Rikus de Beer gets his comedy groove back after long stage break

After spending time away from the comedy stage, Rikus de Beer says The Masked Singer SA has reminded him just how much he missed performing.

Better known as Radio Raps, the comedian, musician and entrepreneur was, at the weekend, unmasked as King Pie.

De Beer told Sowetan on Monday that the experience gave him back something he didn’t expect — his comedy groove.

“I’ve taken a bit of a rest from comedy because I’m involved with a couple of businesses I’ve built. But this experience sparked something inside me. It made me want to be on stage again and reminded me of that feeling before you go on stage, especially as a comedian,” he said.

He added that he missed connecting with the audience.

“I missed the live energy, making eye contact with the crowd, hearing people laugh and sharing that bit of energy; it’s something that will never be repeated. Those people were part of that specific moment, and I missed that a lot,” he said.

His time as King Pie also let him step away from the familiar “Radio Raps” persona and surprise people with his singing.

“It was nice to get feedback from the detectives that I’m not just a ‘jokes type of guy’ and that I can sing in English and other languages that I’m not comfortable in,” he said.

“It turns out I’ve got a good singing voice, and as reassuring as that is, I was hoping to stay in the competition for a little longer, but there was some tough competition.”

While De Beer may not have made it to the end, the experience left him wanting more.

“I was a little sad when I left because I thought, ‘If I had just had one more round, I would have been happier’. But at the end of the day, it was a great experience,” he said.

And then there was performing inside a giant pie.

“When I first saw the King Pie mask, I was blown away. I thought, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of effort that goes into this.’ All the masks were very cool, but King Pie specifically was amazing, with the robe and the whole look,” he said.

“I think the flavour is pepper steak. Everybody loves a pepper steak. It’s nice and meaty with a bit of a sting, which I think sums me up.”

With his return to the stage firmly on his mind, De Beer says he has already gone back to writing material for a new stand-up show.

“I’ve already started drafting some material for my new stand-up show. The hope is to start again and do a bit of a tour in the second half of next year, depending on how the businesses and their timelines play out. I’m ready to fill up the arenas and theatres again,” he said.

Sowetan