KWXY Presents ● The Music of Black Coffee

Black Coffee – Subconsciously Album released on February 5, 2021, by Soulstic Music. Pharrell Williams, David Guetta, Diplo and Usher appear as guest artists.

Black Coffee is a South African DJ, record producer and songwriter who specializes in amapiano, a South African style of house music.  He has released nine albums, a live DVD, has earned multiple industry awards and nominations and has a pending nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards. 

He was born Nkosinathi Innocent Litiya Maphumulo on March 11, 1976 in the township of Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and later moved to Umtata in Eastern Cape Province.  Maphumulo attended school at Technikon Natal in Durban, majoring in jazz studies and later working as a backup singer for musician Madala Kunene.  He worked with two other backup singers, schoolmates Mnqobi Mdabe and Thandukwazi Sikhosana who then formed the Afro-pop trio, SHANA. 

As “Black Coffee” beginning in 2005, he rose to prominence with his self-titled debut album and a remix of “Stimela,” a 1972 hit for South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. The album was released in 2007 on his own label, Soulistic Music and featured samples of notable South African artists, including Masekela.  Coffee’s second album, Have Another One was released the same year and featured more South African artists including Bush Mhlongo and L’vovo.    

His third album released in 2009, Home Brewed, again featured samples and collaborations with more notable South African artists including Ringo Madlingozi, Zonke and for the third time, Hugh Masekela.   His live DVD and triple CD, Africa Rising was taped in 2011 and released in 2012.  The releases went double platinum in less than a month. 

Coffee’s first world tour began at a Circoloco party at the DC10 nightclub in Ibiza, Spain in 2015.  This was followed by 2016 appearances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California and the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida.  His latest studio album, the critically acclaimed Subconsciously, was released in 2021 and features guest artists Pharrell Williams and Usher, among others. A 2022 Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album is pending. 

KWXY Music Radio supports musicians and artists performing in the Coachella Valley, as well as independent music labels, and emerging talent all over the country. Black Coffee is scheduled to make his return to the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Friday April 15th and Friday April 22nd.

Listen to the music of Black Coffee on KWXY Presents hosted by Louie Comella, tonight at 7pm on KWXY Music Radio 92.3 FM ● 1340 AM ● streaming at kwxy.com and ivoxradio.com