Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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"Justice" is the 6th studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released through Def Jam Recordings on March 19, 2021, thirteen months after his 5th studio album, "Changes" (2020). The album features guest appearances from Khalid, Chance the Rapper, the Kid Laroi, Dominic Fike, Daniel Caesar, Giveon, Beam, Burna Boy, Benny Blanco, as well as Lil Uzi Vert, Jaden, Quavo, DaBaby, and Tori Kelly on the deluxe edition. One of the alternate cover discs features an appearance from TroyBoi and another alternate cover disc includes a vocal contribution from Poo Bear. Its production was handled by Virtual Riot, Andrew Watt, Skrillex, Finneas, Jon Bellion, Benny Blanco, the Monsters & Strangerz, Bieber and more. "Justice" was preceded by the release of singles "Holy", "Lonely", "Anyone", and "Hold On", all of which reached Top 20 in the United States, at # 3, 12, 6, and 20, respectively. The album's 5th single "Peaches", featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon, debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Bieber's 7th #1 single in the US (and 4th to debut at the summit). In addition, "Justice" marked Bieber's 2nd album to yield a US chart-topper, following "Purpose" (2015). "Justice" debuted atop the charts of 10 countries, including the US Billboard 200, where it moved 154,000 album-equivalent units in its 1st week. It became Bieber's 8th #1 album on the chart, and at 27 years old, made him the youngest soloist to achieve 8 #1 albums in the US. Along with "Peaches" debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same week, Bieber became the 1st male soloist ever to debut atop the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously. On the same day, only 10 days after the album's release, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. "Justice" received generally favourable reviews from music critics, with praise focused on its production and Bieber's vocal execution, while others deprecated the album's concept and lyricism.

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Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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No one was looking to Justin Bieber for a ruminative and nuanced view on race relations, but the singer made some choices here that aren't merely ineffectual. They're foolish. The voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. is twice used on this album that otherwise has nothing to do with justice. It's first used as the intro to an airy love ballad containing standard fawning Bieber-isms like "Two seconds without you's like two months, and that's too much." A lengthier segment from one of King's statements on civil disobedience leads to a song of devotion that seems to have been written after hours spent watching clips of early MTV (coincidentally when the channel's play list was zero-percent Black). To wit, just as King was willing to sacrifice his life for equality, Bieber is willing to walk through flames for a kiss that could kill. Disregarding the inapt title and interludes, Justice is a decent addition to Bieber's catalog. It's distinguished by a variety of pop modes that includes vaporous synth rock and strumming acoustic ballads, hip-hop gospel and bedroom EDM, and sun-dazed R&B and contemporary Afrobeat, each one with astutely selected producers and featured artists. The Chance the Rapper collaboration "Holy," restrained ballads "Lonely" and "Anyone," and the tear-jerking empath anthem "Hold On" were all hits before the album was released. Altogether, they accurately forecasted the record's lack of Kidz Bop-friendly pop trifles and TikTok takeover bids, that there would be no retreads of "Sorry" or "Yummy." The upshot is that Justice is one of Bieber's steadiest releases, among the easiest to play from start to finish. The only overdone aspect is the low self-esteem and unworthiness the lyrics either suggest or flatly express in almost every song.

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Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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Justin Bieber - Justice (2021) [Japan]

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