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Costa Titch: Rapper, 27, dies after collapsing on stage during his performance at Ultra Music Festival

South African rapper Costa Titch, whose real name was Constantinos Tsobanoglou, reportedly died in a hospital after he seemingly lost consciousness on stage

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA: South African rapper Costa Titch left his fans in utter shock and disbelief following his death after collapsing on stage at the Ultra Music Festival on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The 27-year-old artist, whose real name was Constantinos Tsobanoglou, reportedly died in a hospital after he seemingly lost consciousness while performing at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

Eyewitnesses confirmed that Titch fell down on stage but continued performing his final song after being picked up by his bodyguard. A man can be heard telling the fans to "put your hands up," as the rapper finished his final set. However, the cheers soon get disrupted when the artist appeared unsteady on his feet before tripping for a second time. He then had to be carried off the stage. The footage of the shocking incident that shows the crowd gasping at the sight has been circulating online. South African media personality Phil Mphela confirmed the news of his death on Twitter as he wrote, “RIP: Costa Titch. Nelspruit-born artist and dancer, real name Costa Tsobanoglou, has passed away. He was 27.”

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'Robbing us of our beloved son'

Titch's family also released an official statement. "Death has tragically knocked at our door. Robbing us of our beloved son, brother and grandson," they said, as per the DailyMail. "It is with deep pain that we find ourselves having to acknowledge his passing at this time," the rapper's family said, adding, "As a family we are faced with a difficult time as we try to make sense of what has befallen us and ask that we be afford 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."

Who was Costa Titch?

Titch was originally a backup dancer before he launched his career as a rapper. He was known for his contribution to the Amapiano genre in South Africa and was immensely popular in the country. The rising star, who released hits such as ‘Big Flexa’, ‘Nkalakatha’, and ‘Activate’, was recently signed to rapper Akon's record label Konvict Kulture. In a recent interview, the rapper talked about how he could reach more audiences after signing with the record label. "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," he said.