Miley Cyrus has a nice cover story in the upcoming issue of Billboard, a somewhat awkwardly timed look into the 20-year-old's musical evolution.
The singer and starlet says she feels like she's been typecast as a "white Nicki Minaj." "That's not what I'm trying to do. I love 'hood' music, but my talent is as a singer," she adds.
Let's leave aside the fact that it's uncomfortable for Miley Cyrus to refer to Minaj's repetoire, which has as many pure pop hits, if not more, than Cyrus', as "hood music," and assume she's just bumblingly referring to "urban" music, or even just "hip-hop and rap." Even if we bridge those gaps for Cyrus, however, it's still an oddly aggressive claim. Her lead single, "We Can't Stop," is a Mike WiLL-produced track originally made for Rihanna and features her slurring over syrupy trap beats. WiLL, who is most famous for making strip club anthems like Juicy J's "Bands a Make Her Dance" and Rihanna's "Pour It Up" (which is essentially a rework of "Bands"), produced two more songs for Cyrus' album, one of which features Future, a rapper.
But, sure, let's play along! Let's also gloss over the fact that Cyrus' album will feature a healthy amount of undeniably urban music (Miley says she's trying to be the female version of "what [R&B standouts] Miguel and Frank Ocean are doing, though WiLL says he told her told her to "keep your country twang"). Cyrus has made headlines in recent months for "twerking," or dancing suggestively in a manner predominantly associated with hip-hop. Of course, Miley has done it her way (dressed as a unicorn) and in a way that she might describe as "hood" (on stage at a Juicy J concert while the rapper rained cash on her).
It seems like what's happening here is that Cyrus "loves" "hood" culture, thinks it's amusing and has no problem co-opting it for singles and/or viral videos, but doesn't love the idea of herself being seen as part of it. And that's gross.
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Miley Cyrus, right, presents the award for top male artist to Justin Bieber at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Miley Cyrus arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
Miley Cyrus arrives at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 19: Singer Miley Cyrus arrives at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 19: Musician Justin Bieber accepts the award for 'Top Male Artist' presented by singer Miley Cyrus onstage during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 19: Musician Justin Bieber accepts the award for 'Top Male Artist' presented by singer Miley Cyrus onstage during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 19, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 15: Singer Miley Cyrus, HOT 100#1 girl attends the Maxim Hot 100 Party at Create on May 15, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 15: Singer Miley Cyrus, HOT 100#1 girl attends the Maxim Hot 100 Party at Create on May 15, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Miley Cyrus attends the Costume Institute Gala for the 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Miley Cyrus attends the Costume Institute Gala for the 'PUNK: Chaos to Couture' exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singer/actress Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singer Miley Cyrus arrives at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party on February 24, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singers Miley Cyrus and Steven Tyler attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singers Emeli Sande and Miley Cyrus attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Tish Cyrus, Singer Miley Cyrus, and model Heidi Klum attends the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for EJAF)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Singer Miley Cyrus and Kelly Osbourne attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) TV Personalities Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Osbourne and actress/singer Miley Cyrus attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at West Hollywood Park on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Miley Cyrus poses backstage at the Marc Jacobs Collection Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at New York Armory on February 14, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 14: Miley Cyrus poses backstage at the Marc Jacobs Collection Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at New York Armory on February 14, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Marc Jacobs)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: (L-R) Tish Cyrus, Miley Cyrus and Joanna Coles attend the Rachel Zoe Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Joanna Coles, Miley Cyrus and Tish Cyrus attend the Rachel Zoe Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: (L-R) Tish Cyrus, Miley Cyrus and Joanna Coles attend the Rachel Zoe Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: Tish Cyrus and Miley Cyrus attend the Rachel Zoe Fall 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Studio at Lincoln Center on February 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Singer Miley Cyrus arrives at Clive Davis & The Recording Academy's 2013 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Antonio 'L.A.' Reid at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Singer Miley Cyrus arrives at Clive Davis & The Recording Academy's 2013 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring Antonio 'L.A.' Reid at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Singer Miley Cyrus (L) and TV personality Nicole Richie attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring L.A. Reid held at The Beverly Hilton on February 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Rapper Wiz Khalifa, Miley Cyrus and guest attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute to Industry Icons honoring L.A. Reid held at The Beverly Hilton on February 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
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Get Alerts Miley Cyrus has a nice cover story in the upcoming issue of Billboard, a somewhat awkwardly timed look into the 20-year-old's musical evolution. The singer and starlet says she feels like she's been... Miley Cyrus has a nice cover story in the upcoming issue of Billboard, a somewhat awkwardly timed look into the 20-year-old's musical evolution. The singer and starlet says she feels like she's been...