When The Weeknd didn't sign with OVO, there was speculation that there was a rift in his relationship with his old collaborator Drake.

In a new interview with Beats 1, Weeknd clarified that relationship.

“He came in as my big bro and showed the world what I could do,” The Weeknd said. “From then on, he’s always been supporting me and I’ve always been supporting him. Behind the scenes, we’re still very close but it’s cool that the world can see us doing our own thing. OVOXO will always be there."

Weeknd did concede working on Take Care with Drake was emotionally draining.

“I gave up almost half of my album,” he said. “It’s hard. I will always be thankful—if it wasn’t for the light he shined on me, who knows where I’d be. And everything happens for a reason. You never know what I would say if this success wasn’t in front of me now.”

We’ve both had our moments where we’ve maybe felt a way and taken it maybe a little left, but I can sit here and say I have nothing but love for everybody over there. I loved watching last year. It made me super happy. Well deserved," Drake said of Weeknd in a Beats 1 interview earlier this year.