Shinobi Ninja
| Shinobi Ninja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Website |
www |
Shinobi Ninja is an American rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band is known for high-energy performances and eclectic sound, blending music genres such as hip hop, punk, funk, metal, reggae, electronic, and rock.[1][2] In 2015, the band's song "What If Times" won the award for Best Video at The MOVE Music Video Awards.
Band Members
- Baby G – Vocals
- Alien Lex – Bass Guitar
- Terminator Dave – Drums
- DJ Axis Powers – Turntables
- Kid Shreddi aka Maniak Mike – Guitar
- (D.A.), Doobie aka Duke Sims – Vocals, Guitar
Former members
- Jonathan Nunes Simone, aka Jonny On The Rocks — Bass Guitar
Band Origins
Prior to joining the band, Edara Johnson was a professional dancer, performing for such artists as Rihanna, Santigold, Jason Derulo, Ricky Martin, Mylène Farmer, Cassie, P. Diddy, LL Cool J, Nelly, and Daddy Yankee.[3][4] In 2006, she made an appearance in the video "Long Way To Go" by Cassie.[5]
Meanwhile, Hrdina and both Machinists were in a band called Stalley & The Wax Machine, which broke up in early 2008. Shinobi Ninja formed shortly afterward. Several members of the band met at a rehearsal and recording studio called Progressive Music in the Film Center Building in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. D.A., Simone, and M. Machinist worked at the studio, and Johnson took vocal classes there. In 2010, their original bass player Simone left the band, and Alien Lex replaced him.
Of the six members of the band only Duke Sims and Alien Lex are originally from Brooklyn, both being born and raised in Bensonhurst. Lead Singer Baby G is from Lawrence, Massachusetts. The twins Mike and Dave are from Piermont, New York. Axis Powers is originally from Toronto, Canada.
Familial Connections
Baby G's sister Esia was inducted into the UMass Lowell Hall Of Fame in 2013 for Track & Field. Alien Lex and D.A. are cousins. A Lex is also cousin to singer Carmen Consoli. Terminator Dave & Maniak Mike are polar-fraternal twins.
Performances
On July 12, 2009, the band played the Afropunk Festival on a block in Brooklyn.
In 2010 and 2011 the band played Summerfest, the worlds biggest music festival held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On August 6, 2011, the band played the first ever 311 Pow Wow Festival.[6]
On July 28, 2012, the band played the opening set at the first ever Catalpa Festival on Randall's Island covered by Rolling Stone.[7]
They have also played SXSW and The Warped Tour multiple years.
2013 Shinobi Ninja went on the High School Nation tour Sponsored by Monster Cables & Headphones where they played over 20 West Coast High schools in a month.
Summer 2014 Shinobi Ninja went on Escape From New York Tour, a DIY tour circling the country over 5 weeks.
On March 24th, 2016 the band played the Grammy Career Day at Pace University in New York City.
The band has performed alongside a variety of artists, including Tom Morello, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Robert Glasper & Erykah Badu, Black Sheep, Das EFX, The Black Keys, Das Racist, Azealia Banks, Kool Keith, Too Short, Schoolly D, Dinco D, AFI, Thirty Seconds To Mars, Linkin Park, Slightly Stoopid, Fishbone, Dumpstaphunk, John Brown’s Body, Collie Buddz, Chiddy Bang, The Memorials, Thomas Pridgen, Trust Company, Mike Posner, Young Dirty Bastard, Green Jelly, Dog Fashion Disco, DJ Skribble, Saigon Kick, Smif-n-Wessun, John Forté, Homeboy Sandman, Bad Rabbits, Beebs & Her Money Makers, Sadat X, M-1, Les Nubians, Tokyo Police Club, Cage, and Rise Against
Media and Appearances
On January 28, 2010, the band released "Shinobi Ninja Attacks!", a Nintendo-style video game album for iPhone, iPod, and iPad. The game was featured in the Apple Store's "Hot New Games" section and downloaded over 10,000 times. They are the first independent band to release an app based on their likeness and music.[8]
Baby G was a coach on the MTV show Made, airing on October 7, 2010. (Season 11, Episode 11)
In February 2011, the band placed second in the "Artist On The Verge" at the New Music Seminar in Los Angeles.
The band released their debut album, "Rock Hood" in April 2011.
"Stop" was featured in the third episode ("El Diablo") of the American television drama series The Killing, which aired on April 10, 2011 on AMC.
September 16, 2011, "Rock Hood" won The Freshmen and was added into rotation on mtvU.
The video game NBA 2K12, released October 4, 2011, features the Shinobi Ninja song "Rock Hood". As of April 2012, sales had reached 4 million units.
"Rock Hood" is featured in the video game Tap Tap Revenge 3.
January 2014 Fuse TV Featured Shinobi Ninja on Fuse News Presents Fresh Cuts.
A Haunted House 2 soundtrack album, released April 2014 for the American comedy horror film. The song "Amped To 12" by Shinobi Ninja was written specifically for the film and is the only song to play during the film as well as playing as soon as the film cuts to credits.[9]
The band released their second album, the double album "Escape From New York / Return From..." in June 2014.
The band released their third album, a freestyle free form album recorded live in 2 weeks entitled "Artistic Visions" in January 2015.
February 2015 Terminator Dave played the drum solos on "The Matrix, Season 2, Episode 6 of Broad City.
February 6, 2015 Ebony wrote a feature on the band and the song "What If Times".
On April 26th, 2015, the song "What If Times" directed by Baby G, won the award for Best Video at The MOVE Music Video Awards.
In January 2016 the band started their own talk show called "Heavy Metal Breakfast" which they shoot at YouTube Space NY.
Their fourth album "Bless Up" will be released in November 2016.
Discography
Studio albums
- Rock Hood (2011)
- Escape From New York / Return From... (Double Album) (2014)
- Artistic Visions (2015)
- Terrible Band (2017
EPs
- Brooklyn To Babylon (2009)
- The Video Game EP (2010)[10]
- LiL Bud B-Sides (2011)
- The Chronicles Of DAB & Friends (2014)
Mixtapes
- Blunts & Nunchucks (2010)[11]
- The Chronicles Of Hashy Larry (2011)
Non album singles
- ILL ISH (2012)
- Rusty Stab (2012)
- I'm The One (2013)
- The Sounds Of Calizona (2013)
- Acid Man (2014)
- MeUWe Feat. Dinco D (Leaders Of The New School) (2014)
- FunBang MAXI Single (2016)
- Monks In The Moshpit Feat. Wordspit The Illest (2016)
- K.U.N.T Produced by DJ Jawa (2016)
Live albums
- Live At The Bitter End (7/4/09)
- Live At Converse Rubber Tracks (11/11/11)
Van Album
- The Monster Van Album (2014)
References
- ↑ "New Mountain AVL". New Mountain AVL. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Shinobi Ninja — Rock Hood". MTV Iggy. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ Santogold @ Coachella 2008. YouTube. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Twitpic - Share photos and videos on Twitter". TwitPic. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ Cassie - Long Way 2 Go (video). YouTube. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Pow Wow Festival 2011 - Bands + Schedule". 311powwowfestival.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "SHINOBI NINJA @ CATALPA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2012". photoshelter.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Shinobi Ninja Release iPhone App, Bundled With EP - hypebot". hypebot.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "'A Haunted House 2' Soundtrack Announced - Film Music Reporter". filmmusicreporter.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "The Video Game EP". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Shinobi Ninja Release Blunts and Nunchucks Mixtape - The Audio Perv". theaudioperv.com. Retrieved 28 October 2015.