DJ Maphorisa Says Black Coffee Paved the Way: “Without Him, We Wouldn't Be Here”
- DJ Maphorisa opened up about Black Coffee's role in shaping his career during an Apple Music interview
- Maphorisa recalled recognising Black Coffee's potential as far back as 2009 and described him as a trendsetter
- The Scorpion Kings producer drew a parallel between Black Coffee's mentorship and his own role in developing new talent
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DJ Maphorisa has paid tribute to Grammy-winning producer Black Coffee, crediting him as a foundational figure who helped shape the direction of South African music and, by extension, Maphorisa's own career. The comments came during a recent sit-down on Apple Music's Beats in Space, where Maphorisa spoke candidly about the debt he believes the local industry owes to Black Coffee. Maphorisa said, describing him as a "godfather" of the scene:
"Without Black Coffee, we wouldn't be here; we would be thinking differently."
Black Coffee's rise and global footprint
Black Coffee's journey stretches back to the 1990s, with a wider breakthrough coming after his participation in the Red Bull Music Academy in 2003. He launched his solo recording career in 2005 with a self-titled debut album released through his own Soulistic Music imprint, which included a well-known remix of Hugh Masekela's ‘Stimela.’ His international profile reached its peak when his 2021 album ‘Subconsciously’ earned him the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album in 2022, cementing his place among the most recognised names in global electronic music.
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For Maphorisa, that trajectory was visible long before the awards arrived. He told Slikouronlife:
"With me, I saw it back then, like around 2009-2010 and looking at now at what he has achieved, it's crazy, it's inspiring.”
A cycle of influence in SA music
Maphorisa was also keen to point out that Black Coffee's influence has not stalled. He credited Black Coffee with establishing the sonic identity that gave South African artists a clear direction to follow. He added:
"He's always been a step ahead because he's been our leader, and he has set a lot of trends in S.A. Even back then, he was the guy; he was doing bootleg remixes, he was giving us the sound, he would give us direction."
Maphorisa's own career reflects a similar pattern. From his early production work at Kalawa Jazmee to building BlaqBoy Music and championing amapiano, he has become a key figure in opening doors for younger artists. Among them is Young Stunna, who has previously spoken about the mentorship and platform Maphorisa provided during his rise.
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Source: Briefly News
