JO GILBERT

FOR SALE: Pawnbroker Shane Lilley has listed items pawned by Scribe on Trade Me after the rapper failed to buy them back.

Kiwi rapper Scribe’s music awards are on the online auction block as a Christchurch pawnbroker says he is trying to recoup a $5500 debt from the chart-topper.

Parklands Pawnbroker owner Shane Lilley said Scribe gave 11 of his music awards as security when his firm lent the rapper the money in October 2008.

The awards included the 31-year-old’s gong for best male artist at the 2008 Pacific Music Awards and those presented when his 2003 album, The Crusader, went platinum, then double platinum, triple platinum and four-times platinum.

Scribe had not yet repaid any of the loan, Lilley said, and he had been unable to contact the Christchurch artist for more than two months.

Lilley yesterday listed four of the awards on Trade Me, each with a starting price of $500. The rest were expected to be listed over the next week.

“I’ve had them for 2 1/2 years. Legally, we have to keep them for only three months, but I’ve kept them for him. We were in constant contact with him for the first two years and he always made promises and excuses, but now we’re just trying to get our money back,” he said.

The listed awards feature a framed tiki or paua swirl, a photo of Scribe, silver CDs and a plaque.

Lilley said he had tried to contact the rapper to let him know he was selling the awards, emailing his manager, but had received no reply. Scribe’s manager did not return calls, texts or emails about the sale yesterday. Scribe was in Australia, where he cancelled a concert because of food poisoning.

Lilley said his store had pawned things for several musicians.

“But none as high-profile as Scribe, or with things worth as much as this.”

Last night the auctions had attracted thousands of views and substantial attention on the Trade Me message boards.

One, the auction for the platinum sales award, had garnered three bids, with a $510 offer leading.

The auctions close on January 28.

-The Press and Fairfax

Sponsored links

Newest First

Oldest First