The Weeknd released a cover of R. Kelly‘s 1995 classic “Down Low” and he owns it.
The Canadian singer drops his version of the song on the new episode of OVO Sound Radio on Saturday (Sept. 9). The Weekend chooses an interesting to release a cover of an R. Kelly classic given the current state of bad publicity surrounding the R&B legend with strong accusations of him having a relationship with a minor and having a sex cult ring with several young women. Weeknd has in the past said that this song inspired his career in music, so this cover shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Abel’s cover is slightly different from the original and would make good for a remix version two decades of Kelly released the song. The XO singer is currently embarking on the North American leg of his Starboy: Legend of the Fall world tour and will be performing in Boston, Washington DC, and Philadelphia this week. He was scheduled to perform at last month’s MTV VMAs but pulled out of the event last month due to fatigue from touring for most of the year. He will likely be performing this new single on future tour dates throughout the rest of the year. The tour will come to an end in December.
For the recent accusations against R. Kelly, the singer has strongly denied them saying that people are trying to tarnish his name. But at least one of his accusers came forward with proof that he paid her off to keep quiet about their relationship while she was an underage girl. This is not the first time that similar accusations are being laid against the R&B legend. Nevertheless, this cover of “Down Low” by the weekend is pretty dope, take a listen below. It kind of make you want to go listen to R. Kelly old catalog.
