OG Maco died when he was 32 years old on December 26,2024. Despite what most fans assumed, his cause of death was not related to the rare flesh-eating disease he was diagnosed with five years prior. Instead, he died two weeks after being rushed to a Los Angeles hospital for another reason.
Learn more about OG Maco’s health and the rare illness he lived with below.
Who Was OG Maco?
OG Maco, whose real name was Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr., was a rapper famous for his 2014 hit single, “U Guessed It.” The song was later remixed into a track featuring 2 Chainz, which earned a spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Though he was known for his hip-hop music, OG Maco described himself as an ambiguous artist during a 2015 interview with HypeBeast.
“I use the term ‘rapper’ when it’s used with me. I’m a rockstar if anything, and when it comes to the basics of it, I’m purely an artist,” the Georgia native said while pointing out that he was a fan of metal and rock bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC. “I rap in part of my songs, but there’s always more than my songs than just rapping in them.”
What Flesh-Eating Disease Did OG Maco Have?
In 2019, OG Maco revealed to his Instagram followers that he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacterial disease.
“I was improperly treated for a minor rash and ended up with a skin-eating disease for the last few months,” the late hip-hop artist explained via his Instagram Stories at the time.
In a separate video, OG Maco described the uncertainty surrounding his diagnosis. He admitted, “I didn’t know if I’d lose my entire face — I almost did. Necrotizing, or any type of flesh-eating bacteria, if you ever get one, just keep the faith [and] follow the regimen your doctors give you.”
How Did OG Maco Die?
OG Maco died after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, according to TMZ. On December 12, 2024, he was hospitalized in L.A. after police were called by a neighbor who heard the gunshot. Two weeks later, OG Maco died on December 26, 2024, in the hospital surrounded by his family after doctors couldn’t revive him, the outlet reported.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
