In this Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 file photo, Miley Cyrus performs at IHeartRadio Music Festival, day 2, in Las Vegas, NV. Cyrus’s wild child antics, from being nude in the music video for her first No. 1 hit, “Wrecking Ball,” to her nipple tape at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, have made headlines. (Photo by Al Powers/Powers Imagery/Invision /AP, File) NEW YORK (AP) — While Miley Cyrus has a batch of critics, there is a group rallying behind her and praising her as a vital talent: rappers. Pharrell produced several songs on Cyrus' new album. She has been featured on the latest albums from Snoop Lion and will.i.am. Big Sean requested her as the star of his "Fire" music video. And to top it off, Kanye West invited her to appear on the remix to "Black Skinhead," his anti-racism rant from his eerie and dark "Yeezus" album.
From left, Justin Timberlake, Charlie Wilson, Snoop Lion, and Pharrell Williams pose backstage at the BET Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 30, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Scott Kirkland/Invision/AP) by Chris TalbotAP Music Writer Charlie Wilson's red coat. Kendrick Lamar and Miguel. Nicki Minaj's chair. And just where did Chris Tucker go? There were a lot of memorable things about Sunday night's BET Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles that are worth talking about Monday morning. Here are five to reflect on:
HEAVY D--In this Oct. 1, 2011 photo, rapper Heavy D, also known as Dwight Arrington Myers, performs during the BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. The culture that in the 1990s lost its brightest stars to gun violence has in recent years seen a series of notable rappers die of drug- and health-related causes. Since 2011, hip-pop pioneer Heavy D, singer and rap chorus specialist Nate Dogg and New York rapper Tim Dog all died of ailments in their 40s. (AP Photo/David Goldman, file) by Ryan McPherson LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hip-hop may need a checkup.
