This week on our “R&B Season” playlist, we decided to highlight a few of the protest anthems that R&B artists have recently dropped in order to show our solidarity with those speaking out against systemic racism and police brutality in light of the police killing of George Floyd and countless others. These past few weeks have been heavy and emotional, as they’ve served to further highlight these issues that have been prevalent in America for decades. People across the globe have been protesting these injustices in many different ways: signing petitions, donating to organizations that help Black communities, standing on the frontlines at rallies. Others have been using music to get their message across, including artists like Trey Songz and Eric Bellinger.

On Wednesday, Eric dropped his new song, “ENOUGH,” drawing on his own experiences with racism and calling for the end of this treatment of Black people. Trey Songz also protested through the art of music with the thematically similar tune, “2020 Riots: How Many Times.” We’ve also decided to include Trey’s duet with Summer Walker titled “Back Home” on “R&B Season” this week. Although “Back Home” already dropped earlier this year, Trey included it in the single release for “2020 Riots: How Many Times.” Check out our “R&B Season” playlist below, and stay safe out there.

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The falsettos have been coming out to play as they’ve attempted to give their renditions of Usher‘s 2012 single “Climax.” In a recent interview with Variety, The Weeknd sparked controversy after he mentioned the R&B icon. “I heard ‘Climax,’ that Usher song, and was like, ‘Holy f—, that’s a Weeknd song,'” he told the publication. “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.”

Diplo, who helped craft “Climax,” later tweeted that he wanted to bring “dark edges” to R&B, much like The Weeknd did with House of Balloons in 2011. The Weeknd replied that the media blew things out of proportion. “Usher is a King and always an inspiration so it was flattering to hear what him and Diplo did on climax. XO.”

Later, singer Brian McKnight’s son, Brian McKnight Jr., added his two cents to the controversy. He shared a video of himself showing off his singing skills and wrote that truly, “Climax” leans more to his father’s sound. “I always thought it sounded more like a Brian McKnight hook, personally, which is really just a Prince Rip off, at the end of the day,” Brian Jr. wrote in the caption. “But that’s only if you ask me. ??❤️. What do y’all think?”

He then tagged Usher, The Weeknd, and Eric Bellinger before tossing in a few hastags including “#TheBestArtistsSteal.” Check it out below.