Costa Titch: rising white SA rap star who embraced black hip-hop

Costa Titch. Image via Twitter @MDNews

RIP: Five things about rapper, amapiano star Costa Titch

From his collabo with AKA, getting signed by Akon, to his amapiano single surpassing 30 million views.. five things about rapper Costa Titch.

Costa Titch: rising white SA rap star who embraced black hip-hop

Costa Titch. Image via Twitter @MDNews

The South African music industry is mourning 27-year-old amapiano musician and hip-hop rapper Costa Titch, who died on Saturday, 11 March after collapsing at Ultra South Africa at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg.

According to unconfirmed reports on Twitter, he had a seizure while on stage before he fell and died.

Here are five things to know about the talented artist:

ALSO READ:Breaking records: Costa Titch’s amapiano hit surpasses 30m views

WHERE WAS THE RAPPER BORN?

According to Briefly, the rapper and amapiano sensation Costa Titch was born in Nelspruit Mpumalanga, South Africa, with the birth name Constantinos “Costa Tsobanoglou.

ALSO READ: ‘He’s a problem’: Akon reveals he listens to Costa Titch

HOW DID HE GET THE NAME COSTA TITCH?

Speaking to Sowetan Live earlier this year, the Big Flexa hitmaker explained that he’s been called his unique stage name since he was a baby.

“My original name is Constantinos, but I’ve been called Costa since I was a baby. I took the “Titch” from my dad who used to be called that during his football-playing years. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was 13 years old. My mum would tell me about him, so when I started becoming a choreographer, I felt that Costa Titch was a better fit for my brand,” he tells the publication. “ 

ALSO READ:AKA and Costa Titch are ‘Super Soft’ in their new collaboration [watch]

AKON SIGNS THE AMAPIANO STAR

TimesLive reported in November 2022 that Senegalese-American singer AKON in an interview revealed that he listens to the Areyeng hitmaker.

IOL reported on Friday, 10 March that the rapper had signed a global deal with Akon’s record label, Konvict Kulture, and they would be teaming up for the “Big Flexa” remix.

The award-winning artist explained that he partnered with Akon’s label to push 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.”

“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.”

ALSO READ: ‘Back to the City’: SA hip-hop festival celebrates 15 years in Joburg

COSTA’S JOINT ALBUM WITH AKA

The 27-year–old rapper Costa Titch, who passed away a month after AKA, released a joint album with the late Fela in Versace hitmaker in September 2021. 

The album You’re Welcome wasn’t AKA’s first rodeo with a joint album as he also teamed up with Anatii on Be Careful What You Wish For in 2017. 

AKA praised the talented 27-year-old rapper for his work on their work video, according to SAHipHop.

TITCH: 30 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE

His amapiano single, Big Flexa, which was released in December 2022 was the most viewed amapiano video in late 2022. 

The video reached 30.7 million views on YouTube, beating out MFR Souls, Major League DJz, Bontle Smith, and Kamo Mphela’s Amanikiniki, which stands at 30 million. 

VIDEO OF HIM COLLAPSING ON STAGE

Image via Twitter @bonakele_donald