Justin Bieber’s surprise album Swag has a standout feature from drill rapper Cash Cobain, and their collaboration happened in the most unexpected way. Cobain, whose real name is Cashmere Lavon Small, opened up about working with Bieber and described the experience as both creative and chill.
A DM That Turned Into a Hit
The collaboration began when Bieber showed love for Cobain’s track Trippin on a Yacht on social media. Soon after, the two connected through direct messages. Cobain told GQ, “I wrote bro like, ‘We got to get some work in.’ So I’m like, all right, boom took bro’s number down and then we was chopping it up for, I don’t know, a couple days.”
Making Music at Bieber’s Home
Cobain recalled heading over to Bieber’s home, where the pop star lives with his wife Hailey and their newborn son Jack Blues. The recording session was casual and full of energy. “I pulled up on him and in his crib. He had like, mad other producers, rap people in the room – like, it was people I know and s*, just creating and s*** like that,”** Cobain said.
“We was just sitting in a circle, [passing] the mic and just saying s* on the beat. I was just saying mad dumb s***.”**
Praising Bieber’s Vibe
Despite Bieber’s massive fame, Cobain found him down-to-earth. “You might think Justin Bieber would be on some other s*, but bro is mad cool. It was just natural. He was just like, ‘Swag. Swag, bro.’ He on some swag s***. That’s [all] him right there.”**
One-Day Magic Turned into a Finished Song
Cobain revealed that the track they made came together fast, all on the day they first met. “That was just off the first day we met, for real,” he said. He also loved how the production turned out. “That s* hard, especially that first song. That first song is like a ‘90s type beat. They went crazy I’ve never heard nobody really try to emulate that sound.”
Creative Freedom for Bieber After Scooter Braun Split
Bieber reportedly had total creative control over this new project. He’s no longer managed by Scooter Braun, and sources say that gave him the freedom to finally make the kind of music he truly wanted.
A source told Rolling Stone, “Breaking away from Scooter Braun and his team has been something that Justin has wanted for so long, and now that he’s fully free, he could finally share this album with his fans and with the world.”
The source added, “Having full creative freedom, sadly, is something new for him as an artist. Not having to stress about creating the perfect single, or perfect album, allowed for him to create the best body of music he’s ever made.”
