Written by CNN Staff
Aided by a chart-topping pop song, Bieber’s reprise of his 1990s dance-pop phase, the album’s collaborators — The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran — are all in the running for Grammys on March 8
“Peaches,” which includes the TNI droll hip-hop that goes “black sunglasses, black pantyhose/props, black shoes/I’m coming down to your place, full of homemade blackface/You’re so…cops!” has been the runaway single of the year so far. Now Bieber’s guest rappers appear to have stolen the show at his upcoming South By Southwest showcase.
Artist record all four of their songs together on “Passionfruit.”
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Alongside Trevor Noah, the bulk of Bieber’s Grammy nominations are in the pop category. Plus, his collaboration with Post Malone on “Rockstar” (a duet lauded for its lyric nods at resilience) and a rendition of “God Bless the Child” is in the nod running for best pop duo/group performance.
Among the six male nominees, Sheeran is the only one from the previously equal-number country and urban categories.
Adele, who won the top prize — album of the year — at the Brit Awards last week, couldn’t accompany herself on her epic lead single, “Hello,” because her voice’s 2016 Grammy win for her “25” track “Hello” prevented her from singing at the Grammys. Instead, it was played in a crowd of artists including Bieber, Drake, Shawn Mendes and Harry Styles.
But it’s Bieber and Sheeran’s collective album proposal that is garnering the most attention.
The pair previously collaborated in 2012 on a duet that also made the cut for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2013 Grammys, and have announced plans to record a second collaboration, to be called “Believe,” in 2019.