Justin Bieber releases surprise album ‘Swag’ with 21 tracks featuring Sexyy Red, Gunna, Lil B, and more, blending pop, R&B, and gospel vibes.
Justin Bieber has surprised fans with the release of his seventh studio album, Swag, arriving just hours after its announcement.
Comprising 21 tracks, the project showcases a diverse roster of collaborators, including Gunna, Sexyy Red, Druski, Dijon, Lil B, Cash Cobain, Eddie Benjamin and gospel legend Marvin Winans—who appears on the album’s closer, a reimagined rendition of “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” titled “Forgiveness.”
Bieber himself shares production credits alongside an eclectic team featuring Carter Lang, Dylan Wiggins, Daniel Caesar, mk.gee, Daniel Chetrit and Knox Fortune, among others.
The rollout for Swag was as unorthodox as it was low-key.
Earlier in the day, cryptic billboards displaying Bieber’s image alongside the single word “Swag” popped up in Reykjavik, Atlanta and Los Angeles, fueling fan speculation about a new project.
Bieber confirmed the campaign’s authenticity by reposting the billboards on Instagram, then followed up with a video from New York City’s Times Square unveiling what appeared to be the album’s tracklist—initially reported as 20 songs before ultimately landing at 21.
Social media teaser images, reportedly from the album’s cover shoot, showed Bieber cradling his son, Jack Blues, while standing beside his wife, Hailey, adding a personal touch to the promotional blitz.
In the months leading up to the surprise release, Bieber kept a relatively low profile, sporadically sharing studio snapshots that hinted at new material in the works.
Insider reports indicated he hosted informal jam sessions at his Los Angeles home with longtime collaborators such as Carter Lang, Eddie Benjamin and songwriter Tay James, suggesting Swag was born out of a creative, communal atmosphere rather than a prolonged, traditional studio process.
Swag follows Bieber’s 2021 album, Justice, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned hit singles like “Anyone,” “Hold On” and the chart-topping “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon.
With its varied guest list and blend of secular and spiritual themes—most notably on “Forgiveness”—Swag represents both a continuation of Bieber’s pop-R&B evolution and a testament to his willingness to experiment with genre and collaboration.
Whether it will match the commercial and critical success of Justice remains to be seen, but the surprise-drop strategy and star-studded appearances have undoubtedly generated significant buzz around Bieber’s latest offering.
