Justin Bieber Drops ‘SWAG’ Featuring Gunna, Druski And More

Key Takeaways:

• Bieber’s seventh album ‘SWAG’ delivers a genre-blending mix of Hip Hop, R&B and pop across 21 tracks.
• The project includes first-time collabs with Gunna, Sexyy Red, Cash Cobain and comedian Druski.
• Skits, love songs and introspective moments show Bieber balancing humor and vulnerability.

Justin Bieber is standing on business with his seventh studio album, SWAG. Released on Friday (July 11), the Grammy Award winner delivered a hefty 21-track offering with appearances from Gunna, Sexyy Red, Lil B, Cash Cobain and Druski, among others.

The features, although mostly first-time collaborations, are not entirely surprising, especially since Justin — or Lil Bieber, as he recently changed his Instagram handle to — has crossed over into rap more than a few times. Earlier this year, he was spotted turning up with Sexyy Red for her 27th birthday and appeared on a still-unreleased remix of Rob49’s viral smash hit “WTHELLY.” That being said, the artist hasn’t forgotten what got him here in the first place: his voice.

On tracks like “WAY IT IS,” Justin sings about love in what feels like a million ways, while his special guests — Gunna, in this case — either match his energy or simply stick to their strengths. Cash Cobain takes the latter approach on “SWAG,” albeit it’s notably not his typical sexy-drill style. Meanwhile, Lil B is limited to just doing the intro and outro on the already-brief “DADZ LOVE.”

Some of the most hilarious moments on the album — aside from Sexyy Red telling us she “be in them sheets” on the slow burning “SWEET SPOT” — come courtesy of Druski. The comedian pops up on three skits, including “SOULFUL,” where he jokes, “You kinda sound Black on this motherf**ker, man.” He adds, “Your soul is Black. Your skin white, but your soul Black, Justin, I promise you, man,” as Justin presumably,repeats, “Thank you.”

There are some deeper moments on the LP, too. For example, “WALKING AWAY” finds Justin contemplating taking a “break” from his relationship with Hailey Bieber before ultimately deciding, “Baby, I ain’t walking away / You were my diamond.” The nearly hour-long offering definitely delivers on its promise.