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

To the outside world,

Welcome to my very first music video created with care, curiosity and abundant support from my family, friends, and community. I hope you enjoy it with me as I tell a story through my beautiful Hmoob language.

I am the first-generation of my family born and raised in America. Three years ago, I began my journey with therapy. This led to learning how to interpret healing and define trauma in a way that felt most unique and true to my communication style and lifestyle. As a native Californian, after earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Massachusetts, I moved to Minnesota, which then led me onto a journey of meeting a lover I so truly admired. As our journey ends, it drove me to finish writing this song to share more about where I am at in my Hmoob American and healing journey today. As a professional of color, I continue to learn different ways to advocate and share my passion for ethnic studies, arts and social emotional learning in our education systems, therefore, I share a part of my skin with you through this music video. This is me, and I am learning.

I fully recognize that Moob Leeg and Hmoob Ntsuab are different and the dialect discrimination within our community continues to exist. I am no expert of Hmoob history, but only of my own experience. This project was created to tell a story of the many different experiences I’ve seen and went through as a Hmoob Dawb girl in America.

The animation in this music video represents children’s books, Kwv Txhiaj books, and cartoons. When I was younger, I was always curious and sometimes even furious about why I never saw Hmong in American books, literature, and classrooms. Books are full of knowledge. I've decided to take us on an adventure through this love letter and storybook. My Hmoob Txhaij outfit (green stripes clothes) represents my family and sense of belonging. Finally, thank you to my sister, Paoyee Xiong, for lending me another Hmoob outfit. That outfit represents imperfection, hope, confusion, and change.

Thank you: SonsofNoTown Entertainment for your tremendous support, mentorship and work on filming this music video. You captured my work with curiosity and knowledge. Your impacts are seen and felt.

Thank you: Linda Lor for your beautiful creation of animating my song. Your artistry is a part of a Hmoob arts movement today that will continue to impact so many youth and young people across the world. Keep creating and believing in yourself. I see you.

Finally, I'm sad that I missed my Uncle's and Auntie's names in my credits, but thank you to my Uncle and Auntie Neeb from Visalia for also donating to my project.

‘Till we meet again,
Take care and be well,
Maiv Muas Xyooj
MiMMX ♡

©MaivMuasXyooj2024

[chewher]

I love the language twist. It begins in "white" and ends with "green." And yet, he isn't coming back. It is sad and tragic. Still it is better to have loved once fully and lost it, than never to have had the chance to love at all. Some seek their whole lives and may never find it.

[brendathoj]

Heard it so many times, but my tears still automatically fall when it gets to the last verse in green 😢

[its_angelayang]

Very impressed with how well written and performed this song is ❤ I feel like this isn't just a song about the differences between being Hmong Ntsuab and Hmoob Dawb, but also about the feeling of never being accepted no matter how much you change yourself to fit someone else's standards. It breaks my heart every time I listen to it 🥲

[PangCBHY]

This song/MV made me shed tears for my mommy. She is Moob Dlawb and was arranged married to my dad, who is Moob Leeg. She told me stories of how his side of the family would make fun of her, and how my Puj didn't like her. Through it all, she remained strong and persistent. She learned how to speak Moob Leeg, and her goodness won the heart of many. This song will forever have a special place in my heart. Thank you!

[kandisong]

When she sings in Moob Leej and puts the clothes on it rips my heart visually and mentally.

[Queenpajnoobhlis]

This song made me appreciate my laws...every time I go visit, they switch their dialect to Hmong Dawb so that I understand and can communicate.

[jamesvang]

I'm green and I married my wife who is white. I'm so lucky. We forget to be thankful for how easy some of us had/have it. Bless those who are going thru this, much like those couples fighting religion.

When she sings green at the end, so gud. 🤙

[laujmimnacha]

When the stars don’t align and it’s one sided, love yourself enough to walk away. There is better out there waiting for you.

[julianxiong]

Big props to the animator! Really creative approach to opening a notebook to a love letter and transitioning into an animation of the letter of falling down, telling the story of a relationship. Plus closing the book where it takes you back to real life. I love that. It really dives in to the perspective of of the experience into reading a children’s book. And Maiv muas love seeing the great works you put into this. This is a step forward towards in how we creatively work to tell stories within the modern Hmong diaspora ❤ congrats on your first music video

[TiraSatori]

I'm of Lao, Thai, & Khmer ancestry, so I don't understand the lyrics to the song. However, her voice made me feel some strong emotions and made me somewhat teary-eyed. 🥰

[HillBulliez]

Powerful voice and strong message, all you old folks stop right now green or white tsis matter na hlub is hlub

[timeboundtouch]

That last scene and verse in Hmong ntsuab gave me some soul-touching goosebumps. Beautifully executed and purveyed.

[priscillaxiong]

At first, I thought the lyrics seemed a bit dumb- loving someone because of a different dialect?
But the more I listened, the deeper meaning really hit me. Her learning Hmong Green represents her adapting to him and his family, showing the extent of her love and dedication to him. Yet, in the song, she reveals that he’s already moved on to someone else, which makes it clear he never truly loved her. He cared more about others’ opinions than standing up for her or protecting her. In the end, even though she was willing to change and adapt for him, it was never enough.

[mckue]

This song made me cry. My father is Hmong Ntsuab. His family treated my mom poorly because she is Hmong Dawb. Because of that, my father's family doesn't recognize us. My aunts & uncle's on my dad's side don't know who i am. Although I am hmong ntsuab, i only know how to speak hmong dawb since we grew up with my mom's side of the family. When my puj (paternal grandmother) got old and went to a nursing home, i would go and visit her. She would refuse to speak to me because she thought I was my mom. It was then i realized how much my father's family hated my mom because of her being hmong dawb and us children had to suffer because of it.

[BuildingDaMan]

This song is so creative and amazing. Love the last part where she speaks green. Now next time when I’m at my wife’s green family’s house and we karaoke I’m gonna sing this song 😆

[MrKHAILEE]

This song will continue to remind the next generation about what love ❤️ is truly is. True love is never easy to even say I love you!

[เหยงม้งyoutube]

ฉันติดตามคุณเพราะเพลงนี้ เพื่อคนที่เรารัก สุดท้ายทำได้ มันทำให้ฉันได้เรียนรู้ว่า "การเปลี่ยนแปลงตัวเอง มันต้องมีแรงพลักดัน และเป้าหมายที่ชัดเจนมากๆ อย่าคาดหวังกับใคร เพราะถ้าคาดหวังแล้วผิดหวัง

[chewy]

Love this song so much. Dating a hmoob green is not for the weak.

[Richardcha]

Such a powerful song that brings light to the struggles the Hmong community experience. Thank you for bringing awareness. Growing up and even now, Hmong dawb makes fun of Hmong Nstuab dialect, I’m not sure if it’s true the other way around as I am Hmong dawb. I assume so. You win the best Hmong song of the year and best music video of the year.

[stephanieherr]

This song hits every single time. It's such a beautiful song. I am hmoob nstuag and my husband is hmoob dawb. I grew up with mostly friends that speak hmong dawb so I am able to understand both dialects and am so grateful for this. Although our families have always shown us love, you can definitely see and feel the differences. Thank you for writing this. <3 <3