Rapper OG Maco, ‘U Guessed It’ Hitmaker, Dies at 32

Rapper OG Maco has died weeks after being hospitalized. He was 32 years old.

On Friday, Dec. 27, his death was confirmed on his Instagram account by his family. TMZ was first to report the news.

“His life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and boundless love. Through his music, passion, and unwavering spirit, he touched so many lives and left a lasting impact,” Maco’s family wrote on the platform, referring to him by his real name, Benedict Ihesiba Jr. “While we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived — one that will continue to inspire and uplift others.”

His family said Maco’s influence will “remain forever etched in our hearts” and asked that fans reach out via DM to share their thoughts and condolences.

“Thank you for standing by him throughout his journey,” the note concluded. “Today, we celebrate a life that was extraordinary in every way.”

Reps for Maco have not yet responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

On Dec. 16, his family shared another post on his Instagram page revealing that he was in “critical but stable condition.

“We want to inform OG Maco’s fans, friends, and supporters that he is currently in critical but stable condition,” the statement read. “He is receiving the best possible care, and we are staying hopeful as he continues to fight. At this time, we kindly ask that you respect our privacy, but if you would like to send any messages or have anything you wish to get to the family, please reach out via DM.”

On Dec. 14, Maco’s manager Poppa Perc spoke to AllHipHop about his condition: “I thought he was dead when I first saw him. We were about rebrand and drop [new music] under a whole new alias. We need everyone’s prayers.”

At the time, Perc said Maco was “still on life support” and “still fighting” in the intensive care unit at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“They are doing multiple tests on his brain and trying to let the swelling go down a bit, let his head heal a little bit, so they can do a procedure,” he told the outlet. “Only immediate family is allowed at the hospital, but we’ve been getting updates.”

In 2016, Maco lost an eye after a car accident and in 2019, he revealed he was diagnosed with a “skin-eating disease” after being improperly treated for a rash.

He shared the news in a series of photos and videos on his Instagram Stories, which showed immense scabbing that covered most of his face and scalp.

“So much healing has occurred thanks to God and my doctors that I’m willing to show all a fraction of what I’ve been going through,” he wrote over a photo.

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Born Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr., Maco grew up in Atlanta’s College Park neighborhood. At the start of his career, he rapped under the moniker Maco Mattox and in 2011 released his debut mixtape Marty McFly. In 2014, his single “U Guessed It” became a breakout hit, reaching No. 90 on the Billboard Hot 100 and landing a remix with 2 Chainz.

Later, Maco signed with Quality Control and became a part of XXL‘s 2015 Freshman class alongside artists like Fetty Wap and Vince Staples. He also collaborated with Diplo and Migos.