“I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music
The post “I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag. “I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music South African rap star Rouge has lifted the veil on a deeply personal chapter of her life, revealing how grief and depression forced her to step away from music. “I Went Through a Proper Depression”: … The post “I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
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The post “I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
“I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music South African rap star Rouge has lifted the veil on a deeply personal chapter of her life, revealing how grief and depression forced her to step away from music.
Speaking candidly on the Defining Podcast, the Mbongo-Zaka hitmaker shared the emotional weight behind her prolonged absence from the spotlight.
“I had been away from the game for a bit,” Rouge said. “And it was due to a lot of things, man. Just the amount of people who passed away. I think I went through a proper depression.”
Her words reflect a period marked by painful losses within South Africa’s music community. Among those she mourned were Riky Rick, Tumi Tladi, AKA, and Costa Titch. Rouge made it clear these were not distant figures in her orbit but people she shared meaningful bonds with. “These are all people with whom I had quite grave relationships, with Kiernan being my mentor,” she explained, referring to AKA.
Each loss struck in quick succession, intensifying an already heavy emotional burden. Tumi Tladi passed away in July 2022 at the age of 30. Costa Titch died in March 2023 after collapsing during a performance in Johannesburg, aged 28. Just weeks earlier, AKA, widely known as “Supamega,” was shot and killed in Durban, a tragedy that shook the nation and the industry alike.
Against this backdrop, even the idea of creating and releasing music became overwhelming. “And it was kind of difficult to release,” Rouge admitted. At the same time, the sonic landscape of South African music was shifting, with the rapid rise of Amapiano pushing artists to evolve. “And really, the process of, okay, what do we do now? Because Amapiano was coming. So, trying to figure out, okay, what, how do we reinvent this?”
Every attempt to regain momentum seemed to be interrupted by new challenges. “And then when I was about to, something would happen. And then it kind of just took me like, I need a moment from this thing.”
Her honesty offers a rare look into the emotional realities behind the scenes of a fast-moving industry. For Rouge, stepping back was not about fading away but about survival, healing, and finding clarity amid loss.
Known for her sharp bars, genre-blending sound, and cultural influence, Rouge has built a loyal following over the years. Her recent openness suggests that a new phase may be on the horizon, one shaped by resilience and hard-earned perspective. That next chapter is already taking shape with the release of her forthcoming single, “Siyabangena,” featuring K.Keed.
The post “I Went Through A Proper Depression”: Rouge On How Deaths of AKA, Riky Rick & Others Forced Her From Music appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
