Black Coffee
South African DJ and producer Black Coffee brings African rhythms, soulful house and vocal collaborations to records and dance floors around the world.
At 100 nudges, fangea sends Black Coffee’s team an official invite.
🔒 Star boosts open once Black Coffee claims this page.
Latest
Black Coffee’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Real name
- Nkosinathi Maphumulo
- Born
- March 11, 1976, Durban, South Africa
- Raised
- Durban and Mthatha, Eastern Cape
- Work
- DJ, producer and founder of Soulistic Music
- Early turning point
- Red Bull Music Academy, Cape Town, 2003
- Grammy
- Subconsciously, Best Dance/Electronic Music Album, 2022
Mini bio
How it started.
Born in Durban and raised partly in Mthatha, Nkosinathi Maphumulo studied jazz at Natal Tech and sang in the group SHANA. His uncle’s reggae collection was an early influence. He lost the use of his left arm as a teenager, then kept building a life around music.
Making his own records.
The 2003 Red Bull Music Academy in Cape Town helped him rethink his next step. Instead of assembling a DJ compilation, he wanted to make original South African house music and send it out into the world. His self-titled debut arrived in 2005 on his own Soulistic Music label, with a reworking of Hugh Masekela’s “Stimela” among his early calling cards.
A sound that travels.
Pieces of Me followed in 2015. His Hï Ibiza residency began in the club’s opening year, 2017, and became a regular home for his blend of African percussion and soulful house. Records such as “Drive” with David Guetta and Delilah Montagu brought that approach to new listeners.
Records and bigger stages.
Subconsciously, released in 2021, brought together collaborators including Usher, Sabrina Claudio, Celeste, Msaki and Pharrell Williams. It won a Grammy in 2022. That year he was also an executive producer and co-writer on Drake’s Honestly, Nevermind. His recent work stretches from “Trippy Yeah” with Jimi Jules to orchestral concerts and his continuing Ibiza residency.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2025Trippy YeahJoint artist with Jimi Jules
- 2023The Rapture Pt.IIICo-producer with &ME
- 2022Honestly, NevermindExecutive producer and co-writer on Drake’s album
- 2021SubconsciouslyArtist and producer
- 2018DriveJoint artist with David Guetta; featuring Delilah Montagu
- 2015Pieces of MeArtist; international edition released in 2016
Awards
Quotes
Music is life to me and I want you to feel that with every beat and melody.Black Coffee, Recording Academy interview
Speaking about Subconsciously in a February 2021 interview.
Trivia
- His stage name began as an ex-girlfriend’s nickname. He used it on his Red Bull Music Academy application.
- He sang in SHANA before his solo recording career took shape.
- His uncle’s reggae record collection helped shape his early listening.
- His Hï Ibiza residency began in 2017, the year the club opened.
Find Black Coffee
Follow his releases, sets and life on the road.
Are you Black Coffee?
Fans built this page. Claim it to connect with them and unlock Star boosts, or request a takedown if you’d rather it not exist.