Having amassed an immense global following thanks to his fresh-faced good looks and appealing pop songs, Justin Drew Bieber emerged as a teen idol whose star was on the rise in 2009. Bieber began sharing videos of himself singing online during YouTube’s infancy, which led to an international record deal with Usher’s RCA Records.
The young Canadian singer quickly found his feet on the music scene, racking up chart toppers with his debut album, My World, in 2009. He also earned considerable media attention due to his romantic relationships (including one with Selena Gomez) and occasional skirmishes with the law.
As he grew into his 20s, Bieber seemed intent on cleaning up his act and avoiding embarrassing incidents. But even as he made his way into pop’s upper echelons, his celebrity often overshadowed his music.
On his 2015 album, Purpose, Bieber showed that he was maturing into adulthood with music as his focus. The project found him teaming up with a slew of 2010s heavy hitters, including EDM wizard Skrillex, electro-pop architect BloodPop, hit machine Benny Blanco, and busker-turned-arena-headliner Ed Sheeran. The resulting set, which topped the charts worldwide, reveals a soul searching for more than just the next hit song.
Along the way, Bieber embraced his spiritual side and collaborated with an array of R&B and Latin artists. Whether it was a piano-accompanied prayer like “Children” or a soaring ballad with Luis Fonsi called “Sorry,” each track on Purpose is a sonic snapshot of an artist seeking meaning beyond his fame and fortune.
In 2020, Bieber resurfaced with Changes, an album inspired by his relationship with Hailey Baldwin and the couple’s newfound family-centric lifestyle. The album debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and saw several singles top the charts. The same year, he was nominated for two Grammy Awards.
In addition to being an accomplished songwriter, producer, and performer, Bieber has excelled at the music video format. His official clips are catnip for pop fans, featuring the singer’s dance moves and smouldering good looks.