Justin Bieber - ‘Justice’
Matured, married, and focused; Justin Bieber’s sixth album “Justice” was released on Friday. The main topic of his album: his model wife Hailey Bieber.
After taking a break from the wildness of his normal life over quarantine, Justin has settled into a mature relationship with Hailey and himself.
“Justice” consists of sixteen songs and a stacked list of features. The album has appearances from Daniel Caesar and Giveon, Khalid, Chance the Rapper, Burna Boy, Dominic Fike, The Kid LAROI, benny blanco and BEAM.
The album has a soft-focus romantic mood, and ultimately illustrates that Justin really has taken his time to get his shit together.
Bieber honors his wife as a god-like figure, almost depending too much on Hailey considering every song discusses how unworthy he is of her and that his life revolves around her love.
Tracks such as “Die For You” and “Anyone” especially emphasize the lengths he would go for his wife. Justin is helplessly in love, and while his sense of self may have been lost along the way, it seems as though Hailey has guided him on a positive path.
I think Bieber did an excellent job with “Deserve You.” Justin’s personal growth is evident in the lyrics and I, for one, am very proud of the healthy perspective he shares here. He sings “I’m on my ten thousandth life… but this is the one I’m not giving up,” reflecting on his troubled past.
Another standout track is “Peaches,” a surprising and very exciting collab with Giveon and Daniel Caesar. This track has received the most attention following the album release, arriving with a bright, colorful music video. If nothing else, check it out for Justin’s custom orange suit.
This R&B-pop song clearly serves as another tribute to his love for Hailey, and is one of the few upbeat tracks on the album. Giveon and Daniel Caesar offer smooth melodies and verses that contrast beautifully with the catchy chorus. This song is a reminder to live your best life.
Critics have been questioning Justin’s use of Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches in two separate parts of his album. He begins the album with a famous recording of MLK reciting “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” which hints to a powerful message that should have been discussed, yet never was.
About halfway through, we hear from MLK again with a full interlude. King ultimately should have been left out of this love album as the speeches came off as ignorant inclusions with no context.
“Justice” has definitely presented a settled side to the 27-year-old, entering the next chapter of his life; yet his music has not necessarily matured along with him.
His production quality definitely leveled up, but overall, he employed repetitive messages throughout the project and left some loose ends. Bieber could have presented a much more diverse and holistic album.
He still notably succeeded in making Beliebers jealous... their decade-long dreams of being Justin’s one less lonely girl are now unreachable, as his love for Hailey is clearly here to stay.