Prezzo reveals how depression forced him to become a Mungiki leader (Video)

Kenyan showbiz artist, Jackson Ngechu, popularly known as CMB Prezzo has had a massive turnover in his life, right from being a convict, to being one of the most acclaimed rappers in the industry.

Having been in the industry for more than 17 years now, the musician has had it rough, ever making headlines with all sorts of scandals, talk of sexual affairs, to co-parenting, to his past that kept haunting him.

The rapper told of a different story during his recent interview on The Play House series, narrating the weird turn of events that followed his release from jail.

CMB Prezzo

Prezzo and Sheila Mwanyigha´s mom were tight, with the TV personality and the artist having dated for a while before things got sour.

Turns out Sheila´s mom got Prezzo out of jail and for this he remained thankful. However, he was given one warning, never to break Sheila´s –  also known as Nikki – heart.

I got out of jail and Nikki´s mum said she wants to talk to me. So we went to her home, I also wanted to meet her to say ´thank you mama´ for taking care of the situation. She told me ´it´s okay´ what I´ve done but ´do not break my girl´s heart´.

Ex-lovers, Prezzo and Sheila Mwanyigha

This saw him get withdrawn, with a myriad thoughts racing through his mind, contemplating about what he had done and the changes he needed to make.

But as fate would have it, these two did not end up together, having already impregnated his then-girlfriend, Daisy, who he soon after walked down the isle.

Love & Depression

Prezzo spruced up his wife´s life by spoiling her with the finer things in life, but there was one thing she did not like about this man – his music.

After the Nataka Tupendane jam, that´s how I got married to Mama Zari. She loved Ng´echu but she hated Prezzo. We moved from the penthouse into a mansion because I wanted to satisfy my wife at that time, with the finer things in life, without any budgets attached to it. Daisy, Mama Zari wanted me to stop doing music and probably be an accountant or a teacher somewhere, a carpenter…anything but not music.

Prezzo

But he was not going to give in all the hard work, the sweat and tears he had put in all this while to see him build a brand in music.

Just like that, Prezzo moved out but his life started moving downhill, as he slowly fell into depression.

For like maybe a year, I lost myself. I used to have my bodyguard bring me food, whatever I want at the house, I never left the house for a whole year. It´s like I was in house arrest. And I was slowly but surely getting into depression.

Rapper, Prezzo

Mungiki youth leader

An year later, Prezzo was given an opportunity to lead the Mungiki youths, under Maina Njenga´s rule. An opportunity he quickly grabbed but with his mental state still uneasy.

So, after that, I receive a call after an year and this brother called Brother Andrew told me Chairman would like to meet you. And he´s like ¨Maina Njenga would like to meet you¨. I was asking myself so many questions ¨I was like what is it that Chairman wants to talk to me about?¨ So we went to Karen and Maina Njenga had this movement and he wanted me to be the youth leader of the Mungikis. And who am I to say no?

Kenyan celebrated rap act, Prezzo

In as much as it didn´t sound convincing to be a part of, Prezzo felt that this was probably his chance to achieve a breakthrough in his life and he went for it.

Because everyday I go down on my knees and ask God to give me opportunities and show me which way to go. So if I had just abandoned that meeting, then maybe that was my big break. We kick it with Mheshimiwa Maina Njenga, he gives me his vision and how things are supposed to go and I tell him cool. He put me in a situation and said he is giving me responsibilities and I became a bit shaken.

Time went by but Prezzo still did not feel satisfied with what he was doing. He admitted that without the presence of a father in his life, he had to learn things by himself.

One time when I was leaving Chairman´s place, I went to my place and I was driving and contemplating and telling God, ´Now I´m so confused, like you need to show me a direction, somehow coz really I am confused.´

Kenyan rapper, Prezzo

Breakthrough

Fortunately, God had heard his prayers and that is how Prezzo landed his place at the Big Brother, as Kenya´s representative.

So that you know God listens, as I´m driving, I pull up my car, we had a show with Cannibal then my phone rings and this lady says ´Hi Prezzo, my name is Precious and I´m calling you from Endemol´. So I´m trying to figure out what Endemol was and she goes like ´have you ever watched Big BVrother before? We have this all stars big brother series and we felt like you are the right representative for Kenya.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZgPuHwo_Rg&feature=youtu.be

About this writer:

Gloria Katunge