The Kildare rapper’s uplifting new tune and video is a leap into 3D and VFX with collaborator Cian Bolger.
Following on from recent highlighted singles ‘fido’, Turnstile-sampling ‘lemon haze’ and ‘motives’ which kicked off my interest, the Celbridge artist is at the vanguard of the younger movement of Irish alt cloud-rappers loosely orbiting around the Catacombs nights, which recently hosted a set at Electric Picnic.
Like the visual-led ‘fido‘ release, the gospel boom-bap tune ‘all year’ comes with a video by spearheaded by Cian Bolger, this time with Ricky in 3D vision on not quite Dublin streets and beyond looking like an early GTA game, or early ’90s Irish TV graphics at least.
Shout out to his granny – and is that Kojaque offering words of wisdom at the end of the tune? I don’t know but the tune slaps.
Who made the video?
The video was directed by Cian Bolger and Cswan. Finnbarr Richman handled the 3D and VFX and the sound design. Jerimation did the 2.5D and post-processing, and Cian Bolger edited it and added further VFX. Bolger also co-directed the one-take video for ‘fido’ earlier this year with Jack McBride, and the one for ‘polo’.
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Who is deathtoricky?
deathtoricky is a rapper from Celbridge, Co. Kildare. He draws on SoundCloud rap and artists like Lil Peep and Juice WRLD, uses loose, melodic Auto-Tune, and is increasingly rapping in his own Irish accent.. His releases include the Ballad of Ricky EP (2024), the album Spring Cleaning (2025), and the relaxation zen room EP, which includes ‘motives’.
He was also one of our 25 best acts to see at Electric Picnic this year.
Victory Lap live
On October 10th he took part in Victory Lap Live, alongside Niko B, Babyface, Survival, Kare and Mac Wetha, and the full stream is up on YouTube.
Ricky also did his first interview with Kids Take Over this week:
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
