Rouge Opens Up on Grief and Pressure That Halted Her Career: ‘I Went Through a Proper Depression’

South African rapper Rouge has spoken openly about stepping away from music, revealing that grief, emotional strain, and industry pressure forced her to pause her career during a critical period.

Speaking on the “Defining” podcast, the “Mbongo-Zaka” hitmaker explained that her break was not planned, but the result of multiple personal and professional losses that accumulated over time.

Rouge said the deaths of several artists she was close to deeply affected her, including Riky Rick, Tumi Tladi, AKA, and Costa Titch. She described the repeated losses as emotionally overwhelming and difficult to process while still working in the industry.

She revealed that the emotional toll affected her ability to create and release music, saying the weight of grief eventually led her into a depressive state.

“I had been away from the game for a bit… 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,” she said.

Rouge also reflected on the shifting South African music landscape, noting how the rise of Amapiano forced many artists to reconsider their sound and direction at a time when she was already struggling emotionally.

She explained that trying to reinvent herself while dealing with grief became increasingly difficult, adding that every attempt to return to music seemed to be followed by another setback.

“And then when I was about to, something would happen… and it kind of just took me like, I need a moment from this thing,” she said.

Her comments highlight a broader issue of cumulative grief in creative industries, where repeated exposure to loss can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and withdrawal from work.

Rouge’s break was ultimately not a retirement, but a necessary pause to recover emotionally and regain stability after a deeply challenging period in her life and career.