Bronson Price,[1] known professionally as Melodownz, is a New Zealand rapper, poet and singer from Avondale, Auckland. Debuting in 2013, Melodownz has released solo projects including Beginners Luck (2014), Avontales (2017) and Melo & Blues (2018), as well as collaborative extended plays with Angelo King, IllBaz and Raiza Biza.

Bronson Price
BornAvondale, Auckland, New Zealand
GenresHip hop
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • poet
  • singer
Years active2013–present
LabelsLiiightside

Biography

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Melodownz was raised in Avondale by his Samoan Catholic grandmother, English grandfather and his mother.[2][3] He has Samoan, Pākehā and Ngāpuhi heritage.[4] Melodownz debuted as a musician in 2013,[5] composing reggae/hip-hop songs inspired by his upbringing.[4] He released his debut album Beginners Luck in 2014,[6] and followed this with an extended play as half of the Young Gifted and Broke hip-hop duo Third3ye alongside Angelo King, 3P (2016).[6]

In 2017, Melodownz released the hip hop EP Avontales,[7] and in 2018 released two projects: a collaboration EP High Beams with IllBaz and Raiza Biza, featuring musicians including Teeks and Che Fu,[8] and the double-EP Melo & Blues.[9] Melodownz won the award for Most Promising Artist at the 2019 Pacific Music Awards.[4]

In 2020, Melodownz began Kava Corner, a YouTube interview series where Melodownz interviews New Zealand media personalities and celebrities such as broadcaster John Campbell, boxer Joseph Parker and musician Benee while sharing kava.[10][11] He was nominated for the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.[12]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ
[13]
Beginners Luck
  • Released: 22 November 2014[14]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Lone Wolf
  • Released: 13 October 2022
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
21
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ
Artist

[15]
3P
(among Third3ye)
  • Released: 27 July 2016[16]
  • Label: Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
10
Avontales
  • Released: 7 July 2017[17]
  • Label: Liiightside
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
High Beams
(IllBaz + Melodownz + Raiza Biza)
13
Melo & Blues
  • Released: 23 November 2018[19]
  • Label: Liiightside
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
17
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot

[20]
NZ
Hot
Artist

[21]
"8Ight 2Wenty 8Ight"[22] 2016 Avontales
"The Anthem (Intro)"[1]
(featuring Bailey Wiley)
2017
"One More"[6]
(featuring Israel Starr)
"$on of a Queen"[4]
"Live Stream"[8]
(IllBaz + Melodownz + Raiza Biza featuring Teeks)
2018 16 High Beams
"Outchea"[23]
(IllBaz + Melodownz + Raiza Biza featuring Dirty)
20
"Red Wine"[24]
(IllBaz + Melodownz + Raiza Biza featuring High Høøps)
11
"Peace $igns, Gang $igns"[25] 15 Melo & Blues
"$moke"[26]
(featuring Villette)
8
"No Mercy"[27]
(featuring Denzel Curry)
2019 19 6 Non-album singles
"Fine"[28] 2020 16 1
"Big Deals"[29]
(featuring Diggy Dupé)
35 8
"Money"[5] 2021 11 1 Lone Wolf
"Pray for More"[30]
(featuring Lisi & Mikey Dam)
2022 21 1
"Slow Jamz"[31] 11
"Loot"[32]
(featuring Maxo Kream)
9
"Bad"[32] 14
"Lingo"
(featuring Bleu and Ant Clemons)
30 8
"MeloDub (828)" 2024
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot

[20]
NZ
Hot
Artist

[21]
"Indigenius"[33]
(Jono Das and Angelo King featuring Melowdownz)
2014 The Lion & the Lotus
"Bad Luck & Handcuffs"[33]
(Jono Das featuring Melodownz & Badcrop)
2015 Non-album single
"Pull Up"[34]
(K+Lab featuring Melodownz & Mustafa Akbar)
2016 The Worldly's
"Lips"[35]
(Noah Slee featuring Melodownz)
Otherland
"Under the Sun"[36]
(Latinaotearoa featuring Melodownz)
2018 17 Influencis Et Collabis
"Good Juju"[37]
(K+Lab featuring Melodownz)
The Booty Galactic
"Let's Kick It"[38]
(Poetik featuring Melodownz)
15 Hamofied
"Take Me to Your Leader"[39]
(Yoko-Zuna featuring Melodownz)
Voyager
"Out Here Alive"[40]
(Kings featuring Melodownz)
37 5 Two
"Sugar"[41]
(Bailey Wiley featuring Melodownz)
6 Bailey Wiley EP
"Spend It"[42]
(TY featuring Melodownz)
38 4 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Promotional singles

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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot

[20]
NZ
Hot
Artist

[21]
"Let Me Loose"[43]
(Rizván and Melodownz)
2013 Non-album singles
"Cool Like Dat"[44]
(Rizván, Melodownz and Diggy Dupé)
2016
"Hot $auce"[45] 2017 14
"Infinite"[9]
(featuring Coops)
2018 12 Melo & Blues
"To Live and Die in AD"[46]
(Choicevaughan featuring Melodownz)
2019 30 4 Deuce
"Pai / Fine"[47] 2021 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Guest appearances

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Title Year Other artists Album
"Run" 2014 Rizván, Tom Scott, Yané Tō E La'ā (Sunset)
"Light Side" Jay Knight, Raiza Biza 1/8/94
"Stick Up Kid II" Jay Knight, Bailey Wiley
"Stick Up Kid III" Jay Knight, Bailey Wiley
"Splended Tears" 2015 Yoko-Zuna This Place Here
"Idfwu" 2017 Yayne Simple Pleasure
"Attenchun" Rizván, Freddie Bish Neverland
"One More" 2018 Israel Starr, NRG Siring Israel Starr presents The Producers Chair, Vol. 2 (Neo90sfunkadelicsouldub)
"Ride Out" JessB Bloom
"Off the Top" SWIDT, Diggy Dupé, JessB, Rizván Stoneyhunga: The Bootleg EP
"How Much Fruit?" 2019 Troy Kingi Holy Colony Burning Acres
"Heart on Fire" Louis Baker Open
"Trust (Remix)" Diggy Dupé, Rizván, Poetik, Redd x Rozay, Church & AP
"Vailima Bottle." 2021 Poetik, Lucky Lance Poetik Justice.
"Ain't the Same" Diggy Dupé, Choicevaughan, P. Smith, Summer Vaha'akolo The Panthers
"Kong" Diggy Dupé, Choicevaughan, P. Smith

References

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  1. ^ a b Bulletproof, Jay (3 May 2017). "The Profile, Ep 1: MeloDownz - The Anthem (Intro)". George FM. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ Wicks, Sam (13 July 2017). "MeloDownz Is About To Become Every NZ Rapper's Favourite Rapper". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. ^ McInnes, Laura (3 April 2020). "MELODOWNZ Guide to Liiightside (INTERVIEW)". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Melodownz [Ngāpuhi, Samoa, Pākehā]". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Herbert, Conor (15 March 2021). "Why We Like It: Melodownz's "Money"". CentralSauce. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Kelly, Roisin (3 May 2017). "Is this the NZ hip-hop album of the year right here?". George FM. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  7. ^ Kunin, Abraham (2017). "Melodownz: Avontales". NZ Musician. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ^ a b "IllBaz + MELODOWNZ + Raiza Biza Drop Single 'Live Stream' Ft. TEEKS". Under the Radar. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  9. ^ a b McInnes, Laura (14 December 2018). "Avondale meets North London in Melodownz 'Infinite' music video featuring Coops". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  10. ^ Brooks, Sam (23 April 2021). "Bottoms up! The best moments from Melodownz's Kava Corner". The Spinoff. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  11. ^ Southon, Delilah Pārore (5 October 2021). "CARETAKER — The quiet power of rapper, poet and YouTube talkshow host MELODOWNZ". Metro. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  12. ^ "BENEE and the Beths win big at the Aotearoa Music Awards". Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  13. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Beginners Luck LP". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  15. ^ Peak positions for Melodownz's albums on the NZ artists top 20 albums chart:
  16. ^ "3P". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Avontales". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  18. ^ "High Beams". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Melo & Blues". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Peak positions for Melodownz's singles on the NZ hot singles chart:
  21. ^ a b c Peak positions for Melodownz's singles on the NZ artist hot singles chart:
  22. ^ McInnes, Laura (31 March 2018). "Melodownz marks spider-town territory on 8ight 2wenty 8ight". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  23. ^ "IllBaz, Melodownz & Raiza Biza release second single from High Beams - 'Outchea' ft. Dirty". muzic.net.nz. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  24. ^ "IllBaz, Melodownz and Raiza Biza share video for 'Red Wine' ft. High Hoops". muzic.net.nz. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  25. ^ McInnes, Laura (18 October 2018). "Peace Sign$, Gang Sign$: The Gemini duality complex of MELODOWNZ". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Melodownz shares second single from 'Melo & Blues' - '$moke' ft. Villette". muzic.net.nz. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  27. ^ C.C. (6 December 2019). "Melodownz Drops Single 'No Mercy' Feat. Denzel Curry". Under the Radar. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Melodownz - Fine". Flava. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  29. ^ McInnes, Laura (10 December 2020). "MELODOWNZ shares hood anthem 'Big Deals' featuring Diggy Dupés". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  30. ^ Johnson, Jacob (9 April 2022). "Kiwi MC Melodownz releasing gospel rap". 1 News. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  31. ^ McInnes, Laura (26 May 2022). "MELODOWNZ teases debut album with moody new single, 'Slow Jamz'". Sniffers. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  32. ^ a b McInnes, Laura (25 August 2022). "MELODOWNZ teases debut album with the release of latest single, 'BAD'". Sniffers. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Jono Das Releases 'Bad Luck & Handcuffs' Featuring Melowdownz & Bad Crop". New Zealand Music Commission. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  34. ^ "K+LAB 'Pull Up' ft. MELODOWNZ & MUSTAFA AKBAR". Base FM. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  35. ^ Odutola, Tayo (28 June 2017). "Noah Slee & Melodownz seal the deal with "Lips"". Earmilk. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Latinaotearoa share new single 'Under The Sun' feat. Melodownz". Libel Music. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Good Juju feat. Melodownz". Stereofox. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  38. ^ "LET's KICK IT - Poetik ft Melodownz". thecoconet.tv. 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Yoko-Zuna + MeloDownz Share Sizzling Single 'Take Me To Your Leader'". Under the Radar. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  40. ^ Moses, Hussein (15 May 2018). "Kings Won't Stop Until He's the Best Artist Alive". Vice. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  41. ^ "BAILEY WILEY 'Sugar' (feat. MELODOWNZ)". Base FM. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  42. ^ "TY - Spend It (feat. MELODOWNZ)". Empire Records. 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Let Me Loose - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  44. ^ "Cool Like Dat - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  45. ^ "HOT $AUCE - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  46. ^ Adams, Josie (29 November 2019). "Tom Scott just leaked his own album on WeTransfer". The Spinoff. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  47. ^ Woolston, Dan (23 April 2021). "Waiata Anthems return for 2021, Melodownz shares te reo rendition of 'Pai/Fine'". Sniffers. Retrieved 19 March 2022.