Ricky Rick

Riky Rick died 23 February 2022. Image via Facebook Riky Rick Makhado

Remembering Riky Rick and his battle with depression [watch]

It’s been an entire year since Riky Rick committed suicide. Before his death, the rapper spoke candidly about his struggle with depression.

Ricky Rick

Riky Rick died 23 February 2022. Image via Facebook Riky Rick Makhado

It’s been one year since rapper and hip-hop artist Riky Rick — real name Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado — died.

According to an official statement that was released by his family shortly after his passing, the Boss Zonke rapper committed suicide in the early hours of the morning.

According to Sunday World, a source has divulged that the 34-year-old musician was found hanging by his management team at his Johannesburg home.

ALSO READ: ‘Dear Bianca, this pain is too much’: Inside Riky Rick’s suicide notes

Did Riky Rick suffer from depression?

While reasons for his suicide are still unknown, the rapper previously spoke to TimesLIVE about suffering from chronic depression and anger issues as a result of losing his father when he was only 18 years old.

Speaking to listeners on his podcast series Lab LIVE, the hip-hop star shared how he was thrust into a “dark place” shortly after his father’s passing.

“I lost my father at a time when I needed the help. I lost him at a time when I needed that voice. A lot of people don’t understand that you can never replace the voice of a father.

“It wasn’t like he just died, it was like 18 years, living with your dad for a year, and then going back to your mom. I love being with my mom but living with him for a year … A child is never meant to live without his parents.”

‘I was so angry’

“When he passed away, I was so angry, so upset. I was so upset, like ‘why my life? Why does my life have to turn to s**t when all the kids that I went to school with had both parents coming to see them at football games, coming to watch them at basketball games, bringing them picnic sacks? I didn’t get that and I didn’t get to see you after’. I was so angry, so angry, super angry.”

The hitmaker also said that his anger and depression started spilling over into his music. He also started lashing out at people in the music industry.

“My depression took form in being angry at the guys who were doing it,” he explained, adding how important it is sometimes to get validation and encouragement from others in the game.

Many of his fans have flocked to social media to pay tribute to the star as they remember his contribution to hip-hop.

ALSO READ: ‘This video will be part of the evidence’: Riky Rick’s marriage questioned