Take a Walk With Melodownz Down Auckland’s Sad, Dark Streets

“This could have been a song about a girl / Then I got real and started writing about the world,” Melodownz opens up on his latest track, ‘Pandemonium’, featuring Israel Starr.

The video, which has just dropped, shows the inspiration behind the song. As the Auckland rapper was heading home one night along Karangahape Rd, an elderly homeless man at the bus stop asked him for some change. Melodownz—real name Bronson Price—didn’t have any cash, but gave him the cheeseburger he’d just bought. He ate it in one mouth full.

“He told me a whole bunch of stories about his life, and how he once was a family man with a house, wife and kids and how he sailed the world,” Melodownz told VICE.

“This guy had lived one hell of a life. I got really inspired after my encounter with him and started writing the first verse to this song as soon as I got home. It made me think about how we are so quick to judge people these days and really we don’t know shit about someone by looking at their cover or even their synopsis.”

In his trademark smooth flow Melodownz calls attention to what ain’t right with the world. The song outlines another real event on the streets of Auckland city—when he saw police trying to move on a street beggar. Melodownz recognised the beggar from school days.

“I tried to intervene and one of the cops pushed me away and said it’s none of my business. I could see they were purposely getting him worked up until he snapped. They threw him on the concrete and slapped the cuffs on him. I tried to intervene a second time, then one of the cops threatened to arrest me too. I felt helpless and mad that they have the authority to lock someone up for pretty much no reason. This got me fuelled, So I had to write the second verse about this.”

Catch MELODOWNZ live with Jess B at Auckland Art Gallery on Tuesday, December 5, as part of the VICE Open Late series for the Corsini Collection. Note the date has changed due to some stuff beyond our control. But good news—it’s our VICE Christmas party. All the details are right here.

Previously:

Melodownz Is About to Become Every NZ’s Rapper’s Favourite Rapper

Crack a Cold One and Enjoy the Smooth Beats of Melodownz