The Kong and Shu Project: Mus Dawb Mus Huv, review and "Nyob Zoo" translation
Posted on 10 July 2009
I haven’t done an album review in a while and thought I would review on Kong and Shu’s latest album entitled “Mus Dawb Mus Huv” word for word it says “go clean, go well” but in correct terms it means “wishing you well on your way”.
Last night I came home from work and the first thing my brother said to me was “Ze, have you heard Kong and Shu’s latest album?”. Of course my reaction was “UHH NO!” with my ugly face reaction. He handed me the album telling me it was well worth it so I took the album, ripped it on my laptop and started to listen to the album, boy must I say, I feel in love with the album! It was a great album and well written, the lyrics were great, very touching, very meaningful and worth every second of your time listening to the songs.
Song number one entitled “nyob zoo” which means “hello”, to me was the best song in the album. I love everything about this particular song. Goodness, I must had listened to this song over 100 times since I got my hands on this album last night. I instantly put the album on my ipod and loving it STILL.
Back to what I was saying… Kong and Shu are two brothers from North Carolina who had been producing and composing their music for the Hmong community. They instantly had fans all over the United States and had been touring around with Hmong’s very own and super famous classic singer Touly Vangkhu, and Ciaj Sia (not such a fan of his).
I had the opportunity to meet Kong back in December of 2008 at my uncle Duce Khan and Logo’s “Home Coming Party” here in Duluth Georgia, and believe me Kong is a very nice guy; he was able to keep a conversation and did not think he was too cool to talk to anyone, a very friendly guy. It was a pity that Shu was not able to make it thus I was not able to meet him, but I was glad that I had the chance to meet Kong.
Here is my horrible translation of “NYOB ZOO” (HELLO), from their newest album “Mus dawb mus huv”.
Thanks to Sara of HMB for the lyrics! I love you girl! you always got my back when it comes down to hmong lyrics!
Artist: The Kong and Shut Project
Album: Mus Dawb Mus Huv
Release: July 4 2009
Song: Nyob Zoo (hello)
nyob zoo, nyob zoo ib tsoom kwv tij neej tsa
hello, hello to all my fellow friends and family
ib xyoos los txog nej nyob li cas
A full year has came around, how are you?
zoo siab, zoo siab peb tau rov tuaj sib ntsib
We’re happy, happy that we meet again
muaj txoj hmoo los nrog nej tham
We are very fortunate to talk to you
nej puas noj qab, nej puas nyob zoo
Have you eaten well, have you stayed well? (It’s a form of saying, I hope you’ve been healthy and living well)
[chorus]
tso tej dej num tseg los koom txoj kev lom zem
Put a way your work and please come enjoy the fun
los nyob ib pliag ua ke ua ntej nej rov mus tsev
Come and hang out together for a while before you leave home
mus dawb mus huv
Leave in peace and safely (it’s a bit hard to translate this particular saying, he’s practically wishing them well on their way home)
nyob zoo, nyob zoo ib tsoom phoojywg sawvdaws
Hello, hello to all my fellow friends
hnub no yog ib hnub zoo tshaj plaws
Today is a wonderful day
zoo siab, zoo siab tau tuaj pom nej ib pliag
We’re happy, we’re happy to see you guys for a while
tos tsis tau rov txog lwm xyoo
We can’t wait until the next year comes around
nej puas noj qab, nej puas nyob zoo
Have you eaten well, have you stayed well?
[chorus]
tso tej dej num tseg los koom txoj kev lom zem
Put a way your work and please come enjoy the fun
los nyob ib pliag ua ke ua ntej nej rov mus tsev
Come and hang out together for a while before you leave home
mus dawb mus huv (3x)
Leave in peace and safely</span>
[chorus]
tso tej dej num tseg los koom txoj kev lom zem
Put away your work and please come enjoy the fun
los nyob ib pliag ua ke ua ntej nej rov mus tsev
Come and hang out together for awhile before you leave home
mus dawb mus huv (5x)
Leave in peace and safely
12 responses to The Kong and Shu Project: Mus Dawb Mus Huv, review and "Nyob Zoo" translation
You’re awesome with the translations! I can not even write Hmong that well.
thanks for the song post, Ze. i dont know why, but i’m just not a fan of kong and shu.. give me a reason to like their musics..
Got their album when I was in STP, great album. Future stars of our hmong industry.
Thanks for posting the translation of “Nyob Zoo”… now if only I can find an instrumental track of the song.
The K&S Project is awesome!
[...] song is called “Nyob Zoo” (Hello) by The Kong and Shu Project, this song is perfect for this post! For translation click here [...]
I like this song alot it my favorite from their second album too the first song that caught my attention was Ib txoj kev which made me crazy over haha since I listen to it like 24/7
Thank you for posting the lyrics and translation. I am a music teacher in a Hmong school in Minneapolis, MN and my students love this song. We were singing through it and your website (and review) was very helpful. Thank you. Keep up the great posts!
Liz, Thank You very much! I am glad that my blog and review of this song was helpful to you and your students! This is a very beautiful song and hard to get bored of listening to.
Nicki.. ahaha I did the mekas translation but the Hmong lyrics was written by Sara, a friend of mine in HMB. LOL My Hmong reading and writting is horrible! Actually my reading isn’t as bad as my writting. I think they need to have Hmong classes here in GA so we can learn how to read and write in Hmong!!
Tong, I’ve heard few of Kong and Shu’s music here and there, never the full album, this is the first tim I actually had listened to a full album hence this is only their second album. But I must say, from all their other songs i’ve heard, this one is pretty good. I like how they target their music towards being “hmong” which we are losing touch with. They also seem as if they are writting the songs from the heart, not to just make money! I’ve talked to kong before and he seems like he does care for his fans and meeting their demand in music. I like that about him.
They also have the kind personality to go with it also! I hope that they’ll continue to produce great true HMONG music!
jack, no problem, it’s a beautiful song and Kong and Shu really should continue which I hope and know they will! When and if I ever get my hands on the instrumentals I’ll be sure to share.