Scooter Braun’s review of Justin Bieber‘s Swag is in. The surprise album that dropped Friday (July 11) is the pop star’s most genuine work to date, says Bieber’s former longtime manager — who noted he’s been watching the singer’s growth as an artist for nearly 20 years.

Bieber parted ways with Braun in 2024. That June, Braun announced he was retiring from music management after a two-decade run that had him overseeing clients including Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato and more.

“Been having a beautiful start to the weekend and been getting a lot of texts about how I feel about Justin’s new album,” Braun wrote in an Instagram Story on Saturday, the day after Swag‘s release. “So I will just leave this here.. This is without a doubt, the most authentically Justin Bieber album to date. It’s beautiful, raw, and truly him. And that matters.”

Braun continued, “I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his growth for almost two decades. Along every journey, there comes a time when an artist fully steps into their own — and that’s what he’s done here. He’s poured his soul into this project, and you can feel it in every single run.”

“The way he chose to release it is just as intentional as the music itself — and I’m happy to see him do it this way. I have played no roll in this one, but as someone who’s always believed in him, I’m incredibly proud and impressed and genuinely enjoying the music,” he said.

Braun highlighted “Daisies” as his favorite song on Swag, citing Bieber’s “best in the world,” “special tone.”

“Stream Swag and support an authentic voice,” wrote Braun.

Swag, a collection of 21 tracks, is Bieber’s seventh studio album. It’s his first since 2021’s Justice, which spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and his first full-length record since becoming a parent.

In an interview with The Diary of a CEO last month, Braun admitted that his present-day relationship with Bieber is “not the same that it was.”

Said Braun, “I think there comes a point where — I understand — he probably wants to go on and show that he can do it. We worked together for so long and we had such extreme success, and I think you get to a point as a man where you want to show the world you can do it on your own. And I completely respect that. I think at this point, that’s what he’s doing. Myself and everyone from the old team is rooting for him.”

Congratulations are in order for Vanessa Hudgens and her husband, Cole Tucker, who are expecting their second child together.

The 36-year-old High School Musical alum shared the exciting news on Saturday (July 12) in a social media post, debuting her baby bump in a maternity photoshoot alongside the 29-year-old former professional baseball player.

“Round two!!!!” Hudgens captioned the Instagram post, beaming as she pointed to her growing belly.

Hudgens and Tucker’s celebrity friends flooded the comments section with well-wishes for the growing family.

“Omg!!!!!!!! Congrats,” Disney Channel alum Aly Michalka wrote, while Allison Holker and Alexandra Shipp both shared red heart emojis. “Ohhhhh congratulations my love!!” Jenna Dewan added. Hudgens’ former Broadway co-star Corey Cott chimed in with, “Congrats V!”

The couple welcomed their first child together in July 2024. While the Bad Boys: Ride or Die star was overjoyed by their baby’s arrival, she also expressed frustration that the moment was overshadowed by invasive paparazzi attention.

“We’re disappointed that our family’s privacy was disrespected and exploited during this very special time due to the greed of a long lens camera feeding the media,” Hudgens wrote in her Instagram Story, referencing photos published by TMZ that showed her leaving a Santa Monica, Calif., hospital in a wheelchair with her newborn.

The pregnancy announcement comes just two weeks after Hudgens shared a heartfelt Instagram tribute for Tucker’s 29th birthday. The pair tied the knot in Mexico in December 2023.

“Happy birthday to my best friend/lover/partner in life,” the singer and actress captioned a photo of the couple wearing sunglasses and making silly faces. “@cotuck you’re everything to meeeeeee. No one does it better.”

“You’re the best mama thank you,” Tucker replied in the comments.

Check out Hudgens adorable pregnancy announcement on Instagram here.

It feels undeniable at this point: the first half of the decade belongs to Bad Bunny. Over the past five years, the Puerto Rican superstar has reigned as the most-streamed artist on the planet, his music serving as the soundtrack to millions across borders, cultures and languages. Year after year, he shatters records, breaks barriers, numerously reaches No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and carves out a legacy shared only by once-in-a-lifetime icons.

His latest milestone? A history-making residency kickoff on Friday night (July 11) at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot (aka El Choli) in San Juan. Dubbed No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí (I Don’t Want to Leave From Here), the event marks the beginning of an unprecedented 30-show series at Puerto Rico’s most iconic venue with a capacity crowd of 18,000. To a full house on opening night, Benito delivered three hours of spectacle, celebration, and pure corazón boricua, cementing Puerto Rico as the world’s main stage.

At times, the show felt like an immersive celebration of Puerto Rican history and identity. Before even kicking off his three-hour performance at 9 p.m. ET, a giant screen projected facts about the island’s roots, culture and resilience. Messages in Spanish like “Puerto Rico is an archipelago, not just an island” and “San Juan is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. It was founded in 1521” educated the crowd, fusing pride with context.

Others underscored the island’s distinctiveness: “Puerto Rico has two native musical genres: bomba and plena,” a tribute to its African and working-class traditions, and “In Puerto Rico, they celebrate the longest Christmas season in the world.” Even lighter truths got a moment in the spotlight: “Sancocho cures anything, according to our grandmothers.”

This mix of history and pride set the tone for an unforgettable night. Benito appeared on stage wearing a Taíno-inspired outfit — a beige ensemble with straw accents, dark shades and a winter-trapper-style hat — as if embodying the island’s ancient roots while stepping firmly into the modern world. With a set that featured lush green hills and intricate cultural motifs, the visuals matched the depth of his message: Puerto Rican culture was front and center — not for explanation but for celebration.

He opened with “DTmF” and spanned through hits from his latest album, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, like “KETU TeCRÉ,” “EL CLúB,” “PIToRRO DE COCO” and “WELTiTA.” He also performed older classics including “La Santa” (originally feat. Daddy Yankee), “El Apagón,” “Si Estuviésemos Juntos” and “Ni Bien Ni Mal,” totaling up to over 30 songs — transitioning between bomba, plena, salsa, Latin trap and reggaetón.

He brought Puerto Rico’s ancestral rhythms to life with hypnotic percussion and dancers wearing traditional straw hats. And later, during a segment dedicated to salsa, the energy shifted to honor the Puerto Rican diaspora’s contributions to the genre. Rocking a classic cream suit styled from that ’70s era, he channeled the spirit of legends like Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades and Tito Puente, Benito gave a nod to the iconic Fania All-Stars era — most importantly, to the generations of Puerto Ricans in New York City who sustained these sounds long after they left the island.

Throughout the night, Benito made clear that this residency wasn’t just about him — it was about the community and legends who paved the way. Midway through the performance, he paused to deliver a shoutout to the P.R. trailblazers who shaped reggaetón and Latin music: Tego Calderón, Daddy Yankee, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Ñengo Flow and many others. “This is all for you. For us,” he said, pulling the crowd even closer to his vision.

For all its exhilarating highs, the residency showcased a dazzling spectacle, but above all a cultural milestone.

“This residency is more than a concert series — it’s a defining moment for our island,” Jorge L. Pérez, the venue’s general manager, told Billboard Español. “It’s an affirmation of our creative talent and our place in global entertainment.”

With Puerto Rico about to experience an influx of over 250,000 visitors during the residency’s run, Benito has positioned the island as an entertainment destination, creating waves that will benefit the local economy, uplift small businesses and draw global eyes to its unique identity.

Pérez continues: “It inspires the next generation to believe that success doesn’t require leaving home. They can dream big, build here, and be celebrated here. This is Puerto Rican pride in motion. It’s cultural relevance, economic momentum and artistic excellence — all rooted right where it matters most.”

By the time the final moments arrived near midnight, Bad Bunny stood shoulder to shoulder with his dancers, a massive Puerto Rican flag spread across the stage lights lit up the venue. It was a culmination of gratitude — a tribute to the land, the people, and the culture that shaped him into the artist the world knows today.