Swazibella, date(2009-7-23)-date(2025-5-23)
Durban-born Nkosinathi Maphumulo has been on the music scene for over a decade but only got his break a few years ago. Nkosinathi, otherwise known as Black Coffee, is popular for his smash hit remixes, most of which have dominated the airwaves in the past couple of years.
This maestro DJ and producer forged his musical background with his school choir and by studying the keyboard. He studied music in Durban because he felt that as a producer, he had to deepen his overall musical knowledge, develop his listening skills and advance his knowledge of music theory .
Black Coffee, who is a group member of ‘Shana', said being a DJ requires extensive research particularly when it comes to knowing the latest trends on the DJing scene. When asked who helped him achieve his goals, he said “There was no one in particular who really put me in the mainstream; everything I have done on my own thus far has paved my way.”
2003 saw Black Coffee starting to put his first project together. He revealed that his first album 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 controllers or anything along those sophisticated lines. All I did was program the beats.”
His first big break was when his song ‘Happiness' was featured on the DJs at Work album. Last year, he enjoyed international exposure when his song ‘Music' got signed in New York and was released by Keith Thompson on the album, ‘Worlds Collide'.
2005 saw him remix Mbongeni Ngema's ‘Stimela Sase Zola ' which was released on the ‘ Durban 's Finest' album, ‘Finest Level'. Later that year, however, he got caught up in some unexpected controversy after remixing Simphiwe Dana's song ‘Ndiredi'. The remix was played on one of Gauteng 's radio stations without Dana's formal approval, landing him in hot water. “I think there was miscommunication with the label. I took the remix to them and informed them that before the remix could be released or broadcast, the owner of the original work would have to be informed. I don't know how it got onto radio, but the song was out of my hands at that stage.”
Black Coffee is always being praised for his excellent re-workings of other songs. Another great remix, the track ‘Mojo' originally produced by ‘Zee' and featured on Dj Mandla's ‘Jozi Knights' house compilation, has solidified his reputation.
Nevertheless, he advises up and coming producers not to neglect their own material by being too involved with remixing other people's songs. “It is best to have your own sound that people can relate to; instead of constantly hearing remixes of other people's songs.” He also advises aspiring producers to learn how to play the keyboard, because he believes it is one of the fundamental instruments involved in music-making. He added that the use of live instruments in a song is also very important, giving a track that final magic touch and bringing it to life.
For Black Coffee the hardest thing about the music industry is that there aren't many people who'll do the groundwork for you. “If you want the world to hear your material, work very hard and convince your DJ friends to play your tracks either at gigs or in clubs so you can gauge the audience response to your music.”
In the studio, he relies on the computer music making software, Logic Audio, a MIDI controller and a professional sound card. That's an understated gear list when one considers the impact he's made on the music scene.
Black Coffee is proof that if you have real skill when it comes to producing, it won't take much for you to achieve your goals. After all he's managed to penetrate the music industry with only a desktop computer, some music-making software and a lot of passion.
Some of his songs are Lo mhlaba, Molo sweetie, Kwanele,