It is hard to believe that it has been a year since the death of South African rapper, singer, songwriter and producer Riky Rick, born Rikhado Makhado, on February 23, 2022.
Soon after the news of his suicide spread across the country, his struggle with mental health came to light, bringing awareness to the effects of illness on people, especially, in the creative arts.
Makhado’s death comes after fellow artist and rapper Motswako Jabulani Tsambo, popularly known as HHP, also committed suicide in October 2018 after years of battling depression.
The commemoration of Riky Rick’s death comes in the wake of the devastating murder of industry mate and award-winning rapper AKA, real name Kiernan Forbes, who was gunned down outside a popular eatery in Durban earlier this month.
Just a day after Ricky’s death, AKA took to social media to share a picture with him Boss Zonke hitmaker, criticizing the question of the reason behind his death.
“I hope that soon we can solve the problem of the brokenness and brokenness of men in this country. There is no one to talk to, just pat them on the back and say, ‘keep going, strong boi’, but the truth is that we are traumatized. Generational trauma is passed on to us. Ladies, we are not perfect in any way… but we cry out for approval, love and affection,” said the rapper.
Forbes previously collaborated with Makhado on the 2019 song FREE together with musician and producer Dj Tira, born Mthokozisi Khathi, who has a heavy Kwaito influence in his sound.
Riky Rick rose to fame after releasing his hit single in 2014 Because, scored him the MTV Africa music award for video of the year at the 2015 ceremony. In the same year, the rapper debuted his studio album, Family valueswhich will continue to cement a career in music.
It features hit songs Amantomabazane, Boss Zonke, Sondela and shining with guest appearances from artists Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Zano and Black Motion.
Family values Makhado received three nominations at the 2016 South African Music Awards for best hip hop album, newcomer of the year and male artist of the year.
Speaking in an interview with Slikour OnLifeRiky shared that his debut album gave him a platform to express some of the lessons and mistakes he made in the early years of his career.
“I tried to put the gems and lessons of life. Then I realized that people have to go through their own journey. In the same way I had to go through my own journey to find out what life and family really are.
“You have to make mistakes to find out. There is no successful musician or entrepreneur who does not experience bad business dealings, but it’s all about focusing on the next and not feeling sorry for yourself,” he said.
Makhado’s rise to stardom did not stop there. 2017 EP release stay bright, named after the project’s lead single and featuring award-winning musician Refiloe Phoolo, stage name Cassper Nyovest, continues to propel Riky’s star power.
The song’s catchy line – “It’s gotta be right, gotta be good, gotta be good, I’m doing this for you, keep on shining, Everybody keep on shining” – have become words remembered by fans.
Rick and Nyovest have collaborated on several of each other’s tracks, including Fuseg, Le Mpitse, Let’s Live and Manto name a few.
At Rick’s memorial service, Nyovest recounted some of his favorite moments with the musician he considered a longtime friend.
“We created a brotherhood. Some of the things I love from Riky are, first of all, to be honest. Riky will tell the truth when others are afraid to tell you,” he said to a crowd of friends and fans of the rapper.
Besides talking about Rick’s character, Nyovest also said that he likes Rick’s voice more than his poetry.
“I’d rather hear Riky sing than him rap. I always ask him to sing. In one of the last videos he posted he sang Near. Many people were surprised to hear Riky sing. And he and I weren’t on the best of terms, even though we were talking, and one of the things I was trying to do was that I couldn’t tell him that I liked the video,” Nyovest said.
In addition to Makhado’s musical gifts, she has always been a fashionista, or as she likes to be a “cotton eater”. Whether the rapper is rocking a red transparent mask at an award ceremony or dripping in a black and gold Gucci poncho, one thing’s for sure, heads will turn.
And this is one of the reasons why the artist founded the Cotton Festival in 2019. The annual event launched in Johannesburg was inspired by the hit song of 2016. He was hungry (so well dressed) was created as a platform for established and up-and-coming musicians to share the same stage.
Speaking to SABC News ahead of the first Cotton Fest, Rick said the event was conceived as a place for self-expression and creativity.
“Like anything I do, I don’t know where it’s going to end up. I really want to take it to my hometown, Durban, take it to Cape Town, and take it to places like Makhado. I want to take it all over the country. But to do that , you have to have a lot of support,” he said.
His dream of bringing the festival to the Capital was realized posthumously in December last year. The event welcomed approximately 5 000 cotton eaters at Paarden Eiland Park with guest performances by A-Reece, Blxckie, Felo Le Tee, Shekhinah and headliner Anatii, among others.
Although February 23 will remain a painful day in South Africa’s hip hop and music scene at large, Riky Rick’s legacy will live on through art.
In his own words: “We will not die. We multiply.”