What You Need

What You Need

The Weeknd

This slow, seductive ballad draws on a metaphor equating The Weeknd to the collective group of drugs he ingests and provides to his lovers. The female being serenaded here is victim to both a physical dependency on drugs and an emotional dependency for connection with Abel.

The original version of “What You Need” released on House of Balloons sampled Aaliyah’s “Rock the Boat.” However, it was the only sample not cleared upon Trilogy’s release and was removed from the track.

The first of three tracks produced from Jeremy Rose, Abel would later feud against him for rights to the songs.

In select live performances involving this track, The Weeknd performed a version merging this song with Kiss Land opener “Professional.”