Honest
by Justin Bieber (featuring Don Toliver)

Album: released as a single (2022)
Charted: 54 44
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Justin Bieber talks about his love for his wife Hailey and why he believes she's the one. The Canadian kicks off "Honest" with the chorus, where he details why he fell for Hailey before giving more reasons for tying the knot with her. They include:

    She's honest
    Modest
    Keeps it real with him
    She's the sun in his morning
    She's his safe haven
    Her hazel eyes
  • Don Toliver contributes the second verse. While Bieber's lyrics are from the perspective of a happily married man, the Houston artist's rhymes recount his rapper lifestyle. He talks about scoring weed, riding his jeep, and ensuring he's fully prepared should he encounter any opps in the club.
  • This is the second time Bieber has worked with Toliver, following their collaboration on the 2021 Skrillex song "Don't Go."

    The two first got acquainted through Travis Scott. During a visit to Scott's home, the Texan rapper told Bieber he needed to check out Don Toliver because "his melodies are crazy."

    The Biebs then met him properly through Skrillex. "We did a song together and then kind of developed a relationship and just have kept making music over the past year," he told Audacy's Kenzie K. "It's been really nice, I'm a huge fan."
  • Bieber and Tolver co-wrote the uptempo, punchy track with its producers Azul Wynter, BEAM and Sonni. The Canadian pop star called out Jamaican-American rapper, songwriter and producer BEAM's contribution to the track. "He helped write this song and yeah, once again, his little pockets are crazy and I love experimenting with new pockets, new rhythms," the "Peaches" singer said. "I'm a drummer, so for me being able to experiment with those little pockets is it's fun, man. It's really fun."
  • Bieber released "Honest" as his first single since his Justice album after teasing it with the 75-second cut "I Feel Funny." Speaking with SiriusXM's Pandora NOW, the Canadian star said he wanted to balance up his recent releases with something more lighthearted. "A lot of my songs recently have been kind of heavy," Bieber said. "My last single was 'Ghost'... it's about death and it's a very heavy topic. And I think I wanted to bring a side that was more... just less heavy, more light and fun and just kind of a bounce."
  • Cole Bennett directed the wintry video, which finds Bieber and Toliver snowmobiling and hanging out in a ski lodge. Cole Bennett is best known as the mastermind behind clips for rappers such as Eminem, Juice WRLD and Jack Harlow. He also filmed the visual for "I Feel Funny" at the same time.

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