Prezzo presses on

By Stevens Muendo

Leaning back on the white leather seat in stretch limo with an attitude, Prezzo takes a swig of Famous Grouse–that famous brand of well-blended Scotch whisky.

He then pulls off his dark Gucci glasses and loosens up his shirt to expose his expensive jewellery.

In fact, today he is wearing Gucci, from his sagging trousers to the brand new belt reflecting his riches and fortunes.

"Thanks for your time," he humbly mumbles.

"You (Pulse) are like brothers to me," he says setting the record straight for those who have long imagined that Pulse has beef with the singer.

In the previous evening Prezzo together with the Pulse crew, Ash and Madtraxx had been hanging out together– shooting pool; before rolling out around town on a leisurely drive courtesy of Ash’s Limos ‘R’ Us.

Today, Prezzo is as easy as the boy next door. He cuts a different demeanour from the celebrated star with a swagger to boot beaming on your TV screen. He looks far removed from a guy who would be involved in dramatic early morning club shoot-outs. He is a humble, friendly and humorous.

"This sh*t is dope. Goodness me," he says nodding his head to Jay Z’s We Run This Town hit single as we watch the video from the two flat screens in the limo.

The statement rekindles in me, memories of Prezzo — a die-hard Jay Z fan — wadding through the crowd in Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam where Jay Z had a concert four years ago. Prezzo had been late for the concert and could not get a vantage point to watch his hero let alone get a one-on-one with the American icon.

Beyonce, Jay Z’s celebrity beau had been waiting in the dressing room as the show came to a close. Stories of their engagement had just emerged and clearly, even in this night of great performance, Jay Z had all his attention to Beyonce, not to die-hard fans like Prezzo.

That was four years ago. Jackson Ngechu had just released his Nipe Nikupe (featuring AY) and Mafans hit singles.

His flashy trademark lifestyle had opened a new page in the local music scene. Together with his outfit, the Cash Money Brothers, they bestrode the town and wowed their fans. At one time he as the president of CMB hired a chopper for Chaguo La Teeniez Awards to merely fly over the fence from Wilson Airport to Carnivore Grounds.

It was this sudden rise to fame that made him a major social brand. His late father’s business empire, Makini Herbal Clinics, which he now controls, justified his highlife and status in the social ranks. As his fan base grew so did a group of haters and enemies who (he claims) have since been battling to bring him down.

He was later to release Mafans a single aimed at hitting back at his haters with lyrics like Ma-haters kama hamnipendi, meza wembe firing the venom to astronomical levels.

Prezzo is now 30 and has wisened up. He is a happy husband to 28-year old Daisy Kiplagat whom he refers to as First Lady. His adorable daughter Zahrie completes the ‘First Family’.

It appears the icon could be back with a bang, ready to raffle the feathers again. His new single Unataka Nini (featuring Madtraxx) hits the airwaves tomorrow and with ten more songs lined up, one can safely bet, that this could be the year of the King.

"People have always asked why I was so close with Kaz in that (controversial) Nataka Tupendane 2008 hit. Little do they know that I wrote it for my wife Daisy when our relationship was barely five years old.

"I have known Daisy for 10 years now. She was here before I became CMB Prezzo. Whoever thinks our relationship is all about fame and fortune is mistaken. When I met her, my account was zero," a candid Prezzo reveals, dismissing speculations that their marriage has faced turbulences since their December 2008 exclusive wedding ceremony.

"We are not on the rocks. Probably you should call and hear from her. She is my wife and lovely mother to our daughter. She is intelligent and always pushes me to move on. Daisy and Zahrie are the reason I breathe," he asserts.

It was after their marriage that the Naleta Action (featuring Nazizi) singer faded from the showbiz circles as speculations grew that he had quit rapping to concentrate with his inherited business empire.

It even got worrying after news broke out last year that he was critically ill and had been hospitalised due to drug related ailments, allegations he strongly came out denying on live TV, hours after he had been discharged.

And worse still, months later, unidentified men, who were rumoured to be business rivals tracked him down to his leafy residence in Kileleshwa — after a night of partying — and shot at him, leaving him wounded.

His fame suffered a further battering in 2007 in events only spared for soap operas. A man took him to court accusing him of having an affair with his wife.

The matter got a twist after the woman; Vanessa Kahaki Mason, came out fighting, and said Prezzo was not the guy at the centre of the marital drama. In this, Prezzo survived.

Now, speaking about these controversies for the first time since then, the rap king reckons that this is part of the intrigues of rap game and life at the helm.

"I had to take time out (of showbiz) and concentrate on my family. We are a young family and family comes first. But I was never out of showbiz as I have been in studio recording new hits which will soon define the new Prezzo," he clarifies.

And he goes on: "My father-in-law and the entire family has been there for us. Daisy is from a very influential family and she never wants to be in the papers (news). To her, I am Jackson Ngechu, not CMB Prezzo.

"I have many enemies and that is no secret. I don’t create them. My fame does. Critics and haters are fans in disguise. I never let anyone stop me. But I don’t want to put my family in jeopardy and I have kept my wife, baby and mum behind the shadows, as I don’t want them caught up in this. I live for them."

After his father passed on when he was 13, Prezzo had to become his own man. He wanted to honour his father by protecting the family wealth and proving to his mum that he was up to the task.

"My family does not view me as Prezzo but Ngechu. Prezzo will fire in the airwaves, but Ngechu is this loving family man. When I take my family out, we are just chilled and happy ordinary people".

"Besides all the intrigues, I want people to know that I am my own man, that I am not afraid of anyone apart from the Almighty. I have come to learn that life is not about what you achieve but what you overcome. When you go down, you should come out a stronger man. I have seen people fall to rock bottom and come back," he insists.

Popular belief

Ironically, the celebrated star notes that the flashy lifestyle never came in a silver platter contrary to popular belief. According to him he has faced many obstacles.

"I was neither born in Lavington nor brought up in Kileleshwa. I was born in Pumwani. For ten years my family lived in Eastleigh before we moved to Lang’ata. But every one I have come across thinks my life has been all about bread and butter which is a total misconception," says the rapper.

His debut album Naleta Action was released in 2004. He featured his mother — who sang a few lines in one of the songs — and it included hits like Naleta Action, Lets Get Down, Mimi na Wewe, Ma Fans and Leo ni Leo among others.

After this, Prezzo, the floss master with expensive bling bling and flashy cars had become a household name and opened a new chapter in Kenya’s urban music scene. He was later to conquer East Africa hosting mega shows in all the major cities in the region.

In 2006, Prezzo, now ridding on hyped popularity and fame released yet another single P.R.E.Z.Z.O produced at Blue Zebra at the cost of Sh 0.5 Million. As his fame prospered so did his CMB Unit. However, the demise of Feroze Hirji, brother to rapper Nazizi and a leading member of the CMB Unit dealt a major blow to the Unit, which Prezzo maintains is still alive and kicking.

"Cash Money Brothers is alive and strong. That is why I am the President. There is protocol. You see I still have my bouncers, four of them," he flosses.

NEW PAL

Besides family, music and expanding business plans, Prezzo’s latest revelations that he is now closely working with Kamlesh Pattni of the renowned Goldenberg deals has thrown spanners to the works. Speculations have been rife that the rapper is warming to politics.

Indeed, it is their closeness in the newfound friendship that has the world talking even as Prezzo downplays the political talk.

"Paul (Kamlesh) is like a big brother to me. He is a great man who has been misunderstood since the Goldenberg scandal. People took advantage of him. But now he is back on his feet. I am stuck by him," the charismatic rapper quips.

"I relate to him as a person who has been able to keep his head above turbulent waves. You see, politics is similar to music industry and we are borrowing from each other. For me, it’s not about his money. We have big plans together and we want to give back to the society."

And with 60 songs on the pipeline, the King of bling bling says the music industry should be ready for a bombshell as he warns his haters that the game has just started.

Some say its his trademark bling bling, flamboyant lifestyle, music or controversies that has made Prezzo a big name in the music industry, regardless the rapper believes that he was born to be a hero.