Miley Cyrus Clarifies Controversial Comments About Rap Music: "I Respect ALL Artists"
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When Miley Cyrus recently sat down with Billboard for an interview, she discussed everything from why she and fiancé Liam Hemsworth first broke up to the new direction she's taking her music in. Her comments on the latter subject focused on how she's shifting from a hip-hop style to more of a singer-songwriter approach but that she really appreciates Kendrick Lamar's new song "Humble." "I love that because it's not 'Come sit on my dick, suck on my cock.' I can't listen to that anymore," she explained. "That's what pushed me out of the hip-hop scene a little. It was too much 'Lamborghini, got my Rolex, got a girl on my cock' — I am so not that."
This comment in particular drew the ire of more than a few people on Twitter, who accused her of only using black culture "when it's convenient." If it sounds familiar, it's because this isn't the first time the 24-year-old has faced similar criticism. After exiting Disney's Hannah Montana, Miley revamped her image by twerking at the 2013 VMAs and releasing her album Bangerz, which she described as "dirty South hip-hop." To many, it seemed like Miley was using black culture to make her image appear more subversive, likely to help distance her from her Disney roots. At the time, Vulture's Jody Rosen even called Miley's VMAs performance (where she slapped the butts of her black backup dancers) "a minstrel show routine" and said "her act tipped over into what we may as well just call racism."
On Saturday, Miley shared a lengthy statement on Instagram clarifying what she told Billboard, emphasizing that she respects "all artists who speak their truth" and "appreciates all genres of music."
"When articles are read it isn't always considered that for hours I've spoken with a journalist about my life , where my heart is, my perspective at that time, and the next step in my career. Unfortunately only a portion of that interview makes it to print, & A lot of the time publications like to focus on the most sensationalized part of the conversation. So, to be clear I respect ALL artists who speak their truth and appreciate ALL genres of music (country , pop , alternative .... but in this particular interview I was asked about rap) I have always and will continue to love and celebrate hip hop as I've collaborated with some of the very best! At this point in my life I am expanding personally/musically and gravitating more towards uplifting, conscious rap! As I get older I understand the effect music has on the world & Seeing where we are today I feel the younger generation needs to hear positive powerful lyrics! I am proud to be an artist with out borders and thankful for the opportunity to explore so many different styles/ sounds! I hope my words (sung or spoken) always encourage others to LOVE.... Laugh.... Live fully.... to be there for one another... to unify, and to fight for what's right (human , animal , or environmental ) Sending peace to all! Look forward to sharing my new tunes with you soon! - MC"
Miley is gearing up to release her sixth studio album sometime this year, which we'll get a taste of when she drops her first single, "Malibu," on May 11.