Still feelin’ the old-school, street love from Method Man and Mary J. Blige on “I’ll Be There For You (remix).” Dig the lyrics, too:

Shorty, I’m there for you anytime you need me
For real girl, it’s me in your world, believe me
Nuttin’ make a man feel better than a woman
Queen with a crown that be down for whatever
There are few things that’s forever, my lady
We can make war or make babies
Back when I was nothin’
You made a brother feel like he was somethin’
That’s why I’m with you to this day boo no frontin’
Even when the skies were gray
You would rub me on my back and say “Baby it’ll be okay”
Now that’s real to a brother like me baby
Never ever give my pussy away and keep it tight aight
And I’ma walk these dogs so we can live
In a fat-ass crib with thousands of kids
Word life, you don’t need a ring to be my wife
Just be there for me and I’ma make sure we
Be livin’ in the fuckin’ lap of luxury
I’m realizin’ that you didn’t have to fuck with me
But you did, now I’m going all out kid
And I got mad love to give, you my Nigga.

I got a love jonz for your body and your skin tone
Five minutes alone I’m already on the bone
Plus I love the fact you got a mind of your own
No need to shop around you got the good shit at home
Even if I’m locked up North you in the world
Wrapped in three-fourths of cloth never showin’ your stuff off, boo
It’ll be true me for you that how it is
I be your Noah, you be my Wiz
I’m your Mister, you my Mrs. with hugs and kisses
Valentine cards and birthday wishes? Please
Be on another level of planning, of understanding
The bond between man and woman, and child
The highest elevation, cuz we above
All that romance crap, just show your love.

New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones introduces Boredoms, a noise/punk-rock group straight from Japan. Their music is anything but boring.

Julia Thuy gives Tu Cong Phung’s “Nhu Chiec Que Diem” a shade of blues. Nice work, girl!

Damn! Ngoc Khue plagiarized Nguyen Thi Minh Thuong’s “Cha Va Mua Thu” almost word for word, and yet she is unapologetic about it. Very disappointing!

Ngoc Lan sang Trinh Cong Son. Love her rendition of “Biet Dau Nguon Coi.” She rode the up-tempo beat quite well.

Started off as a temporary marriage until she becomes a legit citizen, but they developed into a real relationship. That worked out well, except he’s 29 and she’s 43. Still, there’s no crime in that. Like I said, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number,” but his families disapprove, and they think she cast voodoo on him (still a common practice in Cambodia?). Because of family pressures, he moved out to be with her. As a closed friend, I support his decision. Adviced him to do whatever he feels right and what makes him happy. I am sure the family will come around. These days, people fall in love with their heads first, not too many follow their hearts; therefore, he has my admiration for going with his feelings. Even if the relationship won’t work out later on, at least he will walk away without any regret because he has loved with all of his heart. So keep your head up and do your thang, boy. I am with you. Got nothing but love for ya.

My boy and I go way back to junior high years. Then I got to know his two younger brothers (also in their twenties) as well as the rest of his family. They sort of “adopted” me ever since they moved in a block from my sister’s house. I guess it is because of my dark skin advantage, which I have always been mistaken for a Cambodian, and I spend way too much time at their crib. Even now whenever I come to visit my sister, they always throw a BBQ or something. Can’t get enough of that banging Cambodian steak sauce (po hok) his mom made. One time, his pops, him, his youngest brother (who I hang out with most of the time nowaday), and I went to a buffet. Pops brought along his wife’s savory po hok and we clean the steaks up in the place. Damn those were the days. I still come over the house whenever I go back to Lancaster, but it is just not same without him around. These folks are real special to me, and I am thankful for the love they are giving me—my extended family.

Told you baby, “Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number.” (Miss you too, Aaliyah!)

And yes, “Boi Co Em, Toi O Lai Day” (Music & lyrics: Nguyen Minh, Singer: Quynh Lan)

An informal interview (part 1, 2 & 3) with Don Ho conducted by Hoang Trong Thuy. Still the down-to-earth guy. Good luck with the new album and the new production.

My favorite tune and video “Trai Tim Mua Dong.” It brings back the good old days.

I wish “Em La Cua Anh” forever, baby! (The arrangement is pretty bad, but I like Thi Hanh’s soft and shy vocals. Poem by Thi Hanh and music by Mai Duc Vinh.)

“Uoc Gi,” you’re here by my side! (From My Tam’s liveshow, Ngay Ay & Bay Gio.)

Phong Le’s “Lay Tien Cho Gai” is not bad for a homegrown production. The lyric is entertaining, and the beat is kind of tight too. He’s definitely better than that little Justin in Tinh Music. So Tinh should give him a shot.

Big up to Joseph for the link. Keep sending me the goodies y’all.

Whenever you feel hopeless, just put on Trinh Cong Son’s “Toi Oi Dung Tuyet Vong.” It will uplift your spirit. With Duy Cuong’s soothing orchestration, Nguyen Khang gives a soulful presentation.

(English translation by Van Mai)

Don’t despair, dear I, don’t despair
Autumn leaves fall amidst winter time
Don’t despair, beloved, don’t despair
You are I and I am you

The kite soars, but the soul stays empty
The kite dives, sinking the void into grief
Who am I who still conceal my tears?
Who am I who still am too human?
Who am I, am I, am I…
Who so love life

Don’t despair, dear I, don’t despair
Gold sunshine fades like pieces of my soul
Don’t despair, beloved, don’t despair
Be ingenious and you’ll be the sunrise
Here, an endless road under a solitary sunset
Here, a soul in which sorrow rises.

Billie Holiday sings “Fine and Mellow” with a list of finest jazz players, including Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, backing her up.

My man Count Basie swings with his band in “One O’Clock Jump.”

Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo.” His intro is crazy. Gotta love Duke’s mood.

My main men Miles Davis and John Coltrane in “So What.” After blowing his solo, Miles eases back and blows his smoke.

Check out one of jazz’s greatest drummers Jo Jones doing his thang!

(Don’t you just love YouTube?)

The Game is stepping up his flow in the lastest single, “One Blood,” from his forthcoming The Doctor’s Advocate. With the heavy, pounding beat produced by Reefa and himself, Game spits hard as hell, and even throwing punch at Jay-Z: “You 38 and you still rappin’?” Damn! Everybody want a piece of Jigga.