Black Coffee Net Worth and Biography

Black Coffee is a South African DJ and one of the richest musicians on the continent, with an estimated net worth of $60 Million. He is one of the few people pushing African sound to the Global stage by collaborating with some of the biggest international stars such as Usher, Alicia Keys, Drake, and P Diddy.

Bio Data

Read More: 

• Forbes Top 10 Richest Musicians in South Africa 2022
• Top 10 Richest Rappers In Africa 2022
• Top 10 Most Influential Artists In Africa (2022)

Biography

Black Coffee was born as Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo on the 11th of  March 1976 in Umlazi, South Africa. He majored in Jazz Studies at Technikon Natal, now known as the Durban University of Technology,  before working as a backup singer for Madala Kunene, with his then schoolmates: Mnqobi Mdabe (Shota) and Thandukwazi Sikhosana (Demor).

Maphumulo, Shota, and Demor later formed an Afro-pop trio called SHANA (Simply Hot and Naturally African) which was signed to Melt 2000, then headed by Robert Trunz. He was chosen as one of two South African participants in the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003, jump-starting him into the South African dance music scene. His first big break was when his song ‘Happiness’ was featured on the ‘DJs at Work’ album.

Career

Black Coffee launched his career with a remix of Hugh Masekela’s 1972 hit Stimela In 2005. He released his self-titled debut album. The album sampled songs of notable South African artists like Thandiswa Mazwai and Hugh Masekela. The album was also well received in South Africa establishing Black Coffee in the South African DJ scene.

In 2007, Black Coffee released his second studio album titled Have Another One, and his third studio album, Home Brewed in 2009. Some tracks within the albums achieved gold and platinum sales in South Africa. In 2010, he tried to make it to the Guinness Book of World Records when he performed for 60 hours non-stop at Maponya Mall, Soweto.

Black Coffee’s third album, “Africa Rising”  was released in 2012, It sold double platinum in a space of a month. The Success of Africa Rising pushed Black Coffee into International Stardom, performing in countries and locations outside the continent.

In 2015, he released his fifth album, Pieces of Me. The album was certified platinum a month after its release by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA). It also won him a BET Award for the best international Act in Africa in 2016. The following year, he had several international collaborations, with established acts like Drake and David Guetta. He also performed at international music festivals such as Coachella and the Ultra Music Festival.

At the end of 2018, he released a seven-track EP titled Music Is King. The EP earned him awards and nominations at the  25th South African Music Awards. In 2021, Black Coffee released his seventh studio album, Subconsciously. The album won the award for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, making him the first African to win in that category.

Black Coffee Net Worth

Black Coffee is one of the richest musicians on the continent, with an estimated net worth of $60 Million. Like most DJs, He made his money from live performances, record sales, Investment, and endorsement deals. He established his own record label “Soulistic Music” in 2005 and since then signed numerous successful artists to the Label.

In 2020, he bought a significant share at the Johannesburg-based Gallo Record Company. The label is the oldest and largest record label in South Africa. It is also responsible for the success of some of the greatest musicians in South Africa, such as Lucky Dube and Thandiswa Mazwai.

Black Coffee increases its net worth by investing in non-music ventures. In 2017, he bought some stakes at Sweepsouth, a home cleaning company With over 7000 workers. He also has some equity at Yoco, an African technology company with over $6.9 million in annual revenue.

He is also the founder of Zone 6 Venue, a high-profile 3000 people capacity club in Soweto. It is the favorite hangout spot for celebrities like AKA, Cassper Nyovest, and Kwesta. Black Coffee also has stakes in numerous companies such as  Andela, GOSPËL, and Epione Healthcare Solutions.