South African rapper and dancer Costa Titch, whose real name is Costa Tsobanoglou, has died at the age of 27.
He collapsed while performing at the Ultra music festival on Saturday, March 12th, 2023.
The news of his passing has sent shockwaves throughout the South African music industry, with fans and colleagues heartbroken over the loss of a rising star.
Costa Titch was born in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga in 1995 and was known for his hits Nkalakatha and Activate.
He was a popular figure in the South African music scene, with his unique blend of hip-hop, amapiano, and kwaito music resonating with fans across the country.
His amapiano single, Big Flexa, was released in December 2021 and became the most viewed Amapiano video in late 2022, with over 30 million views on YouTube.
The track features Alfa Kat, Banaba Des, Sdida, Man T, and C’buda M. In the song’s music video, the rapper shows off his impeccable dancing skills with Soweto’s Finest, a local dance group.
The video has wowed fans on other platforms as well. On Spotify, the track has accumulated more than six million listens while on TikTok, the sound has been used more than 105,000 times.
Costa Titch’s rise to fame was meteoric, and many believed he was on track to become one of South Africa’s biggest music stars.
Tributes have poured in from across the South African music industry following his passing, with fans and colleagues expressing their condolences on social media.
Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela confirmed the news of Costa Titch’s death on Twitter just before midnight, and his tweet was followed by a string of sombre reactions from industry colleagues.
Fellow musician Junior Da Rocka and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema are among those to seemingly reference the rapper’s passing.
The cause of his death remains unclear, and authorities have not released any further information at this time.
Costa Titch’s passing comes just weeks after the death of fellow rapper AKA, who was shot outside a restaurant in Durban.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) are still investigating AKA’s death. Many in the industry are mourning the loss of two young and talented rappers in such a short space of time and are calling for greater protection for musicians in South Africa.
The South African music industry has been hit hard by tragedies in recent years. In 2018, hip-hop artist HHP died by suicide, and in 2020, kwaito star Mshoza passed away from complications related to diabetes.
These losses have sparked discussions about mental health and wellbeing in the music industry, with many calling for greater support for artists.
The deaths of Costa Titch and AKA have reignited these discussions, with many industry professionals speaking out about the pressures facing musicians in South Africa.
The industry has long been plagued by issues such as piracy, poor pay, and lack of access to resources, and many believe that these issues are contributing to the mental health challenges facing musicians.
The deaths of these two young rappers have also highlighted the need for greater safety measures at music events.
The Ultra music festival, where Costa Titch collapsed, has faced criticism in the past for its safety record, and many are calling for a review of safety protocols at music festivals across the country.
Despite the challenges facing the industry, many are optimistic about the future of South African music. The country has a rich and diverse musical heritage, with genres such as kwaito, amapiano.
Costa Titch’s rise in the music industry was nothing short of meteoric.
He had only been making music for a few years, but had already achieved incredible success, collaborating with some of the biggest names in South African hip hop and amapiano music.
In addition to his music career, Costa was also known for his dancing skills, often incorporating his moves into his music videos and live performances.
He was a popular figure in the entertainment industry and had a large and devoted fanbase.
May he rest in peace.
