No Caption Needed: Bieber Shares DMX’s Take on Sobriety and Religion

Justin Bieber’s 2019 DMX post returns to haunt him this week after the global popstar reposted an Iyanla Vanzant and late rapper DMX 2013 conversation clip on his official Instagram channel on Sunday. The short video captures the moment during an episode of Iyanla: Fix My Life that Vanzant, a renowned motivational speaker, asks DMX whether he wants to live sober. “No weed, no drinking, nothing? Why would I?” he shoots back. She follows up: “If you do not have any of those, then you become a clear, pure vessel for the voice of God.” DMX snaps back: “I think I’m exactly where I need to be with God.”

Justin Bieber did not add any caption or any text to the video clip. The same video was reposted by Los Angeles-based cannabis retailer Gassy before Justin reposted it on Sunday. On Instagram, there were immediate reactions and heated comments following Justin’s post, with many crediting him for the provocative DMX video. “Justin, do you believe marijuana is acceptable to God?” one fan inquired as another asked: “Justin, will you share your views on sobriety?” Rolling Stone was able to trace that the clip had gone viral in 2019, with many speculating that it was Justin Bieber’s thought that he was commenting on pot.

Justin Bieber is also receiving attention and being praised by his Christian supporters for the relaxed attitude he has shown about using bongs and smoking recreationally for the past few months. Some of his fans are worried about his use of weed and smoking. Well, it’s not illegal where he lives since recreational cannabis use is legal in California, where he has been married to model Hailey Bieber and their six-month-old son, Jack Blues Bieber. The singer has even let his followers see him with a joint, and he continues to light up from time to time.

His manager clarified the issue this year by first denying that Bieber was using any hard or illegal drugs. In response to the drug abuse rumors, Bieber’s representative recently told TMZ, “The recurring narrative that Justin is using hard drugs is not true.” In their statement, they also assured the world that Justin was “in one of the best places in his life.” “Justin is enjoying his life, his new role as a dad, and continuing to create music,” the spokesperson added.

The statement also revealed that the singer’s year had seen him go through a spiritual and emotional metamorphosis that has seen him break off with old friends and business partners no longer aligned with his values. The shift has also manifested itself in his art, with Bieber’s latest album, Swag, turning out to be a big hit on July 11.

The album has seen fans praising his work as he is now focusing more on himself, his baby, and making music to the exclusion of everything else. His latest album, Swag, has tackled themes of growth, God, fatherhood, and his relationship with Hailey. The record also features skits with social media star Druski, where Justin is the subject of the comedian’s improvised “therapy session” to hilarious results.

Bieber still has the same boldness and desire to explore new territory in a post-reformatted career in pop. The antics in the comedy skits paint a picture of someone in control of their life, someone who is aware of who they are. It is an album that is keenly aware of its influences while also being very introspective.

A tour in support of the new album has not been confirmed by Justin Bieber or his camp, and there have only been rumors of a possible tour to Australia as part of the global rollout for Swag. Rolling Stone contacted Frontier Touring to ask about the rumored Australian tour, and a Frontier spokesperson said that they had “no information” regarding the singer and his plans. Justin Bieber’s last world tour was the Justice tour, which had to be called off halfway in 2022 because of the singer’s declining health.

Still, it is only a matter of time. Fans are still hopeful that Bieber will return to touring now that he is clean and sober and has a new album, new energy, and a family to support. Whether or not Justin Bieber intended the X video as a statement or because it was something he was vibing with this past Sunday, Bieber is back to generating headlines without uttering a single word — and that, perhaps, is what he had in mind in the first place.