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 through his school choir and by studying the keyboard. He studied music 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 member of the group Shana, believes that being a DJ requires extensive research particularly when it comes to knowing the latest trends on the DJing scene. So who helped him achieve his goals? “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,” he added.