1060 Hip Hop Uncut

 Riky Rick's Legacy: Breaking Mental Health Stigma in South Africa and the Artivism Movement The Heartbreak that Sparked a National Dialogue On February 23, 2022, the South African music landscape was irrevocably changed by the tragic passing of Rikhado "Riky Rick" Makhado. An icon in hip-hop, fashion, and entrepreneurship, Riky Rick was a figure synonymous with vibrancy and the celebration of youth culture. His death, a devastating loss to suicide, was a shockwave that reverberated across the nation, forcing a raw, essential, and long-overdue conversation about mental health awareness in South Africa. In a society where mental illness, particularly among men, is often shrouded in stigma, Riky Rick’s battle with chronic depression—a struggle he had spoken about candidly in the past—served as a stark, painful reminder that emotional pain knows no status, success, or smile. This article explores how the rapper's enduring legacy is being harnessed...

On Tuesday 01 March 2022, friends and family paid tribute to the 'Boss Zonke' hitmaker Ricky Rick at a private  funeral service held in Johannesburg. The Cotton Fest founder and Mzansi's most balling rappers, real name Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado, passed away on Wednesday, 23 February, at age 34. He leaves behind his wife, two children, mother, and five siblings. In heart-wrenching tributes, Makhado's family members paid homage to the South African legend for his big heart and loving and gentle nature & personality.  'THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SOUL' Speaking on behalf of the Makhado family, a representative said: "If they had to sum up Rikhado in one word, it would be love." He added: "Rikhado was full of love and loved everyone." He referred to Makhado as "the most beautiful soul," saying he was "full of compassion for everyone, even people he didn't know."  About his first impressions of the rapper, Makhado...