Justin Bieber has surprised fans with a brand-new album titled Swag. The 21-track record was released on Friday, marking his seventh studio album.
The 31-year-old singer addresses mental health rumors and online speculation in this deeply personal project. Swag includes features from Gunna, Sexxy Red, Cash Cobain, Lil B, and Eddie Benjamin.
One of the album’s most emotional tracks is a spoken-word piece called Therapy Session. In it, Bieber speaks with comedian Druski about public concerns over his mental health.
“They’re like, ‘He’s losing his mind,’” says Druski, referring to Bieber’s online presence. He adds that Bieber is just using social media like everyone else.
Justin responds by admitting that living under the spotlight has been tough. “I’ve had to go through my struggles publicly,” he says. “People are always asking if I’m okay, and that starts to weigh on me.”
The conversation continues with Druski comparing it to someone asking why you’re crying, sometimes becoming the reason a person does.
Bieber ends the track by saying, “It starts to make me feel like I’m the one with issues, and everyone else is perfect.”
The mental health theme continues in several other songs. In All I Can Take, Bieber sings about his emotional struggles and feeling unheard. “This is it, I can’t change, Lord knows I try,” he sings.
In “Too Long,” he reflects on vulnerability, while “Walking Away” reassures fans that he is committed to his wife, Hailey. The lyrics confirm he is not leaving her or their 10-month-old son, Jack Blues.
The release comes just days after Justin posted a detox update and a photo from the studio with his baby boy. Earlier this year, he also opened up on Instagram about feeling like a “fraud” and wanting to address his anger issues.
With Swag, Bieber is setting the record straight using his music to speak openly about what he’s been going through.
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