Bieber’s New Album ‘Swag’ Highlights His Spiritual and Emotional Growth

Justin Bieber can’t say or do something without getting talked about. The pop star, who recently hit the 40 million-subscriber mark on YouTube, has had many moments in the spotlight, but most of them have been the result of his actions. However, a recent Instagram Story from the 31-year-old star has the internet in a frenzy — once again — over rappers and sobriety, despite him saying nothing at all.

Justin Bieber posted a video of DMX — taken from an appearance on the former life coach’s TV show, Iyanla: Fix My Life — to his Instagram Story this past Sunday. In the clip, which first aired in 2013, Vanzant asks DMX, who was getting counseling for his legal and addiction issues at the time, about being sober. “Do you want to live your life as a clean man?” she asks. “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” he replies. “A clear, pure vessel for the voice of God,” Vanzant tells the rapper. “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God,” DMX calmly responds.

Justin Bieber, who reposted the video via the L.A.-based cannabis dispensary, Gassy, did not add a caption or any additional information to his post. But, for his millions of followers, his silence was as loud as it could be.

Fans took to social media to immediately assess what, if any, was the point in him posting the clip. Was it an ode to DMX’s point of view, as some have tried to peg Bieber’s newfound sobriety and spirituality over the past several years? Or was it, more simply, a direct message to the peanut gallery that will always take shots at him for his marijuana use?

While many of his fans have been with Bieber since the launch of his career and have watched him age from an adorable kid to a respectable, business-savvy adult, the music industry has always been fixated on his most recent behavior.

In one of his first high-profile incidents during his rap and marijuana use, Bieber pleaded guilty in 2014 to driving under the influence after crashing his Porsche SUV in Hollywood Hills while under the influence. He was hit with a $2,500 fine and placed on three years of probation. In addition, Bieber was ordered to complete 52 weeks of substance abuse education, perform 8 hours of community service, and follow a year of curfew and monitoring.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber recently welcomed their son, Jack Blues Bieber, a little over a year ago.

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Justin Bieber has since opened up about these things in the past, as well as bipolar disorder and anxiety, depression, and admitted burnout. His sobriety and renewed spirituality have helped steer him back on course, and he’s even stayed close with Churchome pastor Judah Smith, with whom he’s been spotted several times over the past few years. Bieber has also opened up about his faith several times with his fans, and at one point, he got baptized in a pool at his Los Angeles home.

Now, with a growing family of his own to think about, Bieber has shifted his focus to the most important people in his life — Hailey and their son, Jack. “Bieber’s now a dad, and it’s dialed him back,” a source told PEOPLE recently. “He’s in the best place he’s ever been, and is just super-calm.” Bieber and Hailey Bieber have been more than open about their love for their son, with the couple even setting the record straight on breastfeeding from dad.

But if there’s one thing the public won’t stop asking or talking about, it’s his weed use. Bieber has posted pictures of himself sitting at a table with a bong in the center in the past. Another photo posted last year shows a rather smoky studio, which gave off the impression that the singer was smoking something much stronger and more combustible than Mary Jane.

But Bieber’s representatives have consistently squashed that narrative. In February, Bieber’s rep told TMZ that the singer “was not in danger” and that “the recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true.” The representative also noted that he was “in one of the best places in his life” and that he’s been prioritizing family and new music. The rep also confirmed that Bieber had a “very transformative” year, one in which he ended business and personal relationships that no longer served him. It should also be noted that marijuana use is legal in California, where Bieber resides.

He had a big year ahead of the DMX post. He just released his surprise seventh album, Swag, on July 11. The album received rave reviews, with the likes of PEOPLE praising the work as being a culmination of his life in the spotlight, all the while still growing as an artist, husband, and new father. The love songs on Swag are to Hailey, but he also chronicles his experience with Jack on the album, too. The singer also released several therapy-style sessions with social media comedian Druski.

Talk of a tour has also started, as Bieber’s albums typically go. A source told The Sun that a tour is “definitely a possibility” and “they’re talking about Australia.” When asked for confirmation, Frontier Touring, which has been Bieber’s primary booking agency for tours in the past, told Rolling Stone they had “no information” about any future tour dates with the singer. This would be Bieber’s first tour since he postponed his Justice World Tour in 2022 due to health issues.

Tour or no tour, Bieber is clearly in a different headspace. With Jac, Hailey, and his personal and spiritual journey of the past few years, the “Peaches” singer has always been more about being his authentic self than appeasing his critics. Whether that means getting lit or not, it’s clear Bieber isn’t going to apologize for his lifestyle choices and will continue to post what he wants, when he wants.