Maiv Muas Xyooj - Nraug Hmoob Ntsuab (Official Lyric Video)

Dear friends and family,

I hope you all grab your favorite people, sit down, and enjoy my official audio, “Nraug Hmoob Ntsuab”.

A LOT of things influenced me to write my song the way it is, and the language as is, such as the Hmoob Dawb and Moob Leeg dialects. I acknowledge that Moob Leeg and Hmoob Ntsuab are both different and are used differently, but in my experience growing up, “it depended on who you asked.” I wrote this song to show what it felt like as a Hmoob Dawb girl who grew up thinking that the world was just Hmoob Dawb and Hmoob Ntsuab because “everybody” said so. While unaware that Moob Leeg is the correct term for the dialect and having a lack of exposure to the many parts of her history, she proceeds to learn and interpret it as Hmoob Ntsuab. She spends her time learning about the culture as is based on the media, politics, and elders who told the folktales. Through this song, I wanted to show that in this Hmoob Dawb girl’s life, she’s confused and heartbroken as to why her lover left her, while also navigating the complexity of her Hmong identity, dialects, and culture in America.

Growing up, when Hmong people said “educate yourself”, it was mostly through passive aggressiveness. Often times this was discouraging. I want to acknowledge that our community had historically depended on oral history to learn about our past. History becomes a mystery for many, and traumatic for others. This song isn’t to perpetuate any harm or discrimination. When I got older and became more exposed to our culture and interacted with more Moob Leeg folks who spoke fluently, I began to use Moob Leeg in my vocabulary. The art is to tell a story from a perspective of a bigger picture.

Thank you to Eddie Thao for helping me out on the guitar solo. You are hands down one of the best guitarists out here. Thank you for your passion, knowledge, and creativity. It was fun and super cool working on this project with you.

Thank you to ZS Recordsss for helping me record my first single song.

Thank you to ZPX, Magiic Hang, and Kyle Moua for your time in giving me your inputs and mentorship on the process of creating throughout this project! Much love.

Thank you to all of my donors and sponsors who helped contribute. All your support, love and generosity have inspired me. Thank you for believing in me and my arts.

1. Family: My Mother, Choua, Maikia, Sheryl, Annie and Robert

2. Community: Pao Houa Her, Jenny Yang, Michelle Xiong and Nancy Yang

3. DXCreative Photography

4. Chao Vang, Mortgage Loan Officer, with Lake Area Mortgage

5. Cornhole Team Qab Zib and Tim Tsawb Xiong with Hmong TC Mortgage

6. Shades of Words Poetry

Finally, thank you to all my friends and family who continue to be supportive and kind. Sorry if I don't name everyone, but I appreciate you all!

*ps. “*Muab cov lus Hmoob Dawb” and “Cas wb daim ntawv tsis sib raug” should be the right spellings. My Hmoob spellings got the best of me with this video, but enjoy. Danggggg!😊

Love,
MiMMX - Mi Maiv Muas Xyooj

©Maiv Muas Xyooj 2024