Is Hieuthuhai being compared to Son Tung, surpassing his senior right on his home turf?

Despite being criticized for being a famous rapper from a game show, Hieuthuhai now dominates Spotify Vietnam, surpassing many big names, from Son Tung to Soobin, proving his outstanding musical appeal in the hearts of audiences.

For two consecutive years, Hieuthuhai continues to assert his leading position on the list of Vietnamese artists with the highest total streams on Spotify. The rapper from the Gerdnang group has surpassed popular phenomena like Dangrangto, Son Tung, and SOOBIN, proving his strong appeal on the online music streaming platform. His song "Exit Sign," a collaboration with Marzuz, maintains a steady stream count and is on track to break the record of "Hai phút hơn" (remix), becoming one of the most successful Vietnamese songs on Spotify.

In 2025, Hieuthuhai only released one new product, Crocodile Tears, but this song quickly reached nearly 15 million streams after only 8 months on Spotify, contributing significantly to helping the male rapper maintain his dominant position on the world's largest specialized music platform.

Hieuthuhai's superior strength compared to Dangrangto, Son Tung, and SOOBIN largely stems from his older releases. His debut album, "Ai cung kất đầu từ đâu đó" (released in 2024), still maintains significant appeal, especially "Exit Sign," which garnered nearly 20 million streams in 2025. Songs like "Không thể say" (Can't Get Drunk) also recorded considerable growth, becoming enduring hits that consistently rank among the top playlists.

Meanwhile, Son Tung has yet to reclaim the top spot on Spotify Vietnam. However, the singer's presence in the top 5 remains a highlight, especially considering he hasn't released any new products this year. His hit song "Don't Break My Heart" from 2024 continues to maintain its strong appeal, nearly reaching 70 million streams. Older songs like "Silently Beside You," "Let Go of Each Other's Hands," "This Place Has You," and "Our Present Selves" have also unexpectedly revived, topping Son Tung's best-selling streaming playlists recently.

Dangrangto, a former contestant from Rap Viet season 4, is another prominent name on Spotify. The rapper surpassed many rivals to rank behind Hieuthuhai thanks to a series of quality personal releases and effective collaborations. Most recently, "Chẳng phải tình đầu sao đau đến thế" (Why Does First Love Hurt So Much?), a collaboration with Min, is topping trending playlists, confirming Dangrangto's influence.

Although YouTube remains the most popular music streaming platform in Vietnam, over the past three years, audiences have gradually shifted to Spotify and Apple Music to experience high-quality music, create personal playlists, and listen to music based on algorithmic recommendations. Vietnamese music now boasts numerous songs surpassing 50 million streams on Spotify, reflecting changing listening habits and encouraging audiences to spend money supporting their favorite artists. For top artists, each stream is not just a number but represents real revenue, helping them maintain and develop their music careers.

Over the past five years, Hieuthuhai has been the fastest-rising rapper, but he has also faced much criticism. As the leader of the Gerdnang team and a familiar face on game shows, he has been criticized by some viewers for focusing too much on television instead of music. During his participation in the 2 Days 1 Night show, Hieuthuhai's popularity on television surpassed his musical achievements, sparking much debate.

However, the album Ai cung bat dau tu dau dau has completely changed the situation. Although it did not create a big buzz when it was first released, the rap songs in the album started to explode in streams and views after a few months.

Ho Chi Minh City "blows the whistle" on a series of young singers using offensive lyrics, promoting deviant lifestyles. An chi14:24:08 27/10/2025Faced with the widespread situation of deviant and offensive songs, the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee issued Document 69-CV/BTGDVTU to rectify musical activities and orient compositions towards cultural standards.