“Alright, there’s a story behind this,” laughs the rapper, Hustlang crew member, and King of Rap contestant, Ngô Cao Hoàng Việt, better known as VSoul, as he adjusts his Santa Claus beard.

“The reality is, I was born on December 24, 1996, which led my parents to affectionately nickname me Noël, the French term for Christmas.” This makes the rapper from Binh Thanh an ideal Father Christmas. He is also a remarkable Christmas miracle, having grown up in a challenging neighborhood with limited financial resources. He needed to convince his parents that the uncertain journey to rap stardom was a goal he could reach—and they supported him wholeheartedly.

VSoul is here to present a special holiday edition of our guest music mix series, which has recently spotlighted some of Vietnam’s most exciting musical talents, including DJs like ling:chi and artists like Minh and Tao. These are VSoul’s top ten tracks to play during Christmas dinner—sip on mulled wine, feast on turkey, and let the future of Vietnamese rap fill the background.

Hustlang has been making waves recently, thanks to their new label, 70000. They’ve secured a spot at the Suboi-headlined HỘI ĐỒNG HỘI music festival at Hoa Lư Stadium, taken over 1900 Le Theater in Hanoi, hosted an electrifying multi-artist rap show at Shield Club, and rocked Sneakerfest’s Trap Room party, among other events.

While VSoul frequently takes the spotlight, occasionally teaming up with Tuimi, another rapper who is more reserved but serves as a key inspiration, Robe brought the Hustlang crew together about a year ago. “Since then, we’ve been rapping about life, our vision, our message, fashion, and the future we’re working towards…” VSoul grins.

The group’s success can be attributed to their diverse styles: VSoul’s soulful vocals, Robe’s raw rap bars, and contributions from the rest of the crew, including rising designer and fashion icon, Kiddie13. “I chose the name VSoul – V for Viet, my name, and Soul because I love soulful music. I believe music is in my soul. Each of us has our own strengths: I’m the soul man, Robe is the messenger, Chiulinh is the emotional one, and Thành Draw is the poet,” says VSoul.

These days, you’ll often find VSoul with the Hustlang crew, whether or not there’s a show. “It’s a family thing,” he says. He’s known Robe for six years, long before the crew was formed, bonding over their shared love of music’s ability to break down barriers. “I remember listening to Eminem’s ‘When I’m Gone’ when I was around 11 or 12. I didn’t understand all the lyrics, but it really moved me, and I became obsessed with listening to him and other rappers…”

Now, VSoul is maturing as an artist, effortlessly transitioning between singing, rapping, and double-time rhyming within a single song. “I’d call it melodic rap,” he reflects. “There was an era in the U.S. with groups like Bone Thugs-N-Harmony that blended flows, lyrics, and melody in an exceptional way.” VSoul has that same gift of harmony in his voice. “I think it’s a gift. When I started singing, it felt like my voice naturally had autotune.” You can hear this on “Ai Đang Cô Đơn,” a track that gets crowds from Hoan Kiem to Hoa Lư singing along. And the truth is, he’s just scratching the surface of his artistic potential. “I want to do everything—sing, rap, write, and even direct stage performances.”

What was the first rap you wrote, and the first performance you delivered?

The first rap I wrote was called “Đi Flow” (since it kind of rhymed with VSoul). Just two days after writing it, I was on stage rapping it in front of a live audience. I was nervous, forgetting the lines with everyone watching, but at least it was a free show. Two years later, the crew and I are now getting paid and performing professionally.

Besides the Hustlang crew, you’ve duetted with Tuimi. Who would you love to duet with next, if you could choose anyone?

A$AP Rocky. He effortlessly combines fashion, art, beats, and bars with authenticity, blending high-end fashion and street culture. He’s my biggest inspiration. If this collaboration ever happened, I wouldn’t even be able to express how proud I’d feel.

What do you sing in the shower?

I sing my song “Ai Đang Cô Đơn.”

Which song of someone else’s do you wish you wrote?

미란이’s “Achoo” (Feat. pH-1, HAON). I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not just the three rappers on the track—it’s that irresistible beat. When I heard it, I instantly wanted to freestyle over it. I think it would sound great with a Vietnamese twist too.

Which festival in the world would you like to play at? And which other artists would you want to watch there?

The major ones—Rolling Loud, which I believe is the biggest hip hop festival globally, Coachella, and Voodoo. I’ve already been a part of the HỘI ĐỒNG HỘI music festival and The Thailand Hip Hop Festival, and I really felt the vibe. I’d love the chance to see Travis Scott and The Weeknd perform at any of these festivals.

What song would you want played at your wedding? And at your funeral?

For my wedding, Frank Sinatra’s “I Love You Baby”—I’d be the one singing it to my wife. Or maybe The Platters’ “Only You,” which perfectly expresses the commitment of a wedding. For my funeral, “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, simply the most heartwarming song that could even lift the spirits of those attending.

What’s the best Christmas song of all time?

“We Wish You A Merry Christmas.” No, I’m not picking Mariah Carey or anything like that. My dad had a record called Christmas Carol when I was a kid, and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” was on it. It was the song I sang along to the most, and I still do.

Tell us about the ten tracks you’ve chosen for our special Christmas edition guest music mix…

The first track is “Cô Đơn Phương Nào” by me, VSoul. During the festive season, there’s often this expectation of warmth and togetherness, but it can also bring a deep sense of melancholy and loneliness. This song reflects that feeling of being alone. (Editor’s note: we used “Ai Đang Cô Đơn?” in the Spotify mix due to availability.)

That feeling is reflected in my song. Next, I’ve chosen “16 BrT RPT MCK” by Thờ er (feat. MCK). It’s about a woman’s indifference towards a man, and the emotion is as cold as winter. MCK will be joining the Hustlang crew soon.

Following that, I’ve picked “Call Out My Name” by The Weeknd. This song connects to the previous one, as the man, after experiencing indifference, now wants to win her love and boldly declare his passion in the street.

To warm things up, I’ve selected “I Love You Baby” by Frank Sinatra, which I’d choose for my wedding. We’ve moved from coldness to togetherness, and now the couple is snuggled up on a cold winter night, sharing sweet words by a Christmas tree with carefully wrapped gifts beneath it. Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” would be another great choice.

Then the wine starts to flow, or maybe the mulled wine, and the dancing kicks off in front of the fireplace to “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helm—a true Christmas classic.

Next up is A$AP Rocky with “LSD (Love.Sex.Dreams),” bringing some warmer, psychedelic vibes to the Christmas mix. As the energy stays high, we move into Travis Scott’s “Highest In The Room.” To keep the love and good vibes flowing, I’ve included two tracks from Pharrell Williams: “Happy” and “Get Lucky.” To wrap it all up, Justin Bieber’s “I Will Show You” ties everything together. Merry Christmas and enjoy!

Photos by Nghia Ngo, with special thanks to music label 70000, the Hustlang crew, and Ngoc Suong Saigon for hosting us at their beautiful HQ for this shoot, and to Van Anh Nguyen for the Vietnamese translation.