Michelle Maykin who struggled with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a cancer of the blood, and inspired so many people through her web site died yesterday. She was 27. Rest in peace, Michelle.

“Tinh Viet Kieu” alone is worth the price of the album, which amounts to a cup of Ramen.

Moving from Chinese-translated ballads to Vietnamese sentimental ballads, the dull duo collaborated on an album that primarily designed to let people take an afternoon nap.

George Washington University professor Mark Lynch has an insightful piece comparing Jay-Z’s power in the rap world to the U.S.’s power in the world:

As Jay-Z got older and more powerful, the marginal benefits of such battles declined and the costs increased even as the number of would-be rivals escalated. Just as the U.S. attracts resentment and rhetorical anti-Americanism simply by virtue of being on top, so did Jay-Z attract a disproportionate number of attackers. “I got beefs with like a hundred children” he bragged/complained on one track.

NPR picked up the story as well. “Rapper Feud Mirrors World Politics” is worth a listen.

Ha Thanh Xuan has a dark, smoky voice, but her delivery is not dramatic enough for sentimental ballads. She should consider switching to romantic ballads.

Ly Hai is one of those old heads who refuses to leave the young-pop game. His new release is another instant mediocrity.

The album has more variety than a bag of Skittles and the mechanical productions brought down his slightly hoarse voice.

Lam Vu’s new, trendy album, Hay Tin Vao Tinh Yeu Cua Anh, is a like a brand name handbag you could pick up at Canal Street. The cover adorns a counterfeit LV brand and the music—from the beats to the lyrics to the vocals—feels cheap.

Pham Duy would get a heart attack if he listens to this record.

Both of Le Tan Quoc’s instrumental albums are perfect for Vietnamese café shops with comfortable couches and without sexy servers.