Photo by Erez Avissar

In what's the closest he's come to a traditional release model, the Weeknd's Abel Tesfaye has planned the official release of his three free 2011 mixtapes (House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence) as a single trilogy. It'll be available for purchase on November 13 and will include new material. "The bonus tracks are not older unreleased records. They are being made in the studio right now," Tesfaye wrote on Twitter. "New music for my fans."

It's not being labeled an official record deal, but the trilogy will be released as part of a "strategic partnership" between Tesfaye, his XO crew and Republic, a division of Universal Music Group. From a statement:

The joint venture between Republic Records and the Canada-based XO sees The Weeknd's vision preserved and magnified on a much larger scale. The XO initiative has grown from a small collective-- with roots based in the metropolitan streets of Toronto-- to a marquee business partner, and it will only evolve further within this structure.

The Weeknd will also hit the road for a big tour this fall, including a slew of dates with Florence and the Machine. Watch the video for "The Knowing":