Singer-songwriter Justin Bieber’s seventh album SWAG II adds a surprise of 23 tracks on September 5, to his other album SWAG that was released on July 11, 2025. It was a surprise release through Def Jam Recordings and ILH productions on September 5, 2025. The new release includes guest appearances from singer Eddie Benjamin, rapper Lil B, artist Hurricane Chris, and songwriter Tems.
SWAG II is in the same sound world as the original album SWAG. He lays his cooing vocals over scratchy arrangements that pull from R&B and indie rock. It’s way different from his previous teen pop albums that were major hits. Many fans of Bieber believe he has a soft spot for his new type of music based on one previous album, Journals, that was released in 2013.
Through popular streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify, fans noticed that they didn’t immediately publish the album’s credits. In response, Bieber’s label Def Jam said he made SWAG II with almost the same team as SWAG. This team included Carter Lang, Dylan Wiggins, Mk.gee, Eddie Benjamin, and Daniel Chetrit.
People were surprised there was no collaboration with comedian Druski on the second album of SWAG because the first one included multiple skits with Bieber and the comedian talking. Many listeners enjoyed the skits because it added a sense of fun and humor to the album, but this time it was only music being released.
One South Lakes student even added her input. “His new album was okay, but I think he could’ve done better because he has so much talent and uniqueness. His old albums are just so good that it’s nearly impossible to top them or come up with new hits to wow the fans,” said senior Simone Duarte.
Many listeners have inferred that Bieber has region, fatherhood, and marriage on his mind from Swag II. In his song “Mother in You,” he references how his son reflects his model wife Hailey Bieber. For the last track “Story of God,” which was nearly eight minutes long, Bieber narrates the tale of the Gardens of Eden against a backing gospel chorus and chunky keyboard sounds.
Overall, the double album release is not considered good from reviews by Pitchfork and Rolling Stones. They described the album as bland, generic, and lacking melody substance. Many believe it’s too long with filler songs and lacks originality. The album contains high quality moments and a sense of artistic freedom but critics are very disappointed with the album as a whole.
