Miley Cyrus was the talk of last year’s MTV Video Music Awards; this year she was the heart and soul of the big show.

The Bangerz singer was reduced to tears after she brought out her friend Jesse to accept her Video of the Year award for “Wrecking Ball,” and to speak about his experience as a homeless youth.

“I’m like still on the verge of really crying so I could cry talking about it,” Miley told MTV News backstage at the Forum in Los Angeles. “I met Jesse, I went to this really cool place, it’s called My Friend’s Place. I just met him and from the second I saw him I knew that he had something to say.”

Fans heard Jesse’s message loud and clear. “I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States, who are starving, lost and scared for their lives right now. I know this because I am one of these people,” Jesse said during the television broadcast, bringing his date, Cyrus, to tears as she watched on.

Related: See More Backstage VMA interviews

Cyrus has partnered with My Friend’s Place, a drop-in service center in Hollywood that helps homeless youth get back on track. Between now and September 21, fans can make a donation at Prizeo.com and even get a chance at meeting the singer at an upcoming concert.

“I just knew he had something to ...

Police are still investigating the Sunday morning (August 24) shooting of former Death Row CEO Marion “Suge” Knight. What we do know is that Knight and two others were shot inside of West Hollywood nightclub 1 Oak, and while the injuries are non-life threatening, Suge was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department told MTV News that they are investigating the shooting, but haven’t made any arrests as they are still corralling witnesses and trying to establish motive. TMZ is reporting that cops are looking into whether the shooting was gang-related.

Unnamed sourced close to Knight’s family told TMZ that Suge, 49, was hit with one bullet in the arm and five in the stomach, with doctors recovering three of the bullets. Police are making a connection between Knight, Chris Brown and Game, who have all been placed either in and around the nightclub and have ties to the Bloods gang.

Related: Suge Knight Shot Multiple Times At West Hollywood Nightclub

Knight’s family released a statement to Revolt TV on Sunday, which read: “The family of Suge Knight ask that you keep Suge in your prayers and to stray away from the negativity portrayed by the media. Suge is currently resting and has lost a lot of blood, he’s human. He’s done a lot of things for the community and the culture as a whole so we ask that you respect that.”

According to reports, Game became angry and got into ...

Nicki Minaj already has a few rap rivals, but now the curvy rap queen can add a booty rival to the list of women that want to come for her throne.

Comedian Kathy Griffin threw down the gauntlet and issued a challenge to Minaj during a recent interview. “Of course, everyone’s talking about that ‘Anaconda’ video, and it’s fantastic,” Griffin told the Associated Press on Friday. “It’s a lot of boo-tay, and I would like to challenge Nicki to a boo-tay-off.”

Related: The Inside Story Of The Nicki Minaj Dancer Who Was Bitten By A Snake

Judging from Nicki’s just-released “Anaconda” video, this isn’t going to be an easy challenge for Griffin.

“It’s like the ice bucket challenge, but it doesn’t even have any charity associated with it at all,” Griffin explained. “It’s completely gratuitous.”

You’ll be able to see Nicki Minaj and her booty when she performs August 24 at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy and their Under the Influence of Music Tour are taking the night off after a man was shot and killed backstage at their Mountain View, California, concert on Friday night.

Khalifa took to Twitter on Saturday (August 23) to announce that Saturday night’s show in Chula Vista, California will be cancelled.

According to reports, a 38-year old man was shot multiple times backstage at the Shoreline Amphitheater around 11:05 p.m., moments after the show ended. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died. Police are searching for the suspect and asking any one with any video or photos of the backstage area to come forward.

Wiz sent his condolences to the victim’s family with another tweet.

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

It was only a matter of time before Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” track got a remix — even if it’s an unofficial one.

On Friday, the LA Leakers added Riff Raff to Nicki’s new single, and his verse is as zany as you might imagine.

Related: The Inside Story Of The Nicki Minaj Dancer Who Was Bitten By A Snake

“Yeah, collect call from Hector/ I was on the phone, outside of my double-decker,” Riff raps before rattling off lyrics about Cinderella, red licorice thongs and glow-in-the-dark socks.

This isn’t the only remix the Neon Icon jumped on this week. On Thursday, the “rap game Dr. Drew” linked with Katy Perry on “This Is How We Do.”

It’s still unclear if Nicki’s heard Raff’s “Anaconda” remix, though, she’s been busy preparing for her performance at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 24.

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

Usher has no competition. The MTV Video Music Awards veteran will put on his third solo performance at the big show on Sunday, August 24 and he promises to leave it all out there.

“All I wanted to give my fans is the UR experience,” Usher told MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway on Friday (August 22) after he rehearsed at the Forum in Los Angeles California.

“UR” of course is the singer’s initials and he’s been one of music’s top performers since he dropped his debut album 20 years ago in 1994.

Usher plans to drop his eighth album later this year and has already released two singles from the LP (“Good Kisser” and “She Came To Give It To You,” with Nicki Minaj). Whatever he chooses to perform, we’re sure it’s going to be epic. The last time Usher performed in 2010, he brought his “OMG” single to life right before our eyes.

“Everybody, all of the executives, all of my creative people and team, they’ve been on-board and the VMAs really did give me an opportunity to paint an incredible picture,” Usher said. “But it is expansive, it does feel like nothing I’ve done before.”

Usher says he’s not trying to outdo his last VMA performance or any other artist. He just wants to give it his best shot. “I never approached this show — others yeah, but not this show, that I should go out here and try to beat someone else,” he said. “I just feel like I ...

Wiz Khalifa is having an eventful week. On Tuesday, the Taylor Gang captain dropped his Blacc Hollywood album and on Sunday, August 24, at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards Khalifa will find out if he wins the Best Hip-Hop Video award for “We Dem Boys.” So you can imagine how pumped he is.

We caught up with Wiz and quizzed him on his favorite VMA moments, which included Miley Cyrus, Eminem and Madonna. Who Knew?

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

Nicki Minaj has a ton of sex appeal, but knowing when to use it is key.

Earlier this week, the Young Money hit-maker made jaws drop when she showed off all of her goodies in her “Anaconda” video, but Nicki made sure she covered up for Juicy J’s “Low,” which hit the Internet on Thursday (August 21).

For the video, Juice paired Ms. Minaj with Lil Bibby. While there is plenty of eye candy, the only thing Nicki puts on display are her killer rhymes.

Related: Watch Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” Video… But You’ve Been Warned

“I ain’t never had a beat that a bitch ain’t rip/ I’m fly everyday, but a bitch ain’t trippin’,” she spits wearing a long black dress.

We’re sure Nicki is just giving us a moment to catch our breath before she performs at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, August 24.

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

Joe Budden is being accused of a pretty heinous crime, but the rapper is denying any wrongdoing on Twitter.

On Thursday (August 21) TMZ reported that the Slaughterhouse MC beat his girlfriend in a jealous rage. According to the site, Budden dragged the woman out of a New York City restaurant after he saw her in pictures with other men. He reportedly choked her and slammed her head into the dashboard of his car before driving her to his New Jersey home where the beating continued.

Shortly after the story was posted, Budden denied the attack when responding to his followers on Twitter. “@JoeBudden wtf, why is audely lying? She really that angry after you left her, smh,” one user asked before Joe responded: “or needs the attention. Honestly I’m not sure.”

“my n—a @joebudden beat his gf smhhh he still my n—a doe lmfao,” wrote @carla_roseee, prompting Budden to respond: “no Joey did NOT !”

He later tweeted that the allegations “couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Earlier in the day he sent a tweet about messy break-ups.

A representative for Joe Budden declined to give MTV News a comment.

Rob Markman

Mentally been many places, but I'm Brooklyn's own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman