Priddy Ugly
{{Short description|South African rapper (born 1992)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
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| birth_name = Ricardo Moloi
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|04|2}}
| birth_place = Luanda, Angola
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| genre = Hip-hop music, trap music
| occupation = Rapper, Record producer
| instrument = Vocals
| discography =
| years_active = 2010–present
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| partner = Bontle Modiselle
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Ricardo Moloi (born April 2, 1992) better known as Priddy Ugly is a South African rapper and record producer.
Early life
Ricardo Moloi, was born on born on April 2, 1992 in Luanda, Angola and raised in Meadowlands and Kempton Park, South Africa. His mother, Santa Maria Dumingez, is from Angola while his father, Lebone Moloi, is South African.
Priddy Ugly was actively involved in extra-curricular activities in school and was exceptional. In high school, he was part of the athletics team and because of his talent, he joined Moroka Swallows Academy.
It was during his time at the academy that he joined and competed as a part of South Africa’s National Athletics youth team.
At 15, Priddy Ugly entered the St. Peter’s National Dance Tournament and won the Best Male Dancer award.[https://www.sahiphopawards.com/winners8.html# Priddy Ugly nominated for lyricist of the year in SA hip hop awards] 17 December 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2023
Career
The rapper notes that his father introduced him to hip-hop through Tupac’s music and the bug bit.
His dad introduced him to it during a grade 4 school project on the “Black Panther” Black Power African American Civil Rights Movement. Tupac’s parents were part of the movement.
At 15, Priddy Ugly joined Hip Hop dance crew Freeze Flame and they won Strictly Hip Hop and various other competitions.
In 2007, Priddy Ugly joined the Krunk Era, a boy group which was later renamed Blaque. The group was signed to the H.U.G.E Entertainment.
In 2010, after signing to Aviator Management as a solo artist, he released some of his first songs through the agency.
In April 2017, Ugly signed a recording deal with Abitiouz Entertainment.{{cite news|location=South Africa|url-access=subscription|language=en-ZA|access-date=2024-11-07|publisher=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/channel/priddy-ugly-joins-ambitiouz-entertainment-20170407|title=Priddy Ugly joins Ambitiouz Entertainment|date=2017-04-08}}
Following his exit with former label,{{cite web|title=PRIDDY UGLY NOW HAS BIGGER AMBITIONS|url=https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/entertainment/priddy-ugly-now-has-bigger-ambitions-20180712|first=Kimberley |last=Netshivhale|date=2018-07-12|work=Daily SUN|access-date=2024-11-07}} his studio album G.O.A.T (Glory on Any Territory), was released on November 8, 2019.
His fourth studio album SOIL, was released on July 28, 2021.{{cite web|title=Priddy Ugly’s Sophomore Album SOIL Is Finally Here |url=https://theplugmag.com/priddy-uglys-sophomore-album-soil-is-finally-here/|work=The Plug Mag|access-date=2024-11-07|first=Sekese|last=Rasephei|date=2021-07-28}}
His sixth and last studio album Dust (stylized DUST), was released in January 2024.{{cite news|location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/music/leaving-it-all-in-dust-priddy-ugly-talks-last-album-15-year-music-legacy-and-live-show-spectacle-20240419|title=Leaving it all in DUST: Priddy Ugly talks last album, 15-year music legacy and live show spectacle|access-date=2024-11-04|first=Constance |last=Gaanakgomo|publisher=News24}}{{cite web|title=Priddy Ugly Announces His Farewell Album “DUST” – A Legendary Farewell to a Legendary Career|url=https://hypemagazine.co.za/2023/10/26/priddy-ugly-announces-his-farewell-album-dust-a-legendary-farewell-to-a-legendary-career/|work=Hype Magazine|access-date=2024-11-04}}{{cite news|location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|url-access=subscription|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/music/soil-mud-dust-priddy-ugly-reflects-on-his-raw-journey-from-trauma-to-triumph-in-album-trilogy-20240423|title=SOIL, MUD, DUST: Priddy Ugly reflects on his raw journey from trauma to triumph in album trilogy|access-date=2024-11-04|date=2024-04-23|first=Constance|last=Gaanakgomo}}{{cite web|title=Priddy Ugly says ‘Dust’ is his final album|access-date=2024-11-04|first=Silindokuhle |last=Booi|url=https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/priddy-ugly-says-dust-is-his-final-album/}} The album surpassed 4 million streams on Spotify within 3 months, became his first album to do so.{{cite web|title=Priddy Ugly ‘Dust’ reaches 4 million Spotify streams|date=2024-05-28|url=https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/entertainment/priddy-ugly-dust-reaches-4-million-spotify-streams-5a52f43c-3937-45e7-9404-50895a3051a3|work=Independent Online|access-date=2024-11-04}}
Dustwon Best hip-hop album at the 30th ceremony of South African Music Awards.{{cite news|location=South Africa|url-access=subscription|language=en-ZA|first=Phumi|last=Ramalepe|publisher=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/a-stamp-of-approval-priddy-ugly-talks-first-sama-authenticity-and-his-wifes-unwavering-support-20241105|title='A stamp of approval': Priddy Ugly talks first SAMA, authenticity and his wife's unwavering support|access-date=2024-11-07|date=2024-11-05}}{{cite web|access-date=2024-11-07|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/amp/tshisa-live/tshisa-live/2024-11-04-from-retirement-to-rejuvenation-priddy-uglys-sama30-win-sparks-return-to-the-music-scene/|date=2024-11-04|first=Joy|last=Mphande|title=From retirement to rejuvenation: Priddy Ugly’s Sama30 win sparks return to the music scene|work=Times LIVE}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
- You Don't Know Me Yet (2016)
- E.G.Y.P.T (2017)
- G.O.A.T (Glory on Any Territory) (2019)
- Soil (2021)
- MUD (2022)
- Dust (2024)
Singles
=As lead artist=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:100%;"|ZA |
| scope="row" | "Hunnids"
|rowspan=2|2015 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "My Swing"
| — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Uh Huh" (Priddy Ugly featuring Nadia Nakai)
|2019 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Lockdown Extended"
|2020 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "A Reminder to You"
|rowspan=3|2021 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Rainbow"
| — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Never Pen Era"
| — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Ntja'ka (Priddy Ugly, Maglera Doe Boy featuring MashBeatz)
|rowspan=2|2023 | — | | Dust |
| scope="row" | "Give Me Life" (Kashcpt, Priddy Ugly, MashBeatz featuring Frank Casino)
| — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Power" (youngseruno, Solo Sae, Priddy Ugly, featuring Saudi)
|rowspan=2|2024 | — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| scope="row" | "Gimmicks" (Gr8ful, Priddy Ugly, KindlyNxsh)
| — | | {{Non-album single}} |
| colspan="8" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Achievements
=South African Music Awards=
{{Awards table}}
!{{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|2024
|div style="text-align: center";>|Dust
|Best Hip Hop Album
|{{won}}
|div style="text-align: center";>|{{cite web|title=Priddy Ugly, Tyla, AKA, Kabza De Small, Mthunzi + More Win At The SAMA30 Awards|url=https://slikouronlife.co.za/blog/27544/priddy-ugly-tyla-aka-kabza-de-small-mthunzi-more-win-at-the-sama30-awards|first=Atlehang|last=Moloi|access-date=2024-11-04|date=2024-11-03|work=Slikouronlife}}
{{end}}
= South African Hip Hop Awards =
{{Awards table}}
! {{abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
|rowspan=3|2022
|div style="text-align: center";>|"30 Minutes To Soweto"
|Best Video
|{{nom}}
|div style="text-align: center";> rowspan=3|{{cite web|title=South African Hip Hop Awards 2022: All the winners|url=https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/south-african-hip-hop-awards-2022-all-winners|work=Music in Africa|access-date=2024-11-04|first=Ano|last=Shumba|date=2022-12-08}}
|-
|div style="text-align: center";>|MUD
|Mixtape of the Year
|{{nom}}
|-
|div style="text-align: center";>|Himself
|Lyricist of the Year
|{{won}}
{{end}}
Personal Life
Priddy Ugly is married to a dancer and presenter Bontle Modiselle, whom he met in 2009.
They got married in 2019 in an intimate traditional wedding and they have a two-year-old daughter together, Afrika Bonita Lerato Moloi.