The funeral for rapper Riky Rick is scheduled to begin this morning in Johannesburg. Although his family has arranged a modest send-off, the service will be aired live. Additionally, the family has scheduled a memorial for Friday, 4 March 2022, which is expected to be attended by intimate friends, relatives, and members of the press.
Riky Rick’s memorial service will also be aired live. Riky Rick was reported to have committed suicide on Wednesday. Several hours following the rapper’s death, friends flocked to social media to discuss suicide, mental health, and their own difficulties with both.
This spurred a broader discussion on the mental health issue facing men in particular. Additionally, there have been several dialogues in which people have given their thoughts on the best way to honor Riky’s family and to lift them up in love as they navigate their grief. Tabloid newspaper On Sunday, the Sunday World released Riky Rick’s final words to his family as their headline story, revealing the private letters he left for his wife and two children.
Riky Rick is who he is.
Riky Rick was a rapper, songwriter, singer, composer, entrepreneur, and fashion designer who was born Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado on 20 July 1987. He was renowned as a family man who encouraged and developed youthful musical talent, which his family believes will be his legacy. On Wednesday afternoon, the Makhado family reported his passing with “deep regret.”
“Rick Makhado, 34, went away in the early hours of [23 February] in Johannesburg. He was a son, husband, father, brother, and uncle. Around the world, he was affectionately known as Rik Rick and was adored by his family, friends, and the whole entertainment business,” read a portion of a statement released by Melanie Ramjee of Tutone Communications.
“Riky’s dedication to nurturing and developing young musical talent is widely established and will live on in perpetuity.” He founded and owned the record label Cotton Club Records, as well as the annual Cotton Fest, which will take place next month over two days. Though he was already well-established in the hip hop music world at the time, Riky Rick’s meteoric journey to popularity began with the release of his 2014 single, Nafukwa.
He then published a full-length album, Family Values (2015), which was certified platinum by the South African Recording Industry. Along with MkayFrash, OkMalumKoolKat, Stilo Magolide, Dokta Spizee, Bhubesii, uSanele, and Scoop Makhathini, he was a part of the Boyz N Bucks collective. Numerous them went on to establish successful solo careers in the fashion and entertainment industries.
He was nominated for the South African Hip Hop Awards 2021’s artist of the decade category and won best collaboration at the same night. He made a formal announcement last week on a partnership with African Bank. “I invite you to step through those doors with me,” he wrote in a post. I invite you to consider yourself as more than a bystander, but as a vessel endowed with boundless potential. I ask you to join me on a quest to transform our dreams into reality.”
The 34-year-old rapper is survived by his wife and manager Bianca Naidoo, their children Jordan and Maik Daniel Makhado, as well as his mother and five siblings.