Ninja Tune

Profile:

Label Code: LC 12885
Ninja Tune is an independent record label that is based in London, England (with a satellite office in Los Angeles for U.S/Canada business), created in 1990 by the duo known as Big Life).

The first four volumes of 'DJ Food - Jazz Brakes', produced by Coldcut, were comprised of instrumental hip-hop cuts. Key in the label's success was the constantly growing roster of very different sounding artists.

With the musical and multi-media innovation of Black and More, the studio know-how and musical expertise of all the artists, the graphic vision of Openmind, and the sound business practices of the label managers and employees, Ninja Tune has grown into a label that prides itself on producing quality music while serving its artists in a way that no major label would.

Sublabels:

Ninja Rox, ...

Info:

Ninja Tune HQ:
PO Box 4296
London, SE11 4WW,
UK

Ninja Tune N. America:
1030 N. Alvarado Street #102
Los Angeles
90026
USA

Manufacturer

Ninja Tune Ninja Tune HQ PO Box 4296 London SE11 4WW UNITED KINGDOM https://discogs.descargarpelis.net/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7849f9887b7999e999d9683829992d9999283">[email protected]

Manufacturer EU

https://discogs.descargarpelis.net/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4d7cccbd4e4cacdcacec5d0d1cac18acac1d0">[email protected]

Links:

ninjatune.net , Facebook , Mixcloud , MySpace , Soundcloud , Pinterest , Tumblr , X , Vimeo , YouTube , Wikipedia , Bandcamp , open.spotify.com , music.apple.com

Label

Edit Label
Data quality rating: Data Correct
4030 submissions pending

For sale on Discogs

Sell a copy

39,855 copies

Year

Reviews

  • jameswhitely's avatar
    jameswhitely
    Edited one day ago
    Sad to see the comments over the past decade, although also oddly comforting to see that I am not alone in my opinions. For me Ninja Tune has always been more about its history and the cultural moment behind its creation then about it's actual output, although there have certainly been some bangers, er... nodders over the years. I also feel Ninja Tune has always been more about the sum of its parts, as evidenced on the many excellent, groundbreaking mixes produced over Solid Steel's history (particularly '93 - '97, for my tastes), some of which have been captured as official releases on the label.

    Whatever the case, the label decidedly took a turn in the late 90s and they never went back. I have not kept on top of their output in recent years, but when I do check in, the catalogue is reflective of a different cultural moment than the one that endeared them to me. Not necessarily a bad thing, but then there's a vapidness and affluence to today's "alternative" clubgoers that seems to contrast with the early 90s UK rave and chillout scene. But maybe I'm just nostalgic for a time I didn't experience.
    • mrsunderground's avatar
      mrsunderground
      it's such a shame that this label become like everything else, just mainstream normie generic samey sounding rubbish.
      • renowm's avatar
        renowm
        Like others have said, a once genuinely groundbreaking label that has been releasing nondescript "Electronic Dance Music" for years now. Ninja should have stuck doing jazzy downtempo breaks and the likes, which they excelled at, rather than sheepishly following the latest trends.
        • BertoltBrechtakt's avatar
          Edited 6 years ago
          When Ninja Tune started to change their face with their Ninja Tune XX box I was like "Well, they can't do NuJazz for the rest of their time. They have to evolve and try something new." So I stayed curious. But listening to them now is not what I expected to happen. Ninja Tune became commercial radio. Apart from the statistically expected exceptions there is hardly any distinction. Even their sublabels are nothing more than mediocre (at best). This strategy might have saved them financially to be fair. But, well... I wish there would have been alternative paths to stroll along. I mean, even Amon Tobin has left the ship now!
          • Bourbonman's avatar
            Bourbonman
            Edited 7 years ago
            Seems like most stuff released on Ninja Tune these days is mediocre to poor. Even from established artists that are in their prime like Max Graef, and i recently heard sample from Bicep´s track "Aura" from their forthcoming LP due to release in September. Pretty crap in my opinion.
            Whenever i see Ninja Tune releases these days, i swiftly avoid them..
            Once a glorious label, today a flawed tarnished gem and a embarrassment..
            • sdwilson's avatar
              sdwilson
              Is it just me or are the vinyl pressings always bad?
              I have all of the fog wax and they sound like crap and skip.
              • cyclo-bob's avatar
                cyclo-bob
                Since Matt Black & Jonathan More gave the label scepter to some other guys, the label is dying away more and more! So sad, was one of my favorite lebels... Instead of superb releases like the early Bonobo stuff, Cinematic Orchestra, Amon Tobin or Wagon Christ and countless other talented fresh people like Homelife or Super Numeri, we nowadays just get a lot of crap in my opinion. When they began to release rubbish like Zero DB, the Quemist and the Bug in 2006, it was the beginning of the end for me. And look at the label today!? Is there only one good, talented new artist on the label (except the residents like Tobin ect.)? Clearly NOPE! Really sad to see sush a good label going pop shit.

                Nobody will even talk about the label in 5 years! Or dose somebody today? Bye Ninja!
                • Escapist's avatar
                  Escapist
                  Ninjitsu-ass-kickin' stuff from one of the most solid, original and just plain brilliant labels ever! I have never heard of a bad tune from any one of their releases. Big beats, blarin' bass and twisted tunes! When I see the Ninja Tune label I buy it! No foolin' round!
                  • Jooles's avatar
                    Jooles
                    Quality artists releasing quality work - not because they're out to make a fast buck or get their cute mug/arse splashed all over the media, but because there's a real ion for doing something different, groundbreaking. Why can't all labels be like Ninja?
                    • fasolada_stop's avatar
                      fasolada_stop
                      My opinion is that Ninja used to be a great label . Jazz Breaks series are exceptional. Unfortunately the recent releases (with the exception of Mr.Tobin and Wagon Christ) recycle the same Ideas.