Justin Bieber is an American pop singer who rose to fame around the world in 2009 with his hit single, “One Time”. He began to gain a large following as well as international recognition and accolades. The song became a top ten worldwide hit and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Bieber has since released several other number one albums and singles, won multiple awards and is considered one of the most influential artists of the twenty-first century.
Raised by a single mother in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Bieber showed an interest in music at a young age. He began to sing and play the drums, piano, and guitar. His natural talent and musical interests were noticed by a local music executive, who encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional musician. He soon started recording homemade videos of himself singing popular rhythm-and-blues (R&B) songs and accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. His mother uploaded some of these videos on the website YouTube for friends and family who could not attend his performances, but they quickly went viral, garnering attention beyond their intended audience.
In 2008, at the age of ten, Bieber participated in a local singing competition, placing second. This exposure led to him signing a record deal with Def Jam Recordings shortly afterwards. Bieber’s first two singles, “One Time” and “Boyfriend”, both reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2010 and April 2012 respectively. Bieber’s success grew further when his song, “Where Are U Now”, featuring rappers Skrillex and Diplo, became a global hit. It peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making him the youngest artist to achieve this feat.
Bieber’s second album, My World 2.0, was a commercial and critical success. The album debuted in the first position on the US Billboard 200, making Bieber, at the age of sixteen, the youngest solo act to reach this milestone. The album was an upbeat mix of R&B, pop, and hip hop that earned him critical acclaim as well as several award nominations.
The following year, he appeared in the Christopher Nolan film, “Turn It Up”, as a talented graffiti artist. The film also featured rapper and actor Chris Brown, who helped to propel Bieber’s career even more.
In 2011, Bieber’s first concert documentary, entitled Never Say Never, was released in theaters, and he also collaborated with country artist Rascal Flatts on the single “That Should Be Me”, which won a CMT Music Award for Collaborative Video of the Year.
In 2013, he began dating his now-wife, Hailey Baldwin, and starred in the blockbuster movie Frozen 2. He continued to expand his music and movie portfolio, with further collaborations with other stars including Drake, Lil Twist, and Tinashe. In 2015, he released his fifth studio album Purpose and the music video for its lead single, Sorry. The record was a success, reaching number one on the US Billboard chart and becoming his eighth overall number-one album in the country.