South African rapper Costa Titch has died. He was 27 years old.
According to reports, Costa collapsed on stage during a performance at the Ultra Music Festival at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Saturday, News24 reported.
His family confirmed the news in a statement on social media.
“As a family, were are faced with a difficult time as we try to make sense of what has befallen us and ask that we be afforded the time and space to gather ourselves,” the family stated.
“The Tsobanoglou family thanks you for the love and support you have given to our son, and may you continue to uplift him even in spirit. Please keep us in your prayers and uplifted in the Lord”, ended the statement.
Electronic music festival organiser Ultra SA said in a statement: “We are devastated by the sudden loss of the beloved South African artist Costa Titch, who tragically passed away this weekend.
“Costa was a galvanising voice amongst South Africa’s amapiano scene – a talented rapper, dancer, songwriter, collaborator, and friend to the festival.”
Costa Titch – real name Constantinos Tsobanoglou – originally started as a backup dancer in the music industry.
In an interview with AVG Productions in 2020, he said he transitioned into becoming a music artist after realising he had reached the pinnacle in dance and wasn’t breaking through financially and ‘internally’.
“Via the backup dancing, I started to realise that the vision that I envisioned since I was small was within the artist, not me as the backup dancer. I was making music for fun at that time, and people were receiving it pretty well, and at that point, I decided to go full-on with this and see where it goes,” he said.
Costa won awards for best collaboration and best remix for his ‘Nkalakatha’ remix featuring Riky Rick and AKA at the 2020 South African Hip-Hop Awards.
He recently signed to Senegalese-American rapper Akon’s record label Konvict Kulture. Akon recently featured on the remix of Costa’s hit song ‘Big Flexa’.
Tributes from industry colleagues and fans poured in on social media on Sunday, News24 also reported.
“RIP, Costa Titch. Great talent gone too soon,” tweeted rapper Da L.E.S..