Riky Rick

Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado born (20 July 1987 – 23 February 2022), known professionally as Riky Rick, was a South African rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur. He was also the founder and owner of record label Cotton Club Records[1] and a member of Boyz N Bucks and he's well known for his hit song Boss Zonke from his album Family Values.[2]

Riky Rick
Born
Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado

(1987-07-20)20 July 1987
KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Died23 February 2022(2022-02-23) (aged 34)
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Other names
  • King Kotini
  • Boss Zonke
Alma materHilton College
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
  • television personality
  • media personality
Spouse
Bianca Naidoo
​
(m. 2013⁠–⁠2022)​
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
Labels
  • Cotton Club Records
  • Makhado Makhado Agency
  • Sony Music
Websiterikyrickworld.com

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.

Life and career

1987–2014: Early life and early career

Rikhado Chifaro 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

His single Fok 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 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 2014, his single Sondela, featuring Zano was released, which was dedicated to his beloved wife Bianca.[10] On 28 October 2014, the smash hit Boss Zonke was released, which peaked at number 3 on the SA Hip Hop Top Ten List.[11]

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 Breadman, Kid X, Nadia Nakai and DJ Dimplez.[12] 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. 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."

Personal life

In early 2010, Makhado met his 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. In 2020, in an interview with rapper Yanga Chief 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

Makhado died on 23 February 2022 in Johannesburg, aged 34. The cause of death was reported as suicide by hanging after a lengthy battle with depression.[19]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected information
Title Album details Certification
Family Values[20] RISA: Platinum[21]

EPs
List of extended plays, with selected information
Title Album details Certification
Scooby Snacks EP
  • Released: 25 May 2017
  • Label: Cotton Club Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Stay Shining EP
  • Released: 3 November 2017
  • Label: Cotton Club Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Ungazincishi
  • Released: 2020
  • Label: Cotton Club Records
  • Formats: digital download

Mixtapes
  • Comeback Kid (2011)

Awards and nominations
Year Awards Category Results Ref.
2020 KZN Entertainment Awards Best Male Award Nominated
2021 South African Hip Hop Awards Best Collaboration Won [22]
Artist of the Decade Nominated
MVP/Hustler of the Year Won

References
  1. "Riky Rick Launches Cotton Club Record". SA Hip Hop Mag. 26 February 2018.
  2. "BOYZ N BUCKS ARE BACK WITH A NEW SONG". Daily Sun.
  3. "ALUMNI OF THE WEEK # 131 Riky Rick | AFDA Film School". www.afda.co.za. Archived from the original on 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  4. "Riky Rick, one of the most esteemed South African hip hop artists is born | South African History Online". www.sahistory.org.za.
  5. "Listen: Rapper Riky Rick's rise to stardom". ECR.
  6. "Introducing Ricky Rick". DRUM. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  7. "Barbershop". channel O. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. "Riky Rick Drops Family Values Debut Album – Online Youth Magazine | Zkhiphani". Zkhiphani. 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  9. "Riky Rick's Family Values goes platinum!". Times LIVE. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  10. "Sondela". Blacknation. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. "Boss Zonke goes viral!". Zkhiphani. 28 October 2014.
  12. "Amantombozane". Okayafrica. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  13. "Riky Rick – Sidlukotini Music Video". 360musicnghq.co. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  14. "Riky Rick Releases Three New Songs Called Scooby Snacks". Hiphopza.com. 25 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  15. "Riky Rick – Buy It Out". 360musicnghq.co. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
  16. "Riky Rick Presents Cotton Fest 2019". Joburg. 11 September 2019.
  17. Kumona, Molife (25 February 2022). "From the archives: Riky Rick's family values". News24. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  18. "Riky Rick gets personal". channel24. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  19. "Riky Rick: South African rap star who died aged 34". BBC News. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  20. "ALBUM OF THE WEEK: Riky Rick – Family Values | YoMzansi™ BLOG |". YoMzansi™ BLOG | HIGHEST GRADE SOURCE of SA Entertainment News. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  21. "South Africa certifications". Recording Industry of South Africa. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  22. Shumba, Ano (3 November 2021). "SA Hip Hop Awards 2021: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
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