Riky Rick | |
|---|---|
.png) Makhado in 2021 | |
| Born | Rikhado Makhado (1987-07-20)20 July 1987 KwaMashu,KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Died | 23 February 2022(2022-02-23) (aged 34) Johannesburg,Gauteng, South Africa |
| Other names |
|
| Education | Hilton College |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
|
Musical artist | |
| Website | rikyrickworld |
Rikhado Makhado (20 July 1987 – 23 February 2022), known professionally asRiky Rick, was a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur. He was also the founder and owner of record labelCotton Club Records[1] and a member ofBoyz N Bucks and he's well known for his hit songBoss Zonke from his albumFamily Values.[2]
He came into the limelight between 2009 and 2010, when he dropped mixtapes such asThe Comeback Kid andLast Summer withDa L.E.S.
Rikhado Chifaro Makhado was born on 20 July 1987. He was raised inKwaMashu township nearDurban,Natal.[3][4][5] His childhood friends described him as a creative individual who was entrepreneurial, kind and artistically gifted, even at a young age.[citation needed]
Makhado's music career actually began at a recording studio session with Bongani Fassie, son of the "African queen of Afropop"Brenda Fassie.[6] It was by Fassie's side that Makhado was inspired to make his own music.[7] That is when he released his first single "Barbershop" featuringDa L.E.S.[8]
His singleFok Julle Naaiers (Nafukwa) which was released in 2014, won an MTV Africa Music Award for Video of the Year.
On 3 April 2015, his debut studio albumFamily Values was released and received positive reviews from music critics.[9] It featured guest appearances fromCassper Nyovest,Okmalumkoolkat, Zano and Black Motion. The album was certified platinum by theRecording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) with sales of over 50 000 units.[10] Its success saw him nominated for eight South African Hip-Hop Awards (SAHHAs) that year, more than any other artist.[citation needed]Family Values remains his only studio album to date. It was released and made available for purchase oniTunes by Makhado Makhado Agency on 3 April 2015.[citation needed]
On 24 April 2014, his single "Sondela", featuring Zano, was released, which was dedicated to his beloved wife Bianca.[11] On 28 October 2014, the smash hit Boss Zonke was released, which peaked at number 3 on the SA Hip Hop Top Ten List.[12]
One of the most popular tracks on the tracklist "Amantombazane" led to the "Amantombazane Remix" which featured fellow South African recording artistsOkMalumKoolKat,Maggz,Kwesta,Ginger Breadman,Kid X,Nadia Nakai andDJ Dimplez.[13] The track was nominated for Remix of the Year at the 2015 South African Music Awards (SAMAs).
In June 2016, his single "Sidlukotini" was released.[14] "Sidlukotini" directly translates to "We are eating cotton" inZulu. This song spoke to Makhado's love for fashion. For Sidlukotini, he won Best Hit Single at the 2016 Metro FM Music Awards, an award ceremony that infamously saw him take to the stage and criticise the awards for being rigged before encouraging upcoming musicians to forget the radio and make their songs "pop on the internet".[citation needed]
He left independent record label Mabala Noise shortly after the awards.[citation needed] He then released theScooby Snacks EP that features only one artist, Frank Casino. It includes the tracks "Oh Lord", "Bandz Over Fans" and "Family" (featuring Frank Casino).[15] He followed up his growing body of work when he released "Buy It Out" on 15 September 2017.[16] Just a year later, he released a new EP,Stay Shining, through a licensing deal between his new label Cotton Club Records and Sony Music Entertainment Africa.[citation needed]
In November 2018, he announced his first concert called "Cotton Fest", which he personally headlined on 2 February 2019.[17] In an interview in 2019, Riky described the festival as being "... for us, by us, for the people, for everybody. It's not about me. It's not a one-man show."[citation needed]
In early 2010, Makhado met his wife Bianca Naidoo in Sandton. She had a daughter, Jordan from a previous relationship.[18] After close to three years of dating, the couple got married in 2013. About a year later, they welcomed their first child together, a son whom they named Maik Daniel.[19]In 2020, in an interview with rapper Yanga Chief on hisLab LiveYouTube series, Makhado opened up about his suicidal past.[20] After battling alcohol and drug addiction in his youth, he practiced sobriety after going through a difficult time.[21]
Makhado died on 23 February 2022 inJohannesburg, aged 34. The cause of death was reported as suicide by hanging after a lengthy battle with depression.[22]
| Title | Album details | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Family Values[23] |
| RISA: Platinum[24] |
| Boss Zonke Forever | TBA | TBA |
| Title | Album details | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Scooby Snacks EP |
| |
| Stay Shining EP |
| |
| Ungazincishi |
|
| Year | Awards | Category | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | KZN Entertainment Awards | Best Male Award | Nominated | |
| 2021 | South African Hip Hop Awards | Best Collaboration | Won | [25] |
| Artist of the Decade | Nominated | |||
| MVP/Hustler of the Year | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
