Black Coffee (DJ)

In 2005, Maphumulo launched his career with a remix of Hugh Masekela's 1972 hit Stimela.[15] Later that year he released his self-titled debut album,[14] and created his record company Soulistic Music.[16] The album sampled songs of notable South African artists like Thandiswa Mazwai, Hugh Masekela and featured Busi Mhlongo, among others.[17] He was well received in the country and was quickly lauded as a "rising star."[18] His album, 'Black Coffee', was created using very basic music-making software. Maphumulo himself stated, "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; everything was played with a computer mouse".[19]

By Mid-2007, Black Coffee had become recognized in the South African DJ scene with tribal, vocal-laced beats.[20] In the same year he released his second studio album titled Have Another One,[21] which featured "Wathula Nje," a remix of Victor Ntoni's 2004 jazz ballad "Thetha". "Wathula Nje" was later released in Europe together with "Even Though" featuring Bantu Soul through the European label Realtone Records on vinyl[22] and on digital. The twelve-track album featured the likes of Siphokazi, Busi Mhlongo, and Kwaito sensation L'vovo. It also debuted a then 17-year-old high school producer from Eshowe Kwa Zulu Natal, Culoe De Song, who became the second artist to be signed under Soulistic Music.[23] Maphumulo discovered and collaborated with Culoe De Song on an afro-electronic dub titled 100 Zulu warriors.[24][25]

During this period Black Coffee performed at the Red Bull Music Academy Lounge at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona,[26] alongside recognized DJs such as Little Louie Vega, Alix Alvarez, Frank Roger, Charles Webster, DJ Spinna and Osunlade.[27]

In 2009, Maphumulo released his third album, Home Brewed, featuring Ringo Madlingozi, Zonke, Hugh Masekela, Zakes Bantwini and others.[28]

Between 2009 and 2010, new releases from Culoe de Song,[29] Tumelo[30] and Zakes Bantwini achieved gold and platinum sales.[31]

In 2010, he tried to make it to Guinness Book of World Records when he performed for 60 hours non-stop at Maponya Mall, Soweto.[32] He also won two awards in the categories of Best Urban Dance Album and Best Male Artist at the 2010 South African Music Awards.[33][34]

In 2011, Africa Rising was launched at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It included a live band and 24-piece orchestra in front of an audience of about 8,000 people and was filmed for the Africa Rising DVD.[6] That year saw four other releases including Culoe de Song's "Elevation",[35] Sai & Ribatones "Here and Now,"[36] Boddhi Satva's "Invocation"[37] and the label's "Soulistic Music Cuts."[38]

In 2012, the "Africa Rising" DVD and triple-CD sold double platinum in a space of a month.[39] Maphumulo featured different artists on the album, such as Bucie and soulful musician Toshi Tikolo on the song "Buya."[40]

In 2013, he performed internationally at locations such as Southport Weekender,[41] Panoroma Bar,[42] Circoloco,[43] Boiler Room.[44] He also participated in music conferences like ADE[45] and RBMA in Johannesburg.[46] That same year, he was involved in notable collaborations with musical group Mi Casa[47] and house duo Black Motion.[48] He also became one of the key speakers on his friend Vusi Thembekwayo's tour.[49] In South Africa, he was featured in November 2013 in the Destiny Man edition of Destiny.[50]

He began his first world tour in January 2015 at Circoloco, Mexico[51] and it ended in August 2015 at Circoloco at DC-10.[52] That same year, he released his fifth album, Pieces of Me.[53]

Pieces of Me was released in the second week of September. It received criticism for its cover and title bearing a similarity to that of the 2011 album Pieces of Me by US singer Ledisi.[54] Musically, the album was widely positively received, with some music critics saying that it was among the best music albums of the year.[55] It went platinum in South Africa in October.[56] On this album, he collaborated with Azola, Portia Monique, Ribatone, Nakhane Toure, Mondli Ngcobo, Kensy, NaakMusiq & Lungi Naidoo.[57][58]

In 2016, he performed at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival[59] and Ultra Music Festival.[60][61] At the end of the year, he was ranked 91st on Resident Advisor's top 100 DJs list.[62]

In 2017, he contributed to the beat of the song "Get It Together" on Drake's album More Life, which was released in March 2017.[63]

In 2018, he released a single where he collaborated with David Guetta that was titled "Drive" featuring Delilah Montagu.[64] It was featured on Guetta's album 7.[65] At the end of that year, he released a seven-track EP titled Music Is King.[66]

In September 2019, he released "LaLaLa" with American R&B singer Usher.[67]

In 2021, Black Coffee released an Album title Subconsciously [68]