Rapper OG Maco dies at the age of 32

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

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

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

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

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

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

On December 16, his family made another post on his Instagram page, saying he was in “critical but stable condition.”

“We would like 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 remain confident as he continues to fight. At this point we politely ask you to respect our privacy. However, if you would like to send messages or share something with the family, please reach out via DM.”

On December 14, Maco’s manager Poppa Perc spoke to AllHipHop about his condition: “I thought he was dead when I first saw him. It was about renaming the brand and releasing (new music) under a completely new pseudonym. 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’re doing several tests on his brain and trying to get the swelling to go down a little bit and let his head heal a little bit so they can do a procedure,” he told the outlet. “Only immediate family members are allowed into the hospital, but we are getting updates.”

In 2016, Maco lost an eye after a car accident and in 2019, he revealed that 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 huge scabs covering most of his face and scalp.

“Thanks to God and my doctors, there has been so much healing that I’m ready to show everyone a fraction of what I’ve been through,” he wrote over a photo.

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Maco was born Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr. and grew up in the College Park neighborhood of Atlanta. At the beginning of his career, he rapped under the pseudonym Maco Mattox and released his debut mixtape in 2011 Marty McFly. In 2014, his single “U Guessed It” became a breakout hit, peaking at number 90 on the charts billboard Hot 100 and a remix with 2 Chainz.

Maco later signed with Quality Control and became part of XXL‘s freshman class of 2015 alongside artists like Fetty Wap and Vince Staples. He also worked with Diplo and Migos.