South African rapper Costa Titch dies after video surfaced showing him collapsing on stage

() — South African rapper Costa Titch passed away suddenly this weekend, his family reported on Instagram, hours after performing at a music festival.

The musician, whose real name is Constantinos Tsobanoglou, was 28 years old.

Footage circulating on social media appears to show Tsobanoglou falling onto the stage before being picked up by someone next to him. Tsobanoglou then stands up for several seconds before collapsing.

“It is with deep sorrow that we find it necessary to acknowledge his passing at this time,” Tsobanoglou’s family said in a post on their Instagram. “We are grateful to the first responders and to everyone who was present in his last hours.”

The statement did not name the cause of death.

The festival where he was performing, Ultra South Africa, said it was “devastated” by the young rapper’s death.

“Costa was an inspiring voice on the South African Amapiano scene: a talented rapper, dancer, singer, songwriter, collaborator and friend of the festival,” the statement said.

Tsobanoglou was a rising sensation in South Africa and one of the biggest stars of the amapiano, a musical style characterized by deep house, log drum-driven bass lines and soulful piano melodies. Her rap style combines indigenous South African culture, style and languages ​​with international rap subgenres such as trap music, originating from Atlanta’s thriving hip hop scene.

Tsobanoglou was born in Nelspruit, northeast South Africa, and had a successful dance career before becoming a rapper.

Tsobanoglou’s song “Big Flexa” made him a star across Africa after breaking through on TikTok. The rapper had recently been associated with a music label founded by Senegalese-American musician Akon, who was featured on a remix of “Big Flexa.”

Tsobanoglou’s death comes a month after his friend and collaborator, fellow rapper AKA, was killed in a shooting.

‘s Joshua Berlinger contributed to this article.