‘U Guessed It’ rapper was 32

OG Maco, the rapper behind the viral 2014 single “U Guessed It,” has died at age 32.

Maco, whose real name was Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr. and who also went by Maco Mattox, died weeks after being hospitalized, his family confirmed on social media. They did not provide his cause of death.

“With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Ben, known to the world as OG Maco,” the family wrote on his official Instagram on Friday. “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.”

The family asked fans and loved ones to share memories and offer condolences via the rapper’s social media account. “While we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived — one that will continue to inspire and uplift others,” they wrote. “Maco’s influence, both as an artist and as a person, will remain forever etched in our hearts.”

They concluded, “To all of Maco’s fans, friends, and supporters: Thank you for standing by him throughout his journey. Today, we celebrate a life that was extraordinary in every way.”

Maco’s family had previously announced on Dec. 15 that the musician had been hospitalized. “He is currently in critical but stable condition,” they wrote at the time. “He is receiving the best possible care, and we are staying hopeful as he continues to fight.”

The rapper’s manager, Poppa Perc, gave an update on his status on Dec. 12. “I thought he was dead when I first saw him,” the manager told AllHipHop. “We were about to rebrand and drop [new music] under a whole new alias. We need everyone’s prayers.”

Born in 1992 in College Park, Ga., Maco self-released his first mixtape, Marty McFly: The Mixtape, as Maco Mattox at the age of 19 in 2011. He released another mixtape and his first EP, 10 Moons, under that moniker in 2012. Upon signing to Quality Control Music in 2014, the rapper switched to the name OG Maco, releasing three EPs and three mixtapes in a single year.

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Maco’s debut single from his self-titled EP, “U Guessed It,” went viral on the now-defunct social media platform Vine and spawned a remix featuring 2 Chainz. The remix peaked at No. 90 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. 21 on Billboard‘s U.S. Hot Rap Songs chart.

The musician released several more EPs and mixtapes over the next two years, and also collaborated with Migos, Gucci Mane, Fall Out Boy, Diplo, BJ the Chicago Kid, the Neighbourhood, and more. Maco released his debut studio album, The God of Rage, in 2021.

In 2016, Maco suffered multiple skull fractures and almost lost his right eye in a serious traffic accident. Then, in 2019, he announced that he’d been diagnosed with a “skin-eating disease” after saying he was “improperly treated for a minor rash.”

The musician’s most recent record was his self-titled studio album in 2023.

Maco also founded the collective OGG, which helped launch the career of its member OG Parker, who has produced tracks for Megan Thee Stallion, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, and more.