In his music, Ricky Ortega portrayed himself as a tough guy rapping about a gangster’s lifestyle. But to his family and friends he was gentle, caring and always fast to stand up for others who couldn’t stand up for themselves.
Over the weekend, the lifestyle that the 29-year-old father of three rapped about at parties, festivals and clubs became all too real. A man identified by police as Landon Paul Chavez, 27, allegedly stabbed Ortega outside a northwest Denver apartment complex.
Monday night, about 100 of Ortega’s friends and relatives gathered in the parking lot of the complex in the 2800 block of Osceola, lit candles and prayed for the rapper who came to be known as “Mr. Loco.”
“I didn’t agree with the culture and the lifestyle, and he was totally the opposite of the way I raised him, but I loved him and a lot of people around here did too,” his mother, Tina Gallegos, said. “He was a Catholic, he believed in God, and he was about love, respect and forgiveness.”
Denver police detectives have not described a motive as they search for Chavez. Anyone who comes in contact with Chavez or knows his whereabouts is urged to call Denver police at 720-913-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
Authorities responded about 3 a.m. Saturday to the complex where Ortega had suffered a stab wound to his heart. He was rushed to St. Anthony’s Central where he underwent two surgeries before dying, relatives said.
People who have known Ortega and Chavez are puzzled as to what could have led to this. The men had known each other since they were teenagers, had been friends and rap rivals who on occasion had battled against each other, meaning a freestyle-rap form in which the rappers hurl insults at each other. It was done in friendly competition, intended to upstage each other.
Ortega grew up in Denver and played football at Kennedy High School.
He started rapping as a boy but didn’t get serious about it until his late teens when he started making CDs sold at parties and other social events.
At Monday’s vigil, friends blasted lyrics from Ortega’s latest album. Some shed tears. Some hoped for justice.
Manny Gonzales: 303-954-1537 or mgonzales@denverpost.com
