NEED TO KNOW
- Mack Maine, born Jermaine Anthony Preyan, confirms his son Isaiah has died
- TMZ reports that he was 20 at the time of his death
- “Still confused, still questioning life and why my child and not me,” the grieving father wrote
Rapper Mack Maine said his young son Isaiah, also known as Zeke, died earlier this month after suffering a seizure.
The New Orleans native, born Jermaine Anthony Preyan, announced the news in a Monday, July 28, Instagram post, alongside 20 photos. Isiah died at his California home on July 16, Mack Maine wrote. Isiah was 20, TMZ reports.
“Been trying to build up the strength to put up this post since last night so bear with me🙏🏾,” Mack Maine began his caption.
“I’m still in shock and still processing the fact that he’s gone. Still confused, still questioning life and why my child and not me,” the rapper continued.
He went on to say that while he was Isaiah’s father “in the flesh,” that his child has now “ascended to rejoin OUR Father God in the spirit and his ancestors who also loved him dearly like his grandfather (my dad) and his grandmother.”
Mack Maine’s heartfelt post continued: “Zeke I thank you for granting me with one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received, Fatherhood! The experience and bond with you and I brought me purpose.”
The “EveryGirl In The World” rapper thanked Isaiah for being his “biggest inspiration and motivation” as well as his “reason I got out of the bed when everyone else snoozed.”
Most photos in the post showed Mack Maine with Isiah. Other photos showed Isaiah playing a musical instrument and holding a sign that read, “LSU [Louisiana State University] Bound.”
Mack Maine published more photos on his Instagram Stories, including him smiling with Isaiah as he showed off a school project, and posing with his father’s famous friends, like Drake, Swizz Beatz and more.
Since his son’s death, Mack Maine said his “village has been crushed and we’re hurting.”
“This is a pain I’ve personally never felt before but I’m still trusting and believing in God’s plan and God’s will and mercy,” he wrote, asking his son to watch over him.
Mack Maine’s announcement came on his birthday, which also coincided with two years since the death of his father, per his post.
“They said God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers but..,” he wrote, adding two upside-down face emojis.
Before ending, he asked anyone reading for a special birthday wish: “I ask that you hug the ones you love and squeeze em tight… if you can’t hug em call em to tell them you love them.”
The rapper also suggested that anyone “in the same boat as me” try to “remember the good times or scroll thru pics and vids.”
“To Zeke I love you and I know I’ll see you again… To my Pops I miss you big dawg and I know you met Zeke on the other side with open arms 🤲🏾 I vow to continue to make yall proud I just ask yall continue to walk with me and pick me up when I fall… I need the strength…. Until we meet again… LOVE,” he concluded.
“I don’t even believe what I just read,” Mack Maine’s Young Money label mate Nicki Minaj commented. “This can’t be real. I love you so much. You guys raised the most incredible young man. He was such a perfect boy. I have no words to express what you must be feeling. No words. We are praying for your whole family, Mack. We love you so much.”
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Reginae Carter, Lil Wayne’s first-born child, added, “I love you so much 🙏🏾 praying for you!”
Additional condolences came from Lala Anthony, Monica, Lauren London, 2 Chainz, Tyga, Deion Sanders Jr. and more.
PEOPLE was not immediately able to reach reps for Mack Maine for comment.
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