Bieber’s New Album, Baby Boy, and a DMX Quote Stir Online Buzz

Justin Bieber is back in the spotlight and the hot topic of conversation once more after posting a cryptic video to his Instagram account that is sparking speculation about his personal use of and opinion on recreational drugs.

Justin Bieber on Sunday shared an excerpt of a clip from a 2013 season of the TV show Iyanla: Fix My Life. In it, DMX, a rapper who died in 2021, is asked by his guest therapist, Iyanla Vanzant, if he wants to be a clear and pure vessel without drugs. “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” raps DMX.

“What if I’m sober? What if I don’t smoke weed, I don’t drink, and I am a clear, pure vessel for the voice of God? Can I do that?” Vanzant says. “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God,” DMX answers back.

As if to further insinuate that this post is a pointed message about his beliefs on the use of drugs and other substances, Bieber shared the video with no comment of his own. The video was a re-post of the original content from the account of an L.A.-based cannabis dispensary named Gassy.

Fans and news sources alike have reacted almost instantaneously to the Instagram video, with some taking the post as an outright statement about his personal beliefs when it comes to using marijuana. To others, it seemed like a move to make a larger statement about liberty and freedom and the space it co-exists alongside God and sobriety.

For his part, Justin Bieber has spent a long time being open about both his relationship with God, as well as his journey with other faiths and self-betterment practices. In fact, for a time, he was even involved with Churchome, a spiritual community in L.A. founded and run by a pastor named Judah Smith.

All of this leads to the public perception that Bieber himself is leaning towards being a bit more loose about recreational marijuana use. For the last few months, he has shared several photos and videos of himself smoking and handling bongs. Some fans are concerned, but recreational use is now fully legal in the state of California, where Bieber lives with his wife, Hailey Bieber, and their three-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber.

A rep for the singer and former child star put some of those rumors to rest back in February, denying through TMZ that Justin was in any way involved in the abuse of illegal drugs or substances. “The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true,” his rep wrote in a February statement.

“We understand the skepticism, but this time it is not speculation. Justin is in one of the best places in his life. He is a first-time father to a healthy baby boy whom he adores and is in the studio making new music,” they wrote.

The rep said the last year had been a time of change for the singer, who had made a conscious decision to end some longtime friendships and business relationships that no longer aligned with his values. “Justin worked hard to shift internally and create the life he knew would ultimately give him the best chance at happiness and success,” his rep explained.

The fruits of Bieber’s new perspective can be seen in his latest music. On July 11, Justin Bieber dropped his seventh album, Swag, which has been met with nearly universal critical acclaim. On the album, Bieber digs into his personal growth, his love for his wife, and his experience as a first-time father.

In another unexpected twist, the singer brought on Druski, a social media personality, for several “therapy sessions” that play as a comedic feature in the record. In them, Bieber gives his all to a rousing lip-sync of the self-examining thoughts brought up by Druski’s sassy and occasionally absurd questions.

His willingness to be as transparent, personal, and self-revealing as he has in a long time is, for many fans, just as indicative of a new chapter in his career as anything else. With Swag, it appears that Justin Bieber is ready to make music that doesn’t hold back and is sure to rub people the wrong way. On the other hand, it is simply honest, both musically and lyrically.

There are no concrete plans as of yet for a tour to support Swag, although whispers have reached Bieber’s team that an Australian leg of a new world tour might be in the works. However, when Rolling Stone reached out to Frontier Touring for comment, a rep said that they “have no information” as to whether or not any dates are planned. Bieber’s last world tour, Justice, was cancelled midway through in 2022 after he was unable to perform due to health issues.

Time will tell. With a new album in hand, a new focus on family life, and an obvious understanding of who he is and what he stands for, it’s not a stretch to imagine Bieber making a return to the stage. He is sure to do so with a new sense of intention and clarity that he was lacking just a few years ago.

Whether Bieber intended the repost of the DMX video to mean anything or not, the singer has, once again, succeeded in starting a conversation without actually having to say a word himself.