Ghanaian rapper OJ Blaq, born Andy Nii Akrashie, has passed away at the age of 40. Reports indicate that he died in the early hours of Thursday, August 17, 2023.
OJ Blaq gained prominence with the release of his debut album, “The Blaq Mixtape,” in 2006. Throughout his musical career, he produced several projects and singles, including the popular track “Chalewote.”
Despite his musical success, OJ Blaq openly battled kidney disease since 2016, undergoing dialysis treatments and other medical interventions. In 2022, he discussed the lifestyle changes he made to manage his health, revealing his transition to Christian urban gospel music.
Reflecting on his shift to gospel music, OJ Blaq shared, “It's not easy moving from one path to the other. Now I do Christian urban gospel music. My switch to Christian urban music was from my experience with kidney failure, so I decided to do gospel music with the same old rhythm style but different wording because the now Christians are different Christians.”
While the exact cause of his death remains unclear, OJ Blaq's unique rapping style and his incorporation of social commentary into his music endeared him to fans. Beyond music, he made significant contributions to the Ghanaian acting scene, appearing in various films and television series.
R.I.P. to the first musician to ever walk into the Lynx Studio to record his music. U will always be remembered for ur kind heart and ur ability to put a smile on so many faces.
— Lynx Entertainment (@LynxGhana) August 17, 2023
Condolences and best wishes to your family. U will be missed OJ Blaq 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/6KOJxPHV0B