Tshego reveals Riky Rick helped him overcome drug abuse

Updated July 23, 2024, 11:09 a.m. | By Tamlyn Canham

"That was the last day I touched hard drugs" - Tshego says he will never forget the day he got a call from Riky Rick that saved him from a life of substance abuse.

Riky Rick and Tshego — Riky Rick, Tshego / Instagram (@rikyrickworld, @tshego_worldwide)

Local rapper Tshego has revealed that Riky Rick helped him overcome a dark period in his life.

Riky Rik lost his battle with depression in February 2022. Despite dealing with his own internal demons, the 'Boss Zonke' rapper was able to spread a lot of light and love in the lives of his family and friends.

Tshego took to Instagram to reveal that he once received a call from Riky Rick out of the blue that saved him from drug addiction.

"I’ll never forget the day Riky called me, I was probably on drugs 3 days straight, and he had no idea I even did drugs. Well, I personally never told him. I said, 'Hello', he said, 'Just let us know if we should give up on you, boizen'. That was the last day I touched hard drugs. I only told him that story years later," he wrote.

Tshego admitted in late 2020 that he was "fully a drug addict" when he made his smash hit, 'Hennessy'. The song was released in 2016.

"As smart as I was, I made mistakes too. I was fully a drug addict when I made Hennessy. That’s the song that made drugs not make sense anymore," he wrote on Twitter (now called X).

As smart as I was I made mistakes too. I was fully a drug addict when I made Hennessy.

That’s the song that made drugs not make sense anymore. At least I’m good with my demons. We good friends.
— T⚡️H E G O (@OfficialTshego) December 10, 2020

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In his post about Riky Rick, whose real name is Rikhado Makhado, Tshego says that one call reminded him about something important.

"Him saying those simple words reminded me that I started this for ME, and the only person I’d be disappointing is ME. When there are no accolades I don’t cry, I do this for me. When there are no gigs I don’t cry, I do this for me. When there’s no money, I don’t cry," he wrote.

Tshego's post included a video of Riky Rick interviewing fellow rapper Yanga Chief on LAB LIVE. In the clip, Riky said he holds Tshego and Yanga Chief "very dearly".

Riky Rick's widow, Bianca Naidoo, sent him the video. "Aunty B just sent me this clip, and God knows I needed it today," Tshego wrote.

Tshego hopes opening up about his call from Riky will serve as a reminder to others that they are valued.

"I just had to remind myself, and hopefully you, of the truth amongst all the noise and pretentiousness. YOU ARE VALUED. Thank you @thesecretlifeof_b."

Bianca commented on Tshego's post: "You are held very dearly."

ALSO READ: Finding light after loss - Bianca Naidoo talks life after Riky Rick's death