Two decades after taking the Kenyan hip-hop scene by storm with his breakout hit Mafans, Jackson Makini, popularly known as Prezzo, remains a towering figure in the industry. The self-proclaimed “King of Bling” recently reflected on his journey, highlighting the challenges he faced, the impact he made, and the future of his career.
Prezzo’s rise in the early 2000s was nothing short of spectacular. From his flashy lifestyle to his showbiz-savvy marketing tactics, he revolutionized the Kenyan music scene. His unforgettable entrance at the Chaguo La Teeniez Awards arriving in a helicopter set the bar for showmanship. He recalls how he made sure that his 2006 hit Prezzo played simultaneously on all major Kenyan TV and radio stations at 6 PM, cementing his dominance.
“It wasn’t easy at all. The industry was full of rivalry and beef, with many trying to shut me down. But I was unstoppable,” he said in a recent interview. He clarified that while there were tensions in the industry, he never had real beef with Nonini and Jua Cali, insisting that the so-called feuds were mostly from lesser-known artists trying to ride on his name.
Reflecting on today’s Kenyan rap scene, Prezzo is unimpressed. He believes most current music lacks longevity, unlike classics such as Mafans, which still enjoys club rotation. However, he acknowledged artists like Nyashinski, Bien, and Khaligraph Jones, praising them for creating timeless music.
Beyond music, Prezzo emphasized the importance of family, particularly his younger brother, ‘Bossy’, who has taken charge of business affairs at Magnum Records. He also addressed past rumors of being born again, clarifying that his visit to Rev. Lucy Natasha’s church was at his mother’s invitation and not a declaration of salvation.
Prezzo remains active in music, recently collaborating with Otile Brown on Time Will Come, an inspirational track. Under CMG Records, he is working on an album he had initially planned to release in January but has now rescheduled. “It will be something Kenyans haven’t heard from me in a while,” he promised.
As he marks 20 years in the game, Prezzo continues to remind fans why he remains a pioneer in Kenyan hip-hop—unstoppable, resilient, and always ahead of his time.
