The long awaited return of street poet and rapper MELODOWNZ is here. After the previous tour's postponements MELODOWNZ will bring his powerful live performance to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch this April to showcase his critically acclaimed 2022 album LONE WOLF. MELODOWNZ is proof that thought-provoking, lyrical hip-hop is alive and here to stay. Since emerging in the early 2010s, the Maori/Samoan artist has become heavily decorated in his native New Zealand; but with tracks alongside Denzel Curry and co-signs from Brockhampton, Melodownz stands firmly on the frontlines of Kiwi creativity that's gaining unprecedented global recognition. Raised in the cultural melting pot of Avondale in West Auckland, Melodownz' hip-hop journey began at the age of 10, when some older cousins played Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Eventually, he began recording his own music in a makeshift studio set up in the dining room, composed of equipment stolen from a nearby Internet cafe. "I would record raps over famous beats and post them on Bebo," Melodownz says. "It was a buzz, and I’ve been going hard ever since." After losing childhood friends to suicide and violence, he put even more energy into creating hip-hop. "At first, I was absolute trash but I kept at it," he says. "Music was my therapy to combat all the hectic shit that I was going through as a teen." With a career that's decorated with accolades well before the release of his debut album, Melodownz is ready to take Avondale to the world - and he's bringing his whole community with him.