Biografie
One of Black Coffee’s defining records began with late-night television and a broken headphone. In a 2016 lecture, the South African artist recalled seeing Hugh Masekela perform Stimela, finding the song’s key while it played and beginning a remix before he had permission—or even a way to contact Masekela. Born Nkosinathi Maphumulo, he had studied jazz and production, DJed from his teens and performed with the group SHANA before the 2003 Red Bull Music Academy encouraged a solo path. The Stimela remix opened his recording career in 2005, followed by his self-titled debut and the founding of Soulistic Music. Later albums widened his collaborative range; Subconsciously featured voices and producers including Celeste, Usher, Pharrell Williams and David Guetta, and won the 2022 Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album. Across that arc, Black Coffee’s method has remained rooted in curation: carrying South African musical ideas outward while keeping house music at the centre.
South Africa