Riky Rick

Riky Rick
Makhado in 2021
Born	Rikhado Muziwendlovu 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	King Kotini Boss Zonke
Alma mater	Hilton College
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter entrepreneur music producer record executive fashion designer
Spouse(s)	Bianca Naidoo ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2
Musical career
Genres	Hip hop kwaito trap
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Makhado Makhado Agency
Musical artist
Website	rikyrickworld.com

Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado (20 July 1987 – 23 February 2022), known professionally as Riky Rick, was an iconic South African rapper, producer, singer, songwriter, and fashion designer. He was also the founder and owner of record label Cotton Club Records^[1] Riky Rick was also a member of Boyz N Bucks.^[2]

Riky Rick was one of SA’s most respected producers and musicians. He came into the limelight between 2009 and 2010, when he dropped mixtapes such as The Comeback Kid and Last Summer with Da L.E.S. He then took a bit of a break and went on to release "Nafukwa" in 2014. He received positive reviews across South Africa, from industry pundits to fans alike. Hailed for the graphics and flow in the single, it also marked the beginning of a long time collaboration with fellow South African artist Cassper Nyovest. The song’s music video, released in 2014, won an MTV Africa Music Award for Video of the Year.

Life and career

1987–2014: Early life and early career

Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado was born on 20 July 1987. He was raised in KwaMashu township near Durban, 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.

Makhado's music career actually began at a recording studio session with Bongani Fassie. It was by Fassie's side that Makhado was inspired to make his own music.^[6] That is when he released his first single "Barbershop" featuring Da L.E.S.^[7]

2015–2022: Family Values, Scooby Snacks EP

On 3 April 2015, his debut studio album Family Values was released and received positive reviews from music critics.^[8] It featured guest appearances from Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, Zano and Black Motion.The album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) with sales of over 50 000 units.^[9] Its success saw him nominated for eight South African Hip-Hop Awards (SAHHAs) that year, more than any other artist. Family Values remains his only studio album to date. It was released and made available for purchase on iTunes by Makhado Makhado Agency on 3 April 2015. On 24 April 2016, his single "Sondela", featuring Zano was released, which was dedicated to his beloved wife Bianca.^[10] On 28 October 2016, the smash hit "Boss Zonke" was released, which peaked at number 3 on the SA Hip Hop Top Ten List.^[11] The music video, released in February 2015, was shot in two different cities, Durban and Johannesburg. The video also featured several musicians including Durban-based duo Dreamteam, Stilo Magolide and kwaito star L’vovo. Boss Zonke cemented Makhado's status as a hip hop legend in the Southern African music landscape. Soon after, he released another classic in South African hip hop " Fuseg," which featured Cassper Nyovest and Anatii.

One of the most popular tracks on the tracklist "Amantombazane" led to the "Amantombazane (Remix)" which featured fellow South African recording artists OkMalumkoolKat, Maggz, Kwesta, Ginger Bread Man, Kid X, Nadia Nakai and DJ Dimplez.^[12] The Amantombazane remix is one of the best remixes ever released in South African hip-hop. 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.^[13] “Sidlukotini” directly translates to “We are eating Cotton” in Zulu. 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”.

He left independent record label Mabala Noise shortly after the awards. Although many thought his career was doomed after this move, Makhado kept the wheels rolling. He then released the Scooby Snacks EP that features only one artist, Frank Casino. It includes the tracks "Oh Lord", "Bandz Over Fans" and "Family" (featuring Frank Casino).^[14] He followed up his growing body of work when he released "Buy It Out" on 15 September 2017.^[15] 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. In November 2018, he announced his first concert called "Cotton Fest", which he personally headlined on 2 February 2019.^[16] 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." Over the coming years, he would maintain relevance through the odd single release and a host of impressive guest verses, most notably on AKA’s F.R.E.E, Mr JazziQ and Busta 929’s Vsop, Costa Titch’s Nkalakhatha, Big Zulu’s Mail Eningi, Frank Casino’s Whole Thing and in early February 2022, Venom and Shishiliza’s chart-topping single Sondela.

Riky Rick in 2021

Personal life

In early 2010, Makhado met his beloved wife Bianca Naidoo in Sandton. She had a daughter, Jordan from a previous relationship.^[17] 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.

Riky Rick and his family in 2018

Through all this, depression was always lingering. He shared his struggles in his music and in various interviews. In 2020, in an interview with rapper Yanga on his Lab Live YouTube series, Makhado opened up about his suicidal past. After battling alcohol and drug addiction in his youth, he practiced sobriety after going through a difficult time.^[18]

Death and Legacy

Makhado tragically passed away on 23 February 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The cause of death was reported as suicide after he experienced a lengthy battle with depression.

His passing sent shock waves throughout South Africa and globally. The outpouring of grief from celebrities and fans illustrated what a strong impact he had on South African culture. He will be remembered as a businessman, cultural icon, and creative artist who inspired many through his fashion, positive energy, and willingness to support young and upcoming artists. ^[19]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Mixtapes

• Comeback Kid (2011)
• Fear The Hunter(With Trinity) (2018)

Awards and nominations

References