Diplo, who produced Usher's "Climax," has chimed in on whether it was inspired by the Weeknd's 2011 debut mixtapes.
In a recent interview with Variety, the Weeknd said when he first heard 2012's "Climax" he was flattered but also "angry." Eventually he came around to it, and "realized it's a good thing," saying the song made him realize that House of Balloons "literally changed the sound of pop music before my eyes."
Usher indirectly referenced the comments with the "Climax" challenge, and now Diplo has explained that the Weeknd's "era" that also spawned Thursday and Echoes of Silence did influence the Usher hit.
"The production on 'Climax' lends itself to House of Balloons era @theweeknd," wrote Diplo on Twitter. "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."
Quick to respond to Diplo's tweet, the Weeknd replied and made it clear there was no hard feelings.
"Of course media blows things out of proportion and takes things out of context," Abel said. "Usher is a King and always an inspiration so it was flattering to hear what him and Diplo did on 'Climax.'"
"Climax" co-writer Ariel Rechtshaid, however, pushed back on Diplo's statement, insisting the song "was inspired in the room without any subconscious or conscious outside influence."
Elijah Blake—who also co-wrote "Climax" with Diplo, Rechtshaid, and Usher—weighed in on the Diplo's comments, and corrected the producer's previous tweet that credited Eric Bellinger as a writer.
Prior to Diplo's tweets, Blake responded to the Weeknd's Variety interview in an Instagram post. And let's just say he didn't bite his tongue:
Blake also participated in the aforementioned Climax Challenge, and took the opportunity to throw more shade.
The-Dream also weighed in on the drama, and suggested the Weeknd was in no position to accused anyone of biting.
In an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe that aired on Thursday, Usher talked about what inspired him and Diplo to go the direction they did with the track. "Me and Diplo, we were trying to do something that would raise the bar for R&B," he said. "And it took me forever to be okay with letting it go, to just like, okay, offer it to the world and care not what people think, just put it out knowing that.
He stopped short of mentioning the Weeknd when he discussed "Climax," however.
