For Macka Diamond, 2012 ended with her engaged in lyrical warfare with fellow deejay turned rival, Spice. In 2013, the veteran deejay faces battles of an entirely different kind off-stage.

On January 12, Macka, whose real name is Charmaine Monroe, was preparing to celebrate her birthday in style at her Forty and Fabulous party on Waves Beach in Portmore, St. Catherine when she received a saddening phone call. The prominent deejay received a phone call informing her that he 23-year-old brother, Charles Monroe died of leukemia.

Though this news obviously changed her mood on her special day, Macka Diamond believes her brother has gone to a better place.