Riky Rick

Rikhado Chifaro Makhado (20 July 1987 – 23 February 2022), known professionally as Riky Rick, was a celebrated South African rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur. Raised in KwaMashu township near Durban, Riky Rick rose to prominence between 2009 and 2010 with mixtapes like The Comeback Kid and Last Summer featuring Da L.E.S. Inspired by a studio session with Bongani Fassie, the son of legendary Brenda Fassie, he began releasing his own music, debuting with the single Barbershop. His breakout hit Fok Julle Naaiers (also known as Nafukwa) earned him an MTV Africa Music Award for Video of the Year in 2014. The following year, he released his platinum-certified debut album, Family Values, which included hits like Boss Zonke, Sondela, and Amantombazane” and featured artists such as Cassper Nyovest, Okmalumkoolkat, and Zano. In 2016, he dropped Sidlukotini, a fashion-inspired anthem that won Best Hit Single at the Metro FM Music Awards, where he famously criticized the industry’s gatekeeping. After leaving Mabala Noise, he continued to make waves with his EPs Scooby Snacks and Stay Shining, the latter released through a partnership between his label Cotton Club Records and Sony Music Africa. Riky Rick was also the founder of Cotton Fest, a youth-driven music festival that debuted in February 2019, and he was a member of the influential Boyz N Bucks collective. Known for his bold fashion sense, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to uplifting South African youth culture, Riky Rick left an indelible mark on the music and fashion scenes before his untimely passing in 2022.