FAMILY Values rapper Riky Rick has died aged 34 after revealing he was battling chronic depression following the loss of his dad.
In previous interviews, the South African musician spoke of struggles with alcohol, turning to therapy and feeling a yearning to be accepted.
Today, his family today confirmed the musician had died suddenly.
Riky Rick, whose real name is Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado, said he had turned to therapy over the past couple of years to help process his dad’s death.
In September 2020, he said he found himself on a “destructive path” while suffering from “chronic depression”.
He said: “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.”
Riky said he was facing an emotional rollercoaster trying to juggle feelings of grief, heartbreak and anger.
He said: “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.”
When sharing the clip on Instagram, he told his followers: “After losing a loved one we sometimes go to a dark place.
“I’ve been there and made it back to tell some of the story for anyone who can relate. Not everyone. Anyone.”
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It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
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Earlier, he detailed problems with alcohol and had sought help to process the challenges he was facing.
In an interview in 2015, Riky said he was the type of person with symptoms of personal trouble.
He said: “Even though at school I was always the quiet kid, I always had to be…always had to act out in some sort of way to be recognised…But in reality, I just wanna be quiet.
“I was always trying to be an accepted character.”
He leaves behind his wife Bianca Naidoo, two children, mother, and five siblings.
The 34-year-old’s cause of death has not been revealed.
A statement on behalf of the family read: “Son, husband, father, brother and uncle, Riky ‘Ricky’ Makhado (34) sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning (23rd February) in Johannesburg.
“Affectionately known as Riky Rick across the globe, he was deeply loved by his family, friends and the entire entertainment industry.
“His love for family, friends, and community is well known. Riky’s nurturing and developing of young musical talent is well documented and will forever be remembered.”
His death comes after a mysterious final tweet he shared at 3.20 on Wednesday morning just hours before his death.
