Bieber surprises fans with 'Swag II'

Justin Bieber gave a pleasant surprise to fans, releasing his new album 'Swag II' at midnight Thursday, just two months after the release of his first album in four years, Swag, in July.Bieber revealed the news in an Instagram post earlier on Thursday, showing the album's minimalist all-pink cover art. While no tracklist has been confirmed, fans had speculated about a possible follow-up when Swag debuted, and those rumours have now been confirmed with Swag II.

The new album is expected to feature some of the same collaborators from Swag, which included Gunna, Sexyy Red, Druski, Dijon, Lil B, Cash Cobain, Eddie Benjamin, and gospel singer Marvin Winans, who closed the project with a rendition of Lord, I Lift Your Name on High.

Production on the first album was handled by Bieber alongside Carter Lang, Dylan Wiggins, Daniel Caesar, mk.gee, Daniel Chetrit, and Knox Fortune, suggesting a similar creative team may be involved in the sequel.

Musically, Swag signalled a bold shift in Bieber's direction, blending indie-rock elements with late '80s R&B and early '90s pop influences. Critics praised the project as some of his most passionate work, noting its balance of experimentation and heartfelt balladry.

Swag II continues Bieber's streak of surprise releases, underscoring his desire to keep fans engaged while embracing a more personal, reflective era in his career. The album will be available on streaming platforms starting midnight Thursday.