Rapper with 1.3M streams makes music for everyday fighters in 'Brockton Boxer.' His story

BROCKTON — Most music artists move to the big city to achieve the "American Dream." Meech Bold isn't following that norm and found success staying home.

Bold has been making music with Van Buren Records — a collective of young rappers and designers in Brockton — for almost a decade, signing deals with record companies like Venice Music Group. He began making music alone when he was a teenager, then at 21-years-old became of member of Van Buren Records.

One of his biggest hits " BOLD Willow Tree" has 1.3 million streams on Spotify, but Bold, now 30 years old, tells the The Enterprise he is on a new music journey, where hits don't matter but the words do.

Bold's latest album "You Are Forgiven" came out in 2024 with a new sound and inspiration, his home city here in Brockton. One of Bold's most vulnerable songs is titled "The Brockton Boxer." The song is about everyday people in the city, "who are always fighting" for everything they have, like his parents who moved here from Haiti.

"People are always trying to knock you out. My parents are 'Rocky.' My parents were immigrants and for them to come here, it's a lot. My dad had me and my brother while attending university at UMass, while also going to work. And doing all the legal paperwork to become a citizen," said Bold.

'The Brockton Boxer'

In the song Bold raps the lyrics, "All that I bare is heavy, pardon my hands is heavy, taking a chance is heavy, making some bands is heavy, call to repent is heavy, moment of doubt is heavy."

Bold explains not only do these lyrics resonate with the everyday people in Brockton like his parents, they also resonate with his struggles to "keep fighting."

"I was quiet when I was younger. People always overlooked me. I just wanted to talk to the people and get them to listen," said Bold.

Life in Connecticut

Bold wanted steady income while making music so he took a job with an aerospace company in Connecticut in 2017, where he was training to be an account specialist. The goal of becoming rich —or at least comfortable — was achievable, but famous was not. He was making around $74,000 a year after graduating Elms College in Chicopee with a business and management marketing degree.

Bold describes this time in his life as "isolating." He wasn't moving, but he was writing. It wasn't the right place to be producing music, so in 2021 he quit his job and moved back home to work for his family's business in downtown Brockton, Beautess Beauty Supply. That's when he got the opportunity to go out to LA.

Music life in LA

Van Buren Records sent him out there to create music with the best, like AzizTheShake , who has produced music for well-known rapper J-Cole . He got there and they created the album " Black Wall Street," where he created his first big hits like, "CASH RULES" and "CULT." There he quickly learned the music industry is "cut throat." On top of that he didn't make much off the "hits." He was not attached to the music he was making either and wanted to go deeper in his writing.

"LA just wants to have fun. I made an album in LA and it was just loud," said Bold.

Going back home

At first, Bold was mad. He was not rich or famous. Something he always thought he wanted. But just like the lyrics in Brockton Boxer — "I'm veering the snakes. I'm causing the things in my life. Can't complain, it starts with the heart. Comes with some weight" — Bold's frustrations led to change and a new outlook, "make music for the people."

He got involved in the community, going to city meetings, talking to people on the street and even playing basketball with local city leaders. This made him realize just how much Brockton has changed since he was a kid.

"I could barely spot a homeless person back then. We have a huge loitering problem because people have no where to stay. And schools are struggling too," Bold said.

But he also noticed how much people wanted to help the city. At the end of the song, he claims it's not all pain. There is hope in fighting.

"It's really about uplifting the community and setting up a better life for future generations. Brockton is filled with so many people that can do some serious things," said Bold.

Staying home

Bold says as he continues to make music. He is not opposed to going back to LA, but the spirit of his music is in Brockton. For now he is going to stay in Brockton and keep making music for fighters.

How to find Meech Bold's music

You can listen to Meech Bold's newest album "You are Forgiven" on Spotify, Sound Cloud, Apple Music, iTunes and YouTube . Bold also makes posts on Instagram when he releases new music.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton rapper Meech Bold makes music for everyday fighters