Depzman

Joshua Ribera, known professionally as Depzman, was a British grime rapper from Birmingham, England, who made a significant impact on the UK grime scene before his untimely death at the age of 18. Born on August 10, 1995, Ribera began seriously pursuing music after a stint in a young offender institution. He quickly rose to prominence through popular grime channels on YouTube, such as JDZMedia, P110, and SB.TV, showcasing his raw talent and lyrical skills. In 2012, he participated in the "Lord of the Mics" battle-rap competition, further cementing his status as a promising artist. His only album, *2 Real*, released in July 2013, topped the iTunes hip hop chart, marking him as one to watch in grime.

Tragically, Depzman's life and burgeoning career were cut short when he was fatally stabbed in the heart outside a Birmingham nightclub in September 2013 during a memorial event for a friend. Since then, his legacy has been honored through various projects, including an emotional 2022 music video titled "Life Cut Short," which used deepfake technology to bring his image and voice back to life to raise awareness about knife crime. This project was supported by the Joshua Ribera Foundation and SBTV, highlighting the ongoing impact of his story on efforts to combat knife violence in the UK.