Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started in 1991 by DJs Matt Black and Jonathan More, better known as Coldcut, with a strong leaning towards electronic, abstract hip hop, instrumental hip hop, nu jazz, drum and bass, and chillout music.
The label has developed a number of DJs, producers, and live acts. Ninja Tune's sister imprints, Ntone (now defunct) and Big Dada, specialise in experimental electronic music and hip-hop, respectively. The label has a satellite office in Montreal, Quebec, owned and managed by Jeff Waye.
In 1994 Matt Black's close friend Mixmaster Morris introduced Matt to Openmind - a DJ & design collective in Camberwell - at the Telepathic Fish chill-out club they were running. Openmind included Kevin Foakes aka Strictly Kev of DJ Food. After submitting a re-styled company logo he was employed by Ninja Tune in the capacity of overall design consultant.[1]
In 1995 Shadow Records start to collaborate with Ninja Tune. This partnership introduced the likes of Funki Porcini, DJ Food, 9 Lazy 9, Up, Bustle and Out, Hedfunk, London Funk Allstars to US audiences.
In 2006, a new imprint, Counter Records, was set up to release the debut album of Pop Levi (of Super Numeri), with artists to follow in a rock music vein. The first release on the imprint was Pop Levi's single "Blue Honey" in September 2006, which was followed by Pop Levi's first LP The Return To Form Black Magick Party in February 2007.
In May 2008 Mr. Scruff launched a new project: Ninja Tuna. The first release was Donkey Ride, a collaboration with Quantic, which came out on May 12. .
