Justin Bieber makes comeback, surprises fans with 'SWAG'
It’s been four long years of waiting for the next Justin Bieber album—and it’s finally here.
His seventh studio album, titled SWAG, is a 21-track drop that clocks in at just under an hour.
Since Bieber’s last tour and album release, fans have grown up and gone through their own moments of love and heartbreak. And now, the Grammy award-winning global superstar has returned with an album that feels like a love letter, therapy session, and a comforting hug all wrapped in one.
From the jump, SWAG brings something new. One instant standout is Go Baby, which is recognizable as a song for his wife, Hailey Bieber. It even makes a cheeky reference to her viral Rhode iPhone case.
Then there’s Standing on Business, a track that responds to a viral video from June, where Bieber was seen confronting paparazzi. The phrase, a popular slang meaning to stand up for yourself and own your life, becomes a lyrical motif. Here, Bieber makes it a humorous anthem of self-respect and maturity.
The 14th track, titled Therapy Session, is exactly what it sounds like. It was a recorded conversation between Bieber and comedian Druski, who also features on the album. At one point, Bieber shares: “I think that’s been a tough thing for me recently is feeling like, you know, I have had to go through a lot of my struggles as a human, as all of us do, really publicly. And so people are always asking if I’m okay, and that starts to really weigh on me.”
The album’s cover photo features a simple black-and-white picture of Bieber standing behind Hailey, who’s holding their firstborn baby, Jack. Other photos from the same shoot have also made their way to his social media, all showing the trio together.
SWAG features rapper Gunna, gospel singer Dijon, breakout artist Cash Cobain, and rising rapper Sexyy Red. There’s also a surprising gospel moment: the final track, Forgiveness, is performed entirely by Pastor Marvin Winans.
While reports said Bieber had been spotted in the studio back in January, the public conversation was overshadowed by other issues—his cryptic social media posts, rumors of a fallout with Hailey, and disturbing allegations involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.
But SWAG flips that narrative, showing that the headlines online are just one fragment of his life.
