Legendary First Lady of Hip-Hop Nazizi Hirji has taken to social media to honour the memory of her late brother, Feroze, marking 19 years since the tragic accident that altered her life forever.
In a heartfelt post, Nazizi admitted she is simply existing, questioning whether she would ever come to terms with his passing.
“Today marked 19 years without you nd Oscar bruv. I’m simply existing, wondering when I get to ever feel that safety, love, care and Ride or die vibe ever again. I miss you,” she remarked.
The post drew an outpouring of support from Kenya’s creative community, including acclaimed artist Bien and events organiser Chris Kirwa.
Nazizi’s words painted the portrait of a woman suspended between two worlds, a past shattered by the loss of her brother and a future irreversibly changed by the loss of her son, Jazeel, who tragically passed away after an accident while the family was on holiday in Tanzania in December 2023.
While the industry remembers Feroze as a key figure in the rise of Kenya’s early-2000s urban music scene, to Nazizi, he was far more personal: the embodiment of her “safety, love and care.”
In correcting a long-held misconception, Nazizi clarified that Feroze was not just a member, but the vice president and a founding force of the Cash Money Brothers (CMB) crew.
Led by the self-styled “King of Bling” Prezzo, CMB was more than a music outfit; it was a lifestyle movement that defined the flashier, aspirational side of Kenyan showbiz at the turn of the millennium.
Known for his laid-back demeanour and sharp sense of style, Feroze served as the bridge between the raw grit of a burgeoning hip-hop culture and the high-end glamour CMB brought to the stage.
His death in 2006, alongside his friend Oscar, sent shockwaves through the industry and marked one of the first major tragedies of Kenya’s modern music era.