Justin Bieber Lights Up L.A. Show As New Tracks Drop Possible Hints
Justin Bieber, otherwise known as the world’s most famous teenager, rocked Los Angeles for a second time on Tuesday night (June 25).
A 20,000 strong audience, many of whom held signs that simply read “Love,” included stars such as Jennifer Lopez, Diddy, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Jaden Smith and Tori Kelly.
Given that Bieber takes to the stage via huge mechanical wings styled up as musical instruments, critics’ reviews along the nine-month in Believe tour have ranged from a spectacle over substance experience to unashamed pop bliss plaudits.
An unexpected curveball on the global trek has been the string of incidents both on and off it, that have captured the attentions of the world’s press. Debate about whether Bieber is being bullied in the press, targeted in dubious stories, or brought the censure on himself — continues.
As a result, fans at the 19-year-old’s first back-from-break San Diego show on Saturday held up signs that read “Unbreakable.” At all three concerts so far on this last leg, fans have made a point of displaying the traditional Bieber concert heart-handshapes.
The teen star’s reaction to last night’s show included two messages posted to his Twitter account.
One of which read: “I love what I do,” before he added that the L.A. audience “went hard.”
Bieber also posted part of a frank statement he made onstage at his San Diego concert.
Alot of things have been said but I do this for you! #mybeliebers
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) June 26, 2013
Now locked into a global tour which includes North America, Asia, Latin America, New Zealand and Australia and wraps on December 8, Bieber has also promised new music and a new movie which will be helmed by 2011’s concert-film Never Say Never director Jon M. Chu.
rest of the world tour, movie, and #NEWMUSIC all coming this year! never stop working. #focused
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) June 19, 2013
Following my previous discuss on whether the “Boyfriend’s” new music would align more with his longstanding embrace of hip-hop or pick up where 2013’s Believe Acoustic left off, possible hints may have arrived with two newly surfaced tracks.
The first is a fuller tease of a song called “Wait A Minute” featuring Young Money rapper Tyga. It’s set to be released later this year and a snippet of it dropped in an April amateur YouTube clip.
The new extended preview showcases Bieber in a more “knowing” lush R&B vocal, counterpointed by Tyga’s dead-pan rap. Take a look and listen to the preview below.
The other release is a feature for Bieber on rapper Asher Roth’s new cut “Actin’ Up.” The track is one of 23 on Roth’s new mixtape “Greenhouse Effect Volume 2.”
Bieber joins Rye Rye and Chris Brown on rap chores, and acquits himself well with lyrics such as:
“I’m on some risky business,
I like women and French kisses
Mama told me do the dishes
But I’m out here catching fishes.
Because I’m still young and actin’ up
Girls on my mind so I still mack up
They see the money, see the money rack up,
Tell the world’s dark queen, cause I’m stacking up”
It will be interesting to see how it plays commercially given its big name features. You can stream and download Roth’s entire mixtape here.
While fans and music critics alike await the release Bieber’s upcoming single “Heartbreaker,” these two tracks (albeit one is a preview) more than capably fill the interim.
Whether they hint at further musical emancipation to come remains to be seen, and heard.
Bieber plays in concert in San Jose, CA, tonight before continuing on the Believe world tour.
Guess where I am?!! That little guy in the back is doing pretty great tonight…:) #Beliebers pic.twitter.com/bhhwM3CICL
— Jennifer Lopez (@JLo) June 26, 2013