South African rapper Costa Titch has died aged 28 after collapsing during his set at Ultra Festival at Johannesburg’s Nasrec Expo Centre.
The musician was on the festival line-up alongside Adam Beyer, Alesso, Fisher, Timmy, and Oliver Heldens. Titch had a breakthrough in 2021 when his song ‘Big Flexa’ went viral on the social media platform TikTok, and has been streamed over 10 million times on Spotify alone. Subsequently, he released a remix of the track with Akon. Additionally, he also signed with Akon’s record label, Konvict Kulture.
On stage at the weekend, Titch collapsed, and shortly afterwards, his tragic death was confirmed by his family on Instagram. They wrote on his Instagram: “It is with deep pain that we find ourselves having to acknowledge his passing at this time. Death has tragically knocked at our door robbing us of our beloved son, brother and grandson Constantinos Tsobanoglou who South Africa had come to love and idolise under his stage name Costa Titch.”
They continued: “We are thankful for the emergency responders and all those present in his last hours on this earth. As a family, we are faced with a difficult time as we try and make sense of what has befallen us and ask that we be afforded the time and space to gather ourselves. 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.”
Tributes have poured in for the rapper with Clean Bandit writing on Twitter: Devastated about Costa Titch. Condolences to his family and friends.” Meanwhile, Navy Kenzo posted: Costa Titch from Game, Kamatia, Feel good, U still kept the same energy for 7 years with Mob. Mob will always celebrate you R.I.P”.
Titch’s death comes one month after the death of fellow South African rapper AKA, who was fatally shot in Durban.