Producer Wokeup commented that 2pillz is currently a versatile young talent, capable of composing, producing music, and DJing. Rapper tlinh said she always places her trust in 2pillz when working with him.

His album, Pillzcasso, received a 7.1 rating from the music site in August, on par with Jennie (Blackpink)'s Ruby. The album was among a selection of Asian artists' work chosen for review. 2pillz is the second Vietnamese artist to receive attention from the site after Hoang Thuy Linh with her 2022 album, Hoi, which received a 7.0 rating.

Pitchfork, founded in 1995 in the US, began as a small website reviewing indie albums. In 2015, Conde Nast, the company that owns The New Yorker, Vogue, and GQ, acquired the site, increasing its reach and credibility. In recent years, it has expanded to review pop, hip hop, R&B, and electronic music, attracting the attention of international artists, record labels, and producers.

Experts evaluate albums based on production quality, originality, consistency, and contribution to the overall music scene. On a scale of 10, albums are generally rated as very good, worth listening to (7.0-8.0), and very rare (8.0+).

In the Pillzcasso review, writer Joshua Minsoo Kim describes 2pillz's album as a collection of dance-pop tracks featuring various Vietnamese artists. "The album has a relaxed and restrained feel, a strong musical statement for Vpop this year," Kim commented.

The song Den luc nay thi, performed by tlinh, is featured on 2pillz's album.

2pillz released the 14-track project in July, featuring Van Mai Huong, Phuong Dung, Mono, tlinh, GreyD, GDucky, Orange, and Vu Phung Tien. After its release, the album reached the top of the most-listened-to albums chart on iTunes Vietnam and iTunes Germany, and reached the top 3 on iTunes Canada.

Joshua Minsoo Kim expressed interest in how 2pillz blends genres like pop, house, afrobeat, and bossa nova. He also incorporates bolero into the album through instruments like the dan da, T'rung, and flute. "No other Vpop album currently demonstrates such a clear and confident generational shift as Pillzcasso," the review states.

According to 2pillz, living abroad exposed him to US and European hip-hop culture and the workings of the world's largest music industry. This experience allows him to apply a modern mindset to his work in Vietnam, avoiding rigid or conventional approaches.

2pillz prioritizes developing his artistic personality without overshadowing the style of the artists he collaborates with.

2pillz named the album after painter Pablo Picasso, a symbol of rebellious and limitless art. He considers the project a significant milestone in his five-year career.

"I'm not only demonstrating my ability and creativity, but also want listeners to see my ambition to define a new musical identity. I want to use music to paint a personal landscape that is chaotic yet profound," he said.

He often describes his work with the phrase "hoa nhac," aiming to evoke a sense of excitement and healing in listeners.

2pillz (third from left) is from Hanoi. He became known in the underground community for his hip-hop remixes. In Rap Viet season 3, he served as the music producer for coach Thai VG's team, creating hits like Noi ta song (Mikelodic, Long Non La), Yeu hay khong yeu (Toi, Hydra), and Vanh khuyen nho (Liu Grace). After the show, he earned the title "billion-view producer" due to the impressive total views on TikTok for his music.

He aspires to further honor Vietnamese culture in his work. "The more I explore, the more I realize our homeland has so much musical heritage to be admired. How can a stone or a piece of bamboo create such clear, refreshing sounds? I am always proud of Vietnamese creativity," 2pillz said.

He studied computer science in the US but dropped out. At the end of 2019, 2pillz returned to Vietnam to pursue music. In 2023, he moved south, joined a company, and began working professionally.

2pillz debuted with an eight-track remix project called The SUNset. He also collaborated on projects like LAVIAI remix (Wxrdie - Hieu Thu Hai), Em iu (Andree), and tinh wa akk (GreyD). His major breakthrough came with his collaboration with rapper tlinh (right) on ai, a standout album of 2023, with the most successful track being Neu luc do. British music magazine NME ranked the album among the top 25 best Asian albums of the year.

He is pictured with his familiar instrument used for composing and making music.

2pillz combines various elements in his music. He enjoys afrobeat and its variations, often blending genres and creating names for them like boleafro (bolero + afro) and ballafro (ballad + afro).

2pillz's parents initially discouraged him from pursuing music. However, he has now gained their trust through his achievements.

Fans admire 2pillz's handsome appearance and youthful fashion sense. He has caught the attention of many fashion brands. In early August, 2pillz attended an event in Ho Chi Minh City with Thai actress Mai Davika, known for her beauty.

He is private about his relationships, preferring to be recognized for his music rather than his personal life. In his free time, 2pillz enjoys yoga and meditation.

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Provided by the subject