Ashtrays and Heartbreaks

Album: Reincarnated (2013)
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Songfacts®:

  • This reggae-flavored, summery track finds Snoop choosing marijuana as his coping mechanism as he sings about loved ones who they have lost. "Tonight there's gonna be a whole lot of smoke in the air," he croons. "Blow it hard for the ones who ain't here." A heartbroken Miley Cyrus then reminisces about losing those close to her, whether it's the passing away of a family member or a breakup. "Is there any possibility that everyone feels like me," she sings, "You're gone, but you're never missed."
  • The song features island-tinged percussion by Stewart Copeland of The Police and additional vocals by Brooklyn-native singer-songwriter Angela Hunte. The latter is best known for co-writing the original version of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind."
  • Snoop told MTV News that he feels Miley is often criticized by the press unfairly. "She loves what I do and I really love what she does, so for us to come together, it's bold and courageous," he said. "People just expect so much from her because they've been watching her her whole life, from being a kid. She's just ready to be a grown up and express herself, and I support it."
  • Asked how this duet came about, Snoop Dogg recalled to MTV News: "It's basically what we are both going through right now. We're both going through transformation, we both love making music and doing what we do and speaking from our hearts, and it's just a great collaboration."
  • When Cyrus was asked by Rolling Stone if she is a "stoner," the former Hannah Montana star replied, "You can't ask someone that and expect them to say yes. I did a song with Snoop Dogg called 'Ashtrays and Heartbreak,' so people can put it together for themselves."

    "I think alcohol is way more dangerous than marijuana," she added. "People can be mad at me for saying that, but I don't care. I've seen a lot of people spiral down with alcohol, but I've never seen that happen with weed.

    "As long as it isn't illegal, there are far more dangerous things... And it's legal in the state of California, so I'm happy to live in California, a place where you can be whoever you want to be."

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