We grew up listening to Nazizi (real name Nazizi Hirji). That was around twenty years ago. Nazizi was the most prominent Kenyan female rapper. She survived in the Kenyan music industry at a time when it was dominated by male musicians.
Many people came to notice her when she collaborated with Wyre the love child to produce one of the greatest hits in Kenya titled, “Kenyan boy, Kenyan girl.” But the truth is that Nazizi had already made several other hits before joining Bamzigi and Wyre to form the Necessary Noize, a music band. Hits like “Mimi nataka toa,” “Msenangu” and “Baba, mama nataka kuwa famous” are still celebrated up to date.
Nazizi also collaborated with the self-proclaimed Kenyan president Prezzo to produce one of the hottest hip-hop jam in Kenya titled, “Let’s get down.” In fact, it is this jam with Nazizi that put rapper Prezzo in the limelight.
After joining Necessary Noize, Nazizi produced a reggae hit which swept not only the Kenyan airwave but also left a mark in Tanzania and Uganda’s airwaves. “Bless my room” is just a reggae jam that is just out of this world. She also produced other hits like, “Jump and Shout,” “Tension” and “Fire Anthem.”
According to www.softkenya.com, Nazizi, who was born in 1981, has curtain raised for international artists like Sean Paul, Akon, Wayne Wonder and Julian Marley. She has also toured 6 American states and 5 European countries. Nazizi has also won several music awards including Kisima Music Awards and the prestigious Chagua La Teeniez awards, both in 2004.
She has not retired from music yet. Her latest jam is “Cheza Chini,” a collaboration with King Kaka and Wyre the love child. If you do not hear much from her, do not think she is out. Maybe she is just playing it underground (cheza chini).