Atlanta, GA.– Justin Bieber appears to be keeping his tweets on the ground, even if he is renting the famed “Spaceship” mansion of ATL Grammy Award winning producer, Dallas Austin.
The 19-year-old has been in Atlanta since February 4 and is keeping a relatively low profile ahead of court dates for his DUI charges in Miami Beach and an assault charge in Toronto, Canada over an alleged attack on a limousine driver. The singer also awaits a decision on possible charges in an egg-assault case in Los Angeles.
“I love my mama @PattieMallette,” Bieber tweeted Monday.
The pair are currently together in Atlanta which may bring back conflicting memories as it’s where the then 13-year-old relocated to with his mom in 2008 to prepare for record deal-shopping with his manager Scooter Braun and mentor Usher.
As previously reported, Justin is recording part of his new album while in ATL and has been spotted with veteran rap names T.I, Diddy, Combs, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Wale and Smalley while enjoying the city’s hip hop club scene — a likely attraction for the singer whose love of rap is well known.
If Bieber has heard the rumors speculating he is prepping to launch himself as a rap artist — sparked by his name change to Bizzle on two of his social media accounts (Instagram, which has now reverted back and “Shots of Me” app account) — he said nothing about it in his tweets today.
“Dance rehearsal. Guitar practice. Workouts. Voice strengthening. Studio writing sessions. Always working to get better. Work hard. Be great,” he tweeted Wednesday.
Fans got a chance to see the fruits of these labors at the weekend when Bieber posted an Instagram video tease of a new R&B slow-jam. The Canadian performed 15 seconds of the song with his partner in alleged DUI, Khalil Sharieff, and choreographer Nick DeMoura.
Given that the teased song doesn’t contain any rap whatsoever and Bieber is now using his — previously among-friends-only – moniker Bizzle on just one of his social media accounts, rumors of a full-on, impending rap ascension seems a stretch.
“I see all your comments. Keep strong. Be the best that you can be. Much love,” he tweeted fans as a follow-up.
Reportedly looking for a home in Atlanta, TMZ report Bieber has taken a shine to a mansion in the exclusive Buckhead district which is close to where Usher lives.
But while he’s mulling that $10.95 million purchase and no doubt others, Austin’s modernist spaceship is home to the pop prince for the moment.
Justin Bieber has found a new home in Atlanta for the next 3 months. He’s rented Dallas Austin’s old spaceship home. pic.twitter.com/WrqsE4rs8l
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) February 19, 2014
The futuristic-designed, 5,500 sq. ft. four-bedroom pad has been likened to a spaceship and made a reportedly memorable impression when it featured on the 15th season of MTV Cribs back in 2007.
Austin — who has a 17-year-old son, Tron, with TLC’s Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas – whom he produced and wrote for, has also helmed hits for Michael Jackson, Brandy, Pink, Lenny Kravitz and more, and contributed to film soundtracks such as Boomerang , Poetic Justice and White Men Can’t Jum p.
(Photo: Interior of Bieber’s Atlanta ‘Spaceship’ rental home.)
Despite reports that he is “blowing” through his millions , Bieber is reportedly eyeing estates in Hidden Valley, Los Angeles, and intends to commute between Atlanta and L.A. once he settles on two properties. Tellingly, he hasn’t been back to his Calabasas, California, home since an egging-related police raid on January 14.
Bieber has come back full circle to Atlanta four years after he first dipped his toe into the dream-machine otherwise known as the music industry, that – for him – appears to have become a nightmare.
But the story isn’t all criminal charges and imploding public image .
Today, the teen’s signature 2010 hit “ Baby ” — now the biggest selling digital single in the US — from the second half of his debut album My World 2.0 is on track to hit one billion views after the fourth anniversary of its release on February 19, 2010.
It represents both a musical and emotional memory lane to not just millions of “Beliebers” but also those who believe the essential parts of the sweet kid in that video are still there behind Bieber’s current – and understandably – reclusively, defensive front.
At this point anything can happen: Spaceship sanctuaries, seminal videos, court reckonings, Atlanta homecomings — and, go on then — even unlikely rap albums.
Say what you will, Bieber keeps it interesting.