Earlier this week, The Weeknd set the Internet ablaze when an interview with Variety was published and he sent shots in Usher’s direction. In the talk, he said his early sound inspired the hit single “Climax” and at the time, it angered him.
“I heard ‘Climax,’ that [2012] Usher song, and was like, ‘Holy f—, that’s a Weeknd song.’ It was very flattering, and I knew I was doing something right, but I also got angry. But the older I got, I realized it’s a good thing.”
Usher takes to his Instagram stories to sing his hit song “Climax” after The Weeknd claimed he copied his style in the song. pic.twitter.com/NWVVEuLPo0
— Pop Crave (@PopCraveMusic) April 9, 2020
Following that excerpt, Usher responded by holding a #ClimaxChallenge on social media as fans for all over the globe took sides in the debate. But then Diplo responded as well.
the production on Climax lends itself to House of Balloons era @theweeknd. when I heard those early records they blew my mind – soulful in their silences, and a spacey iconic voice that felt uniquely internet. the idea of R&B having dark edges was what I wanted to bring to @usher
— Thomas Wesley (@diplo) April 9, 2020
It was a song that always had a crescendo but never felt like it reached the peak. kind of like some relationships never make it to where you want them but for a moment it could feel like ecstasy.
— Thomas Wesley (@diplo) April 9, 2020
Now, The Weeknd is clapping back to all the controversy, blaming the media for blowing things out of proportion.
Of course media blows things out of proportion and takes things out of context. Usher is a King and always an inspiration so it was flattering to hear what him and Diplo did on climax. XO https://t.co/GdLX4xD58a
— The Weeknd (@theweeknd) April 9, 2020
So let the R&Beef between these two settle down and not remain ignited. It’s obvious there are different perspectives and reasons why it happened but regardless of how the songs came together or why, the fact is, we got classics out of them.
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