Justin Bieber Gets New Tattoo Of ‘Purpose’ Album Title, States Obvious About One Direction

It’s been a while, but Justin Bieber has a new tattoo. The superstar now has “Purpose,” the name of his highly anticipated new album tattooed just above his abs.

The 21-year-old shared a photo of the black colored inking on Tuesday to his Instagram page. The writing is seen in reverse, indicating the shot was taken in front of a mirror.

Apparently, the illustrated singer’s newest tattoo brings his count to 51, which won’t surprise anyone.

https://instagram.com/p/8gv46mAvlo/?taken-by=justinbieber

Justin’s last tattoo was “LL,” which he had inked in May. Like all of the singer’s body designs, the tattoo has a personal meaning. At the time, he said the initials represented “low lift” and was an instruction to himself to “lift” his head (read: self) higher whenever he feels low.

As Justin Bieber fans are aware, in 2012 the singer began a tradition of getting a tattoo to mark a major album release. Back then, it was Believe, and the then 18-year-old had “Believe” inked onto his inner left arm. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s 200 Album chart in June 2012.

With the release of Believe Acoustic in January 2013, which also launched atop the album chart, Bieber brought his No. 1 album debut count to five before the age of 19. It’s likely Bieber will be hoping Purpose will do the same when it officially touches down on November 13.

With respect to other albums also rolling out that day — CeeLo Green, Ty Dolla $ign, and Boots — Bieber was guaranteed the No. 1 position on the 200 album chart when he was the only superstar releasing. He announced his release date when he dropped “What Do You Mean?” on August 28. The track is the lead single from Bieber’s new album.

However, almost one month later, One Direction, announced they are unleashing Made In The A.M. — their first, Zayn-less pre-hiatus fifth album — on the same day.

Hits Daily Double previously reported industry analysts predict 1D could shift 350,000 units in their first week, based on their 2012 and 2013 albums and the 387,000 units they moved in the debut week of last year’s Four. Justin’s biggest first week was 374,000 for Believe, while Believe Acoustic racked up 211,000.

The reality is, whichever artist “wins,” it is the qualitative value of each album that matters in the long run. This is especially true as a week after November 13, the juggernaut-sales-in-waiting that is Adele’s third album 25, arrives on November 20.

Meanwhile, the Biebs recently shared his thoughts about One Direction’s decision to jump on his release date. It comes after Justin and Louis Tomlinson’s Snapchat sassiness last week, which kicked off with the platinum prankster sharing a video of himself riffing about the “face” someone makes if they release an album on the same day as him, before pulling a “scared” expression. Tomlinson fired back with a similar video days later.

Fast forward to last Thursday when Bieber was interviewed by New Zealand’s The Edge radio station’s Smash! show, where he was asked if he had called One Direction friend Niall Horan to ask why the boy band chose to release their album the same day.

“I didn’t give him that call, no.” the Canadian replied. “I think it’s a friendly competition. I’m excited. I gotta say I’m really excited.”

One host then jokingly asked Justin if he and One Direction met over drinks and decided to release their album on the same day just for a laugh. At that point, Justin offered what many may see as a completely obvious reading of the upcoming album chart battle.

“I don’t know if they’re [One Direction] really going on the road much, but we’re talking about them right now, so gives them some promo, right? So, that’s probably why they did it,” Justin told the Smash! hosts.

He added, “I think it was strategy on their part because my release date was first.”

Bieber’s comments have been widely billed as “shade” in the press. However, given that there really isn’t the remotest chance that One Direction’s record label, Columbia, and X Factor/Syco Music honcho, Simon Cowell, picked the boy band’s (possibly final) album drop date out of a hat — is there any other word but strategy to describe #TeamID forcing Bieber into a face-off narrative?

Justin Bieber Says What Everyone Thinks Of One Direction’s Album Release Date Decision http://t.co/s2yKnjvZVd pic.twitter.com/jdLGyUPnJP

— Inquisitr Showbiz (@IQShowbiz) October 6, 2015

[Images via WENN]