Cover image via Universal Music Group (Provided to SAYS) & Fly FM (Provided to SAYS)
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Malaysian rapper and producer SonaOne is back and this time, he's going global
His latest single, POLITE, sees him teaming up with Vietnam's pop-rap darling tlinh for a slick, cross-border collab that's already lighting up billboards in Ho Chi Minh City.
Written by SonaOne, tlinh, and SYA, and produced by SonaOne himself, Polite blends two distinct sounds and worlds — Malaysia's sleek hip-hop energy with Vietnam's bold pop-rap pulse
At its heart, the song explores the quiet ache of unspoken feelings, when love remains, but words start to slip away. It's tender, a little restrained, and beautifully honest.
Or in SonaOne's words: "I wanted Polite to feel like a quiet storm — minimal, close, driven by that heartbeat-like 808, holding back everything you want to say."
According to the Malaysian rapper, this track has been sitting with him for a while.
"I actually had the original Polite since 2020 and did the first demo with Sya during the lockdowns. I loved the record but couldn't find the right home for it yet until my A&R team at Def Jam Malaysia suggested tlinh. A few trips to Ho Chi Minh City later, it finally clicked," SonaOne shared.
If you're not already familiar, tlinh is one of Vietnam's biggest new-gen stars
She first rose to fame as the only female Top 8 contestant on Rap Việt's debut season, later becoming Spotify Vietnam's #1 female artiste, and has over 1.7 million monthly listeners.
Her debut album ái landed a spot on NME's Best Asian Albums of 2023, and she was recently crowned Female Artiste/Rapper of the Year at the 2024 Làn Sóng Xanh Awards, solidifying her spot as one of Vietnam's most defining voices.
For her, Polite was a chance to experiment and connect through emotion.
"When I first heard Polite, I thought it had a really cool beat and a catchy hook. I just followed my instincts and created based on what felt right. Working with SonaOne was so easy — he's really supportive and encouraging. I hope listeners feel good when they hear it too," she said.
The POLITE music video was filmed entirely in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring both artistes set against the city's neon glow and soft, romantic corners
It perfectly captures the bittersweet mood of the song: love that's still there, but harder to express.
And after years in the making, the message is simple.
"If the song makes someone feel less alone in that moment, just for those three minutes, then I've done my job," SonaOne added.
