As I Am

As I Am
Released	March 19, 2021
Album	Justice
Recorded	2020 February 2021 (reworked)
Genre	Pop
Length	2:54
Written by	Justin Bieber / Gregory Hein / Ido Zmishlany / Scott Harris / Josh Gudwin / Jordan K. Johnson / Stefan Johnson / Oliver Peterhof / Khalid Donnel Robinson
Produced by	The Monsters & Strangerz / German / Josh Gudwin / Ido Zmishlany (co.)
Label
Additional information
Vocal production	Josh Gudwin / Stefan Johnson Khalid: Denis Kosiak
Engineer(s)	Josh Gudwin / Heidi Wang (additional) Khalid: Denis Kosiak/ James Keeley (assistant)
Mixed by	Josh Gudwin / Heidi Wang (assistant)
Background vocals	Gregory Hein
Instruments	Piano: Ido Zmishlany Guitars: Pierre-Luc Rioux Drums: The Monsters & Strangerz / German Bass: The Monsters & Strangerz / German Programming by The Monsters & Strangerz / German

"As I Am" is a song by Justin Bieber featuring Khalid from his 6th studio album Justice.

Background

“As I Am,” took two years to nail down. Gregory Hein began writing the track in the basement studio of his New York City apartment. With a gibberish vocal line and piano, he took the barebones to his friend and collaborator Ido Zmishlany to flesh it out. Together, the duo spent the entire day plugging in lyrics “and then came up with the nursery rhyme part. I was super self-conscious about it,” he admits, worried it felt too Disney. “I was like ‘bro, just do it, and we’ll revisit it tomorrow.’ He actually played it for his wife and little girl, who was three at the time─and she memorized the melody. That was very telling.” But the song still lacked a solid verse. “I’m all about passing the baton and tagging other people in who I trust,” he adds. So, he took the song to Scott Harris, who brought “a clear vision for how the verse melody should go. I put both parts together. Then, we had this super amazing ballad.”

The song then sat for a year─until Josh Gudwin sent it over to The Monsters & Strangerz. “I had forgotten about it,” confides Hein. “Stefan [Johnson] Facetimed me, and he had this new beat and synths with Justin’s vocals. I got goosebumps. I never pictured it going from a ballad to kind of an arena anthem.” Bieber immediately latched onto the song and turned to Khalid to transform it even further, literally turning the final version into the label “a week before the album.”

Justin Bieber revealed to Radio.com "So that song started like almost a year ago. It came to the table and the song was really good but it just wasn't where it needed to be far as lyrically, the beat was all over the place, so we just dialed in on the song and took time and making it as perfect as it possible could be. Then later in the game, we reached out to Khalid and I just said 'Hey man, I would love you to be a part of this project. I have this really cool song and I would love for you to listen to it and tell me if it resonates and if it does, I would love you to put on a verse 'and so he did that's how it came to be. "

The song was originally called “Not Going Anywhere”. The title was written down on a note in the documentary Justin Bieber: Next Chapter.

Composition and lyrical interpretation

At times I have felt unworthy of love and this song is saying: “Take me as I am then I’ll do the best that I can.”

Audio

Justin Bieber - As I Am (Visualizer) ft. Khalid

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Justin Bieber]
By myself sometimes, to give my mind some space
Yeah, I know, yeah, I know that it hurts when push your love away
I hate myself
I wanna tell you lies, so your heart won't break
Yeah, I know, yeah, I know that I made my fair share of mistakes

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Sometimes I don't know why you love me
Sometimes I don't know why you care
Take me with the good and the ugly
Say I'm not goin' anywhere

[Chorus: Justin Bieber]
Take me as I am, swear I do the best I can
Say I'm not goin' anywhere
Take mе as I am, swear I do the best I can
Say I'm not goin' anywhеre

[Verse 1: Khalid]
A thousand miles apart, yeah, you're the one that hurt my heart
It's no surprise, and I tell you all of the time
When life gets way too hard, I'll meet you in the stars
You never know where, I'll keep in, 'cause it's survival where you're in

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Bieber & Khalid]
Sometimes I don't know why you love me
Sometimes I don't know why you care
Take me with the good and the ugly
Say I'm not goin' anywhere

[Chorus: Justin Bieber & Khalid]
Take me as I am, swear I do the best I can
Say I'm not goin' anywhere
Take me as I am, swear I do the best I can
Say I'm not goin' anywhere

[Verse 2: Justin Bieber]
You was there for me when I was actin' selfish
And you prayed for me when I was out of faith
You believed in me when ain't nobody else did
It's a miracle you didn't run away
You was there for me when I was actin' selfish
And you prayed for me when I was out of faith
You believed in me when ain't nobody else did
It's a miracle you didn't run away

[Chorus: Justin Bieber & Khalid]
Sometimes I don't know why you love me
Sometimes I don't know why you care
Take me with the good and the ugly
Say I'm not goin' anywhere

Performances

• Special Performance at Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas _{(July 9, 2021)}
• The Freedom Experience _{(July 24, 2021)}
• Made In America _{(September 5, 2021)}
• The Event (October 2, 2021)
• Justin Bieber & Friends (October 10, 2021)
• Private event in Provo, Utah (November 6, 2021)
• Homecoming Big Game Weekend (February 11, 2022)
• Justice World Tour (2022)

Charts

Billboard Hot 100

"As I Am" debuted at #43 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent 3 weeks on chart.

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Credits

Credits adapted from Tidal.

• Producer: German / Ido Zmishlany / Josh Gudwin / The Monsters & Strangerz
• Composer: Gregory "Aldae" Hein / Ido Zmishlany / Jordan K. Johnson / Josh Gudwin / Justin Bieber / Khalid Robinson / Oliver Peterhof / Scott Harris / Stefan Johnson
• Lyricist: Gregory "Aldae" Hein Ido Zmishlany / Jordan K. Johnson / Josh Gudwin / Justin Bieber / Khalid Robinson / Oliver Peterhof / Scott Harris / Stefan Johnson
• Assistant Mixer: Heidi Wang
• Associated Performer: Denis Kosiak / German / Gregory "Aldae" Hein / Ido Zmishlany / Josh Gudwin / Pierre-Luc Rioux / Stefan Johnson / The Monsters & Strangerz
• Asst. Recording Engineer: James Keeley
• Background Vocalist: Gregory "Aldae" Hein
• Bass: German
• Co-producer: Ido Zmishlany
• Drums: The Monsters & Strangerz
• Engineer: Heidi Wang
• Featured Artist: Khalid
• Guitar: Pierre-Luc Rioux
• Mastering Engineer: Colin Leonard
• Mixer: Josh Gudwin
• Piano: Ido Zmishlany
• Programmer: German / The Monsters & Strangerz
• Recording Engineer: Denis KosiakJosh Gudwin
• Studio Personnel: Colin Leonard / Denis Kosiak / Heidi Wang / James Keeley / Josh Gudwin
• Vocal Producer: Denis Kosiak / Josh Gudwin / Stefan Johnson