the Brazilian city it’s named after back in September. It arrives with an accompanying video directed by Freeka Tet, in which Anitta is pregnant, and her stomach grows lips to sing the Weeknd’s lyrics. Watch and listen below.
“Anitta is a great friend,” Tesfaye told Billboard Brazil. “What she sent was so awesome that we created the song. We knew it was too special to just play on stage. We saw great potential in the song and found the beat, which is the heart of the show.”
Anitta added: “I wrote some verses as a joke and never imagined they would become serious. Suddenly, I received the finished song. I loved it! I felt very honored and flattered. I’ve always been a big fan of his and his work. I never imagined this would happen, and now it’s a dream come true. It’s a little more Brazilian funk, as promised, around the world.”
‘São Paulo’ is the latest preview of the Weeknd’s new album Hurry Up Tomorrow, following ‘Dancing in the Flames’ and ‘Timeless’ with Playboi Carti.