If you were to believe social media, Justin Bieber, the 31-year-old former teen idol, had hit rock bottom. He posted videos of himself on Instagram appearing out of sorts, argued with paparazzi and seemed to be wallowing ever since the beginning of the scandal surrounding rapper and producer P. Diddy, who stands accused of sex trafficking. According to Bieber's fans, this episode resurfaced old traumas from when he was just a 14-year-old thrown to the wolves after the explosive success of his 2010 hit song "Baby." Then, on Friday, July 11, Bieber unexpectedly released his seventh album, Swag.

One reason behind this surprise release likely lies in the agreement Bieber reached with his former manager and producer Scooter Braun – the same Braun who sold the rights to Taylor Swift's first six albums, sparking a lengthy legal battle and Swift's re-recording of her early records. The deal now allows Bieber to have artistic control over his music. He makes full use of this new freedom on a 21-track album, marking a deliberate break from his early pop and embracing a polished, assertive R&B sound.

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