Joshua Ribera


Joshua Ribera , performing as Depzman, was a British rapper, considered by some "a leading artist on the UK grime scene". Joshua featured on some of the largest music channels on YouTube that showcase grime music all across the UK from JDZMedia, P110 and the largest out of them all, SB.TV. Ribera was stabbed in the heart outside of a Birmingham nightclub by Armani Mitchell. He was 18 years old.

Life

Ribera was born in Solihull on 10 August 1995, to Alison Cope and Anselm Ribera, who was convicted of murder in 2009. He became serious about music after being sentenced to a young offender institution, gaining a name for himself in the grime genre. In 2012 he took part in the "Lord of the Mics" battle-rap competition in London. His only album, 2 Real, was released in July 2013, and reached number 1 on the iTunes hip hop chart.

Death

On 20 September 2013, Ribera attended a memorial tribute at a Selly Oak nightclub held for a friend, Shamz, who had died exactly 1 year earlier after being stabbed in the leg. Ribera himself was stabbed at the event. He died in Solihull Hospital on 21 September 2013 after being stabbed in the heart. In March 2014, his killer, Armani Mitchell, was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 18 years.

Discography