A rap artist died before his 30th birthday while performing Saturday at a concert in Africa, according to a family post to Instagram.
Costa Titch, 28, collapsed Saturday while performing at a Johannesburg music festival the family said in their statement. The family did not provide a cause of death.
“Death has tragically knocked at our door,” the family lamented, “robbing us of our beloved son, brother, and grandson. Constantinos Tsobanoglou (28), whom South Africa had come to love and idolize under his stage name “Costa Titch.”
“It is with deep pain that we find ourselves having to acknowledge his passing at his time,” the family added.
The Tsobanoglou family thanked fans for their love and support given to their son, expressing hope fans will continue to uplift him even in spirit.
“Please keep us in your prayers and uplifted in the Lord,” the family closed.
Costa Titch was performing at the Nasrec Expo Centre when he fell over onstage, according to a Cape Town Etc. report. The report added that an unidentified individual rushed to help Titch, who reportedly regained his footing briefly before collapsing again.
The South African rapper, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, began his entertainment career as a backup dancer. According to the Cape Town Etc. report, he switched his career to music because he wasn’t breaking through financially or fulfilling himself personally.
He reportedly won an award for Best Collaboration and Best Remix at the 2020 South African Hip Hop Awards for his “Nkalakatha” remix with Riky Rick and AKA, the report noted.
Costa Titch recently signed with the Konvict Kulture record label, according to the report. The label’s Sengalese-American owner Akon appeared with Costa performing his hit song “Big Flexa” in a remix.
The remix garnered more than one million YouTube views, according to an Instagram post from Costa Titch last week.
The award-winning artist explained the decision to partner with Akon’s label was hope the partnership would jumpstart his career on an international scale.
“I’ve always wanted to remain independent and instead of signing to a major label, I’ve always wanted to partner with one,” the rapper said in an interview with South Africa’s Independent Online. “After the success of my 2022 catalogue we felt it was time to partner with a global entity so we can continue to push the barriers on an international scale.”
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