TORONTO - Justin Bieber has made another foray into rap on a new song with Chris Brown, and the 17-year-old teen-pop sensation is receiving fairly positive reviews for his hip-hop chops.
The Stratford, Ont., native is featured on "Ladies Love Me," a collaboration with Brown culled from the R&B singer's latest mixtape, "Boy in Detention."
Bieber appears as his rap alter-ego, Shawty Mane, and spits over a track that samples Brown's "Look at Me Now."
He keeps his raps mostly PG-rated on the David Banner-produced tune, sticking with braggadocio-infused references to his swagger, his smooth way with the ladies and his "Louis V high-tops with the skinny jeans."
And so far, the response has been fairly positive for Bieber, who made his rap debut last year on Cam'ron and Vado's "Speakin' Tungs."
New York magazine's Vulture blog said Bieber was "definitely still not the worst," noting that while his lyrics might need some work, his technique "borders on the impressive." Popcrush, meanwhile, said Bieber sounded like a hybrid of Lil Wayne and Drake and credits him for doing "most of the work" on the tune.
And it might not be long until Bieber's legions of fans -- who promptly had "LADIES LOVE ME" trending on Twitter -- get to hear him rap again.
He has confirmed that he'll be featured on Pennsylvania rapper Asher Roth's upcoming sophomore record.
