Coming to South Africa, TINA Magazine present to you one of africa’s prominet personalities from the music sector. Yes! The award wining DJ Black Coffee
ABOUT
DJ Black Coffee, is a popular South African DJ, music producer,singer and entrepreneur. He began his career around 1995 and has released five albums well as a live DVD under his record label, Soulistic Music. He is arguably one of the most prominent DJ and music producer in Africa. Black Coffee had his big break shortly after being chosen as a participant in the 2004 Red Bull Music Academy held in Cape Town. In September 2015. He was also ranked second richest music personality in Africa in 2017 by Forbes.
EARLY LIFE AND HISTORY
Dj Black Coffee was born as Nkosinathi Maphumulo on the 11th of March 1976 in Durban, South Africa. He is from a broken home as his parents divorced when he was just 12 years old causing him to live solely with his mother in the poor township of Mthatha, Eastern Capetown. This experience made him somewhat reserved yet highly intellectual and thus developed a keen interest in music which was also fueled by his uncle’s collection of reggae songs.
Tragedy struck when he lost the use of his left arm which was paralyzed after he and dozens of people were run over by a taxi driver during a rally in support of the recently freed Nelson Mandela from Robben Island in 1990. This incident was believed to have been politically motivated and it occurred two years after he and his mum moved to Mthatha.
After the accident, he threw himself into music as a means to escape the hurt and he did so with even more focus and dexterity than when he had control of his two arms. Taking it a step higher, he returned to Durban to study music theory with a major in jazz at the Natal Tech. He later Dropped out before the completion of his course.
Nevertheless, he continued learning about electronic music production and actually kick-started his career around 1995. Lucliky for him, the Red Bull Music Academy accepted him in 2004 further giving him a career boost. To date, he has released five albums as well as a live DVD. He also won the “Breakthrough DJ Of The Year” award at the DJ Awards in Ibiza in September 2015 after the release of his fifth studio album, Pieces Of Me.
READ THE BELOW INSPIRING MESSAGE HE SHARE ONLINE;
“Round about this time 26 years ago I was hospitalized after the accident that left with a brachial plexus injury…it was the day the Great Nelson Mandela was released from jail…It was a big day for the country and the world at large…It was the People’s long life Dream coming true…. While I was out celebrating this moment my world was turned upside down,” he said on Instagram.
The then 13-year-old was seriously injured when a taxi driver collided with a crowd of people celebrating Mandela’s release on the streets of Mthatha.
But the teenager did not let the accident end his dreams of becoming a disc jockey, and making it big in the music industry.
“All my dreams of being involved in music were shattered on this day…but faith kept me going, it kept me alive…. I use to hate this day…. every year it would depress me, but I’ve come a long way since then. I’ve learnt so much about myself and I now celebrate this day as it changed my life…because of this day, I’ve learnt to push all the limits…I’ve worked twice as hard to realize my dreams in music…..and today [26] years later I’m shooting a cover for @ellemagazinesa”
CAREER AND LIFE STYLE
In 2005, he launched his career with a remix of Hugh Masekela’s 1972 hit Stimela. Later that year he released his self-titled debut album under his Johannesburg based record label Soulistic Music,Black Coffee’s wholly owned corporate structure, his team’s home base and the jump-off point for himself, and as time has evidenced for many others too. The album featured collaborations with the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo amongst a few. “Black Coffee” was well received in the SADC region and got enough airplay to win an award for The Best Urban Dance Album at the 2006 MTN SAMA. His album, “Black Coffee” was created using very basic music-making software. “I don’t know how to explain the production stages of my album because all I did was put down the basic ideas that I had, I didn’t use any MIDI controllerseverything was played with a computer mouse”.
2007–2008: Have Another One
By 2007, Black Coffee had become a household name in the South African DJ scene, firing up floors with his tribally infectious, vocal-laced beats. In the same year he released his second studio album titled “Have Another One” which featured “Wathula Nje”—a remix of Victor Ntoni’s 2004 jazz ballad “Thetha”. “Wathula Nje” was later released in Europetogether with “Even Though” featuring Bantu Soul through a European label Realtone Records on vinyl and digitally. The twelve-track album featured the likes of Siphokazi, Busi Mhlongo, and kwaito sensation L’vovo to mention a few, it also introduced a then 17-year-old high school producer from Eshowe Kwa Zulu Natal; Culoe De Song who became the second artist to be signed under Soulistic Music.Black Coffee discovered and collaborated with Culoe De Song on an afro-electronic dub titled 100 Zuluwarriors.
During this period Black Coffee was invited to perform at the Red Bull Music Academy Lounge at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona,where he played alongside the cream of local and international DJs, including Little Louie Vega, Alix Alvarez, Franck Roger, Charles Webster, DJ Spinna and Osunlade.
2009–2011: Home Brewed
In 2009, Black Coffee dropped his third album, titled ‘’Home Brewed’’, featuring Ringo Madlingozi, Zonke, Hugh Masekela, Zakes Bantwini and others,and at the South African Music Awards 2010 he scooped two awards in the categories Best Urban Dance Album and Best Male Artist and later in the same year he won Best Produced Album and Best Dance Album at the Metro FM Music Awards and Channel O’s Most Gifted Male for his track “Juju.”
With world demand and interest in a Black Coffee performance starting to stand up and shout so to speak, Black Coffee began a new phase of growth between 2009 and 2010 with a string of new Soulistic Music signed releases from Culoe de Song,Tumelo and the great Zakes Bantwini all achieving gold and platinum sales.In 2011, he was nominated for Best Worldwide Act in the Africa/Asia/Middle East category at the MTV Europe Awards.Since launching his label, Soulistic Music, Black Coffee had toured to Sydney, New York, São Paulo, Luanda, Los Angeles and Athens along with fellow label artists.
In 2010, Black Coffee was inducted in the Guinness Book of World Records when he DJed 60 hours non-stop at Maponya Mall.In 2011, Africa Rising was launched and had its first presentation at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, including a live band and 24-piece orchestra in front of an audience of 8,000; the concert was filmed for the Africa Rising DVD.
Also in 2011, there were four releases on the Soulistic Label including Culoe de Song’s “Elevation”, Sai & Ribatones “Here and Now”, Boddhi Satva’s “Invocation ” and the label’s “Soulistic Music Cuts.
2012–2013: Africa Rising
Black Coffee’s “Africa Rising” DVD and CD (triple CD) sold double platinum in a space of a month in 2012 and later the award for Best Dance Album at the 2013 South African Music Awards. This happened shortly after Soulistic Music announced a newly signed club DJ named DJ Shimza.Black Coffee featured creative artists on the album “Africa Rising,” such as Bucie and the soulful musician Toshi Tikolo on the international House hit “Buya”.
2013 saw Black Coffee continue gracing world stages such as Southport Weekender, Panoroma Bar. Circo Loco Boiler Room and participating in music conferences like ADE and RBMA in Johannesburg. Amongst a few 2013 notable collaborations are with Mi Cas and Black Motion.
In 2013, Black Coffee also became one of the key speakers on his friend Vusi Thembekwayo’s tour. Black Coffee has graced numerous publications including the glossy Destiny Man magazine in November 2013.
2015 – Present: Pieces Of Me & DJ Awards
After his world tour which started on 12 Jan 2015 at Circoloco near Shosholoza at Blue Parrot in Mexico and ended on 31 Aug 2015 at Circoloco at DC-10, Black Coffee came back to his home country to release his 5th album, Pieces Of Me.
Pieces Of Me was released on the second week of September and got criticism overnight for the cover and title identically to US singer “Ledisi”. Musically the album got response from social media as well as charting on iTunes ZA with the song “We Dance Again” he featured Nakhane Toure topping charts by 30 September. On this album Black Coffee worked with Azola, Portia Monique, Ribatone, Nakhane Toure, Mondli Ngcobo, Kensy, NaakMusiq & Lungi Naidoo.
Two weeks later he went to Pacha, Ibiza, Spain to attend Dj Awards which he was a nominee on, on the 29th of Sept 2015 he was named “Breakthrough Dj Of The Year”.
On the 23rd of October 2015, Pieces of Me went platinum in South Africa.
In 2016, he performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Ultra Music Festival. Also in 2016, Black Coffee collected the award for the Best International Act: Africa at the BET Awards 2016, the first South African to do so.
At the end of 2016 he was named 91st on Resident Advisor’s top 100 DJ’s list encompassing all professional DJ’s. In 2017 he contributed to the beat of the song “Get It Together” on Drake’s album “More Life” released in March 2017.
Black Coffee’s Worth
Well, there is no actual figure revealed about black coffee but he was ranked 2nd richest musician in Africa by forbes in 2017.
Estimates has put his net worth at about $5million dollars.
Things You Don’t Know About Black Coffee
1. Dj Black Coffee performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and Ultra Music Festival.
2. Black Coffee is the first South African to win the award for Best International Act: Africa at the BET Awards in 2016.
3. On Drake’s album more life, he was credited as a contributor to one of the songs on the album “Get It Together.
4. In the short space of one month, Coffee’s “Africa Rising” DVD and CD (triple CD) was certified double platinum.
5. He was named the 91st on Advisor’s 100 Dj’s list encompassing all professional DJ’s.
Wife And Family
On the 8th of January 2017, Dj Black Coffee tied the knot in a white wedding ceremony with his longtime partner, Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa. She is an actress, Tv presenter and director. The ceremony was held in Sun City, South Africa in the presence of family and friends. They also had present two of their kids Anesu and Asante who walked down the aisle before them. These kids were born from the 7 years Black Coffee and Enhle were living together after they were traditionally married on 13 May 2011, in Soweto.
Interestingly, Dj Black coffee was previously married to Ex-wife Brangelina with whom he had two sons; Esona Maphumulo and Lilitha Maphumulo. Esona (eldest son from both marriages) was also in attendance at the wedding.
Watch Black Coffee documentary doing his thing and living life below
Photos Of DJ Black Coffee’s Valuable Properties; Cars And House Below
REFERENCES: tinamagzine.com,answersafrica.com,musicmag.co.za
