Rapper OG Maco Dead at 32

As a dedicated follower of OG Maco‘s music and life journey, it is with a heavy heart that I write this tribute. His passing at the age of 32 feels far too soon for an artist who had already experienced so much hardship and resilience in his short yet impactful life.

After holding out hope he might recover, OG Maco‘s family had to say goodbye.

Rap artist Benedict Ihesiba Jr., famously known as “U Guessed It,” passed away at the age of 32, as announced on his Instagram account on December 27th.

As a lifestyle expert, I sadly announce the profound loss of someone incredibly special, known to the world as OG Maco, whom we fondly called Ben. On Friday, our hearts were heavy with sorrow as we bid farewell to this remarkable soul. His life was a vibrant tapestry woven with resilience, creativity, and an overwhelming abundance of love.

They went on saying, “Though we mourn deeply his profound absence, we also honor the remarkable life he led – one that will persistently motivate and elevate many more. The impact Maco made, not only as an artist but as a person, will always be indelibly imprinted in our memories.

Previously, it was announced on Dec. 15 that he had been admitted to the hospital in a critical but stable state. His family remains optimistic as he battles his condition. They have further advised that only his official social media platforms will provide reliable updates regarding his health status.

TMZ first reported he was hospitalized in Los Angeles on Dec. 12.

A flood of tributes was paid to the rapper hailing from College Park, Georgia, who was part of XXL’s frequently prophetic Freshman Class of 2015 (alongside artists such as Gucci Mane and Vic Mensa). This artist had ascended through the ranks of emerging rappers.

Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., expressed his condolences saying: “May you find eternal rest, OG MACO. You faced such hardships, my friend. I am deeply sorry for your loss. May peace find you.

Although OG Maco put out two studio albums – “The God of Rage” in 2021 and his self-titled LP in 2023, as well as numerous EPs and mixtapes – he’s faced some struggles throughout his journey.

2016 saw him sustaining injuries from a car accident, which he documented through hospital bed photos and posts on HotNewHipHop. His message read, “Multiple skull fractures, surgeries scheduled for my orbital and vertebrae next week, plus heart palpitations. Still, I’m ALIVTopMob!!!” This means that despite his numerous injuries, he was still very much alive.

On a positive note, he mentioned that his plastic surgeon asserts there’s no room for further improvement in his looks, implying that cosmetic surgery on him will be straightforward. (His Instagram account has been cleaned up, save for some posts from Nov 2 with the caption “TOXSIC,” and two statements from his family.)

During a conversation with Vlad TV in November 2016, he openly discussed a period in his life where he felt incredibly sad and contemplated suicide, in addition to dealing with widespread speculation about his health.

In my sincere disclosure, given everything that has been stripped from me, I’ve accomplished an incredible amount and pioneered numerous breakthroughs. All of this, I must emphasize, was achieved independently.

In a state of profound emptiness, he described that period in his life as extremely difficult. He fell deep into drug addiction, preferring isolation over confronting the challenges. His only desire was to focus on his music, and even his songs from that era, like ’15, were exceptionally dark, devoid of any glimmers of hope. The essence of optimism seemed to have vanished from his compositions.

In the year 2019, he publicly announced on Instagram that he had been fighting a distressing condition often referred to as a “necrotizing skin infection”, which he contracted due to an incorrect treatment for a trivial skin irritation.

He expressed, “This has never looked better,” accompanied by a picture showcasing his experiences. “My intention is to inspire someone. Regrettably, I’ve been dealing with this challenging situation mostly on my own – absent the love of the person I care for, disconnected from many of my friends, and feeling the absence of support, except for my inner resolve and faith in God.

He admitted that he’d been absent from social media for some time because he was dealing with a period of deep sadness or melancholy in his life, which is commonly referred to as depression.

He admitted, in a now-removed video as reported by Complex, that he was terrified and uncertain about the outcome. He confessed that he feared losing his entire face, and came incredibly close to doing so. His friend recently suggested that he might find it helpful to discuss his struggles rather than constantly criticizing himself for his feelings, which he admitted he wanted to end his life multiple times.

He concluded his message, “Once I come out of this, better and more beautiful than ever, I want you guys to be ready… I’m gonna kick ass.”

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2024-12-28 01:17