Video shows rapper Costa Titch collapsing on stage before his death

South African rapper Costa Titch has died after collapsing on stage twice, in quick succession, during a weekend performance.

Watch this footage of Costa, in a white shirt, running onto the stage on Saturday night with microphone in hand at the Ultra South Africa concert near Johannesburg – he went right into one of his songs and sounded very well.

Then the video cuts to Costa singing another tune later in the gig - he appears to reach for one of his backing vocalists before collapsing to the ground. He got up and finished the song, but quickly fell back.

His team and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but they were unable to save him. His cause of death has not been released.

Costa's family released a statement thanking first responders...while a representative from Ultra South Africa said they were "devastated" by Costa's death and will remember him as a "rapper talented, dancer, singer, songwriter, collaborator and friend of the festival."

Costa was best known for his hit "Big Flexa", which has 45 million views on YouTube and featured Akon on the remix.

Waiting for your permission to load Instagram media.

Akon, who signed Costa to his Konvict Muzik imprint, paid tribute to his artist on IG...praising him for being "hardworking" and noting that he died doing what he loved most .

"Costa Titch had a...