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Topline
Justin Bieber announced his upcoming seventh album on his Instagram account Thursday, which multiple outlets reported will be released Friday, a musical comeback for the singer after he has faced health issues and his personal life has garnered increased scrutiny on social media.
Bieber hasn’t released an album since 2021. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
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Key Facts
Bieber made multiple posts on Instagram on Thursday morning depicting his new album emblazoned across billboards in multiple cities, including in New York’s Times Square.
The billboards contain what appears to be a tracklist for the album, which looks to feature 20 songs including titles like “All I Can Take,” “Things You Do” and “Therapy Session.”
The album is set to be released Friday, The Hollywood Reporter first reported, with featured artists on the album including Gunna, Sexyy Red and Cash Cobain.
Bieber, who has been on a musical hiatus, traveled to Iceland in April to finish up the new album, The Hollywood Reporter previously reported, in addition to “jam sessions” at his Los Angeles studio alongside longtime collaborator DJ Tay James.
Key Background
Bieber’s new album will be his first since “Justice” in 2021, after which health issues put a pause on his musical career. Bieber revealed in 2022 he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2, which caused the singer temporary facial paralysis, leading him to cancel the bulk of a world tour that was scheduled to run through March 2023.
Why Is Bieber’s Personal Life Garnering Attention?
Bieber, in recent months, has gone viral and concerned some fans over what they say is worrying behavior. He has made several cryptic Instagram posts that appear to reference mental health and anger issues. “People keep telling me to heal. Don’t you think if I could have fixed myself I would have already?” he said in one post in June, acknowledging he is “broken” and has “anger issues.” Bieber also posted screenshots of texts between himself and an unnamed person in which Bieber tells them his anger is a “response to pain I have been thru” and “asking a traumatized person not to be traumatized is simply mean.” He has also garnered attention for multiple public appearances, including one run-in with the paparazzi which was widely memed. While pleading with the paparazzi to leave him alone, Bieber said: “It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business, is it?” which some social media users poked fun at for seeming jumbled. Bieber, during the confrontation with paparazzi, said he feared they would “take this video out of context and say Justin lost his mind.” Bieber also made a surprise appearance on stage with SZA in May to perform her song “Snooze,” during which SZA cupped Bieber’s chin as he kissed her palm in an interaction that concerned some fans, who felt Bieber looked dazed during the performance. At the Coachella music festival earlier this year, Bieber faced backlash after being filmed smoking marijuana next to his 15-year-old brother, which he later appeared to address on Instagram. “They treat me like ass out here, but if I remember that I am flawed too and god forgave me, It helps me to stop feeling better than those people who are mean and hurtful,” also slamming internet “gossip” and “lies.”
Tangent
Bieber’s album announcement coincides with the launch of SKYLRK, his new fashion line. The brand’s website and Instagram account went live Thursday, through which the singer is selling sunglasses, hoodies, shoes and other products.
Big Number
$200 million. That’s how much Bieber reportedly sold his music catalog for in 2023 to Hipgnosis, a music rights investment company.
Further Reading
Justin Bieber ‘Standing On Business’ Video Goes Viral As Posts Spark Concern (Forbes)
