DJ Black Coffee is without a doubt one of the most prominent electronic music producers in Africa. The talented music maker, artist, and disc jokey got his big career break in 2004 when he was chosen as a participant in the 2004 Red Bull Music Academy held in Cape Town. The South African has since gone ahead to launch his own music label, Soulistic Music, and has released more than five studio albums which have all contributed to his present fame and fortune. Besides, Coffee has had several profitable collaborations with some of the big names in the world of showbiz.
DJ Black Coffee Saw Music As a Means of Escaping The Tragedy of Losing His Left Arm
DJ Coffee was born Nkosinathi Maphumulo in Durban, South Africa on the 11th of March 1976. As a result of his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother in the poor township of Mthatha, Eastern Capetown. This experience made him somewhat reserved as he developed a keen interest in music which was fueled by his uncle’s collection of reggae songs.
Tragedy later struck the young boy when he lost the use of his left arm after being run over by a car during a rally in support of the then freed Nelson Mandela from Robben Island in 1990. After the accident, Coffee 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 further, he returned to Durban to study music theory with a major in jazz at Technikon Natal (now called Durban University of Technology). The aspiring artist, however, later dropped out before the completion of his course.
His Career in Music Took Off Around 1995
DJ Black Coffee focused on learning about electronic music production before kick-starting his career around 1995. Luckily for him, the Red Bull Music Academy accepted him in 2004 which meant so much to the performer as it gave his career a big boost.
The following year proved to be a really good one for the entertainer as he launched a remix of Stimela – a 1972 hit by Hugh Masekela. Before the year ran out, he dropped his self-titled debut album and also launched his company, Soulistic Music (PTY) Ltd through which he has released all of his music. His debut album featured great collaborations with big names like Hugh Masekela, Thandiswa Mazwai, Busi Mhlongo, and many more.
In 2007, DJ Black Coffee released his second album, Have Another One, which featured the likes of Busi Mhlongo, Siphokazi, and kwaito sensation L’vovo. The album also introduced Culoe De Song – a then-teenage high school producer from Eshowe Kwa Zulu Natal who eventually emerged as the second artist to be signed under his record label.
DJ Black Coffee was inducted into The Guinness Book of World Records in 2010
A year after releasing his third album titled Home Brewed, Coffee was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records after he DJed 60 hours of non-stop music at Maponya Mall. The DJ equally bagged a couple of awards for Male Artist and Best Urban Dance at the South African Music Awards the same year.
In 2012, he released his fourth body of work titled Africa Rising; a DVD and triple-CD that sold double platinum. 2013 saw the artist perform on the global stage at locations like Panorama Bar, Southport Weekender, Boiler Room, and Circoloco. He also took part in music conferences such as RBMA in Johannesburg and ADE.
After his 2015 global tour that took off at Circoloco in Mexico, DJ Black Coffee dropped his fifth studio album, Pieces of Me, which went platinum in SA in no time at all. In 2018, he released a single titled “Drive” that featured David Guetta. That same year, he dropped a seven-track EP titled Music Is King and in September 2019, he joined American R&B singer Usher to release LaLaLa.
To date, DJ Black Coffee 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.
Coffee is Living a Very Lavish Life Thanks to His $65 Million Net Worth
A man of DJ Black Coffee’s caliber is one whose success journey is inspiring. From the impressive catalog of his hit tracks to his gigs around the world, alongside the incredible albums he has produced under his music label, Coffee has been able to acquire laudable wealth. He is estimated to have a net worth of around 65 million US dollars as of 2020, a figure that is poised to increase through his consistency and hard work.
As with most male celebrities who are successful, their penchant for cars is almost part of the territory. The SA DJ is no exception as he has quite a good number of cars in his garage, including a Bentley, a Mercedes CLK, a Merc Station Wagon, and a Maserati. In addition, he recently acquired a very lavish home in Los Angeles.
He Founded The DJ Black Coffee Foundation Out Of His Personal Experience With Disability
While Coffee lives a lavish lifestyle, his personal experience with disability has moved him to create the DJ Black Coffee Foundation which helps fund sound production training for disadvantaged students. The foundation partners with Bridges for Music and gives preference to physically challenged candidates as long as they hold a Grade 12 certificate and are South African.
The funding covers the full tuition to acquire a Higher Certificate in Sound Production. The candidate, however, has to be responsible for all living and travel expenses should they come from outside of Cape Town.
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DJ Black Coffee Has Been Married and Divorced Twice
DJ Black Coffee has been married and divorced twice. While all the details of his first attempt at matrimony are not known, the woman he was first married to has been identified as Brangelina with whom he had two sons; Esona Maphumulo and Lilitha Maphumulo.
His second foray into marriage happened not so long ago, on the 8th of January 2017. 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 which was held in Sun City was well attended by family and friends. The couple 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. Esona, his eldest son from both marriages, was also in attendance at the wedding.
Coffee and Enhle’s union seemed to be a perfect match until May 2019 when rumors started making the rounds that their marriage was over. According to sources, the union has not been a happy one for Enhle as her husband was always unfaithful while she was also being treated badly by his family. However, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the revelation about the famed DJ fathering a couple of children outside wedlock. The couple’s eventual divorce proceedings were public as well as messy with fans labeling Coffee an abuser.
