CMB Prezzo's Wild Ride: From Fame, Drugs, and Women to a Near-Fatal Overdose

Jackson "CMB Prezzo" Ngechu.

When it comes to living life in the fast lane, few names stand out in Kenya like Jackson ‘CMB Prezzo’ Ngechu. Once the king of Kenyan rap, Prezzo’s rise to stardom came with all the glitter, girls, and - of course - drugs. 

Now, at 44, the veteran rapper is peeling back the curtain on his wild ride through fame and the pitfalls that nearly took him down for good. Spoiler alert: there’s no shortage of scandal in this story!

The Fame Game: A Double-Edged Sword

Prezzo burst onto the music scene in 2004, instantly becoming a household name in Kenya's entertainment industry. But with the spotlight came chaos. “With fame comes a lot of hullabaloo, ups and downs, distractions, women, drugs—you name it,” Prezzo admitted, reflecting on the dark side of his early career.

While many fans admired his flashy lifestyle, Prezzo reveals that he wasn’t just popping bottles. The rapper was also dabbling in the dangerous world of drugs. "I am not going to say I’ve never done drugs," he confessed. "I used to do yayo (slang for cocaine), but as time went on, I got control of my situation."

It sounds easy now, but the story wasn’t always so simple. Cocaine - known by a laundry list of street names like nose candy, rock, and snow - wasn’t just a casual habit for the rapper. He admits to losing himself in the drug but claims he managed to pull back before it was too late.

Beating Addiction: “I Controlled the Drugs”

Unlike many celebrities, Prezzo says he never ended up in rehab. Why? Because, according to him, his "strong mentality" kept him afloat. “I’ve done drugs before, but one thing I thank God for is that I’ve never been to rehab. You shouldn’t let the drugs control you - I controlled the drugs.”

For Prezzo, it was all about balance, no matter how insane that sounds. He would party hard but still show up to work the next morning. “If I have to be at work at 8 o’clock, I will be at work," he boasted. In 2012, Prezzo joined Big Brother Africa and spent 90 days in the house with no access to drugs except for cigarettes and alcohol. He survived just fine, proving to himself that he wasn’t totally hooked.

From Drugs to Divorce: The Darker Side of Fame

But drug abuse was only part of Prezzo’s struggles. Fame wasn’t just a rollercoaster of women, parties, and narcotics - it also tore apart his personal life. In 2008, he married Daisy Kiplagat at the height of his career, throwing a lavish wedding that cost a whopping Sh4.5 million. But the high life didn’t last long. By 2012, the marriage had imploded, and the fallout was explosive. Daisy accused him of being a violent, drug-addicted adulterer - a tabloid headline waiting to happen.

Reflecting on the failed marriage, Prezzo admits it was a tough blow. "I regret spending all that money on the wedding," he says now, pointing the finger at his fame for the collapse of his relationship.

Near-Death Experiences: The Shocking Truth Behind Prezzo’s Survival

Prezzo’s wild ride didn’t just leave him emotionally scarred; it nearly killed him, several times over. In a jaw-dropping revelation, the rapper opened up about how close he came to death - more than once.

“I was shot in the head at close range by thugs, but I’m still here,” Prezzo revealed, nonchalantly. And that’s not all. "I overdosed on cocaine and ended up in ICU at Nairobi Hospital for a week, but I’m still here." If that wasn’t enough, Prezzo also survived a brutal stabbing while studying in Canada. Yet somehow, he’s managed to survive every brush with death.

“Why Am I Still Here?”

Looking back on his life, Prezzo admits he sometimes wonders why he’s still alive. “When I sit back and ask myself why is God giving me all these opportunities, I believe that God put me here for a reason,” he reflected.

Despite the countless near-death experiences, failed marriage, and battle with drug addiction, Prezzo’s story is one of survival. He’s made it through the fire - sometimes literally - and he’s still standing. It’s clear that Prezzo believes his life has a bigger purpose, though what that is remains to be seen.

Final Thoughts: A Rapper’s Reckoning

Prezzo’s tale is far from the glamorous life we associate with celebrity. Behind the fast cars and flashy parties, there’s a man who’s been through hell and back. From surviving a gunshot wound to nearly dying from a cocaine overdose, Prezzo’s story is nothing short of sensational. And while his past is full of controversy, one thing’s for sure: Prezzo isn’t going down without a fight.