Miley Cyrus Loves "Hood Music" But Doesn't Want to Be "The White Nicki Minaj"

Miley Cyrus' new single "We Can't Stop" marks a change in musical direction, but the singer tells Billboard she doesn't want to be "the white Nicki Minaj."

"A lot of people wanted to try to make me the white Nicki Minaj," Cyrus explained. "That's not what I'm trying to do. I love 'hood' music, but my talent is as a singer."

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Assuming Cyrus' reference to "hood music" in fact alludes to hip-hop and rap, the former Disney star's claim is bewildering since Minaj has a bevy of pop hits, possibly even more than Cyrus herself. Cyrus' new album features three songs, including her single, produced by Mike WiLL, who is known for producing tracks for hip-hop artists Juicy J, Lil Wayne and Future, the latter of which will also rap on Cyrus' album. Outside of her music, Cyrus has also gained notoriety for her new, edgier image, which has included filming herself "twerking" and letting Juicy J rain cash on her, acts typically associated with the hip-hop culture she says she doesn't want to be a part of professionally.

"I've always wanted country-rock influences, but now I'm moving over to a more urban side," Cyrus said. "It's not a hip-hop album, though — it's a pop album. I'm not coming in trying to rap. It's more like, I don't see any girls out there doing what Miguel and Frank Ocean are doing.

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"It's not like I'm losing who I am — I actually found out more about who I am by making this music," Cyrus continued. "I'm going on a journey, and that's more than a lot of 20-year-olds can say. And I'm still going to change so much. Because I'm not the same person I was six months ago — I'm not even the same person I was two weeks ago."

What do you think of Cyrus' comments?