The collaboration between Double2T and producer Masew has given Vietnamese rap a new chart-topping hit. Nearly two weeks after its release, the lyrics video for À lôi has racked up 10 million views on YouTube. On streaming platforms, À lôi has also pulled in millions of streams.
Double2T is one of the standout contestants on Rap Việt season 3. His fresh style is the main reason behind the success of À lôi. Plus, the boost from the Rap Việt show and Masew’s production magic helped the track spread naturally without much promotion.
A Unique Track
“À lôi” is an exclamation used by the Tay ethnic group to express surprise or shock. Right from the title, À lôi sparks curiosity among listeners.
Double2T incorporates distinctive words and cultural elements from Vietnam’s Northwest and Northeast regions into his rap. Since his first performance in Rap Việt’s Conquest round, he caught attention by using phrases like “Pay ỉn í noọng ơi,” “Hạn Khuống,” and “Xao ưởi” in his lyrics. This style of rap is almost unheard of in the market, offering something fresh and truly exciting to listeners.
À lôi opens with a catchy hook. The first verse flows with a slow rhythm. Then, from the second hook (which repeats), Masew intensifies the drums to shift the track’s mood. The structure of À lôi is simple and predictable, but that’s exactly the formula that works best in today’s market. In fact, Masew has produced many tracks following a similar pattern.
Over the past two years, Vietnamese rap has seen the rise of Rn’B/Rap, Trap, Melodic rap, Drill, and more.
À lôi stands out as a very “Vietnamese” rap song, going beyond typical rap norms. Masew uses a traditional flute called sáo mèo as the lead melody. Instead of aggressive beats common in many rap tracks, Masew balances the drum volume and thickness to complement the flute and Double2T’s vocals.
À lôi has all the ingredients to attract a broad audience. This release reflects a trend in Vietnamese rap where artists carefully craft their music to connect with more listeners. For hardcore rap fans, À lôi might not be perfect. For example, Double2T uses two lyric phrases, “Dính cả thính lẫn mồi” and “Cũng tính cả rồi,” which are signature lines of rapper Phúc Du, sparking mixed reactions online.
Every contestant on Rap Việt dreams of scoring a hit after the show and breaking into the music scene. While Rap Việt season 3 is still ongoing, Double2T has already achieved that. The rapper from Tuyên Quang has a brighter future than any other contestant from this season.
Double2T and Masew are on track to become the new power duo of Vietnamese rap. Masew is known for working well with artists who use traditional cultural elements in their music. He’s one of the few producers with the musical vision to elevate Double2T’s unique strengths.
Masew’s Unique Edge
Masew is a special case among Vietnamese music producers. While he may not yet be on the same level as some veteran producers in terms of talent and creativity, his ability to read and respond to audience tastes is outstanding.
This skill made Masew the first Vietnamese producer to surpass one billion views on YouTube. He’s behind hits like Túy Âm, Ex’s Hate Me, Kém Duyên, Truyền Thái Y, and Thị Mầu. What these songs share is Masew’s loyalty to future bass combined with touches of traditional folk sounds. His musical innovation is subtle, focusing on highlighting strengths that appeal to the majority of Vietnamese listeners.
The success of Masew and Double2T’s collaboration on À lôi could open a new path for rappers willing to boldly use Vietnam’s rich musical heritage in their work, instead of chasing Western rap trends.
For the Vietnamese music market overall, À lôi confirms that traditional musical elements have a solid place. Since early 2023, several songs blending traditional and modern sounds have caught attention, like Thị Mầu, Vũ trụ có anh, and most recently À lôi. In 2022, hits like See Tình, Bo Xì Bo, and Gieo Quẻ by Hoàng Thùy Linh also made waves.
Producers like Masew and DTAP are leading the way in incorporating traditional Vietnamese instruments into mainstream music. The success of artists like Hoàng Thùy Linh, Hòa Minzy, and Double2T following this path reflects the audience’s pride in their cultural roots.
Since the start of this year, many singers have embraced this trend, which is a positive step in elevating Vietnamese music.
