Ninja High School were a Canadian dance-punk band, based in Toronto, Ontario, who merged hip hop and hardcore punk influences. It consisted of Matt Collins, Gregory Collins, Adrian Cvitkovic, Star DT, Whitney Kemble, Catherine Ribeiro, Steve Kado and Wolfgang Nessel. Craig Dunsmuir of Glissandro 70 has also been associated with the band.
Ninja High School | |
|---|---|
 Ninja High School, November 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Guelph, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004–2007, 2015 |
| Past members | Matt Collins, Gregory Collins, Adrian Cvitkovic, Star DT, Whitney Kemble, Catherine Ribeiro, Steve Kado, Wolfgang Nessel |
| Website | link |
History
editThe group has its origins at parties in Guelph, Ontario, where frontman Matt Collins rapped while looping samples of James Brown.[1] NHS released an EP and a full-length album on Blocks Recording Club; both releases garnered airplay on CBC Radio 3.
In 2005, the band signed a distribution deal with German record label Tomlab,[2] which also released the two-song "It's All Right to Fight" as part of its Alphabet Series.[3]
They performed their last show in December 2007 at Sneaky Dee's in Toronto.
They performed a one-off "reunion" show at the closing celebration of Blocks Recording Club in May 2015 at Tranzac Club in Toronto.
Reception
editThe Globe and Mail has referred to the band as "popular theoretical-rap cheer squad Ninja High School".[4] Chart magazine wrote that the album Young Adults Against Suicide "is thoughtful, catchy and, for a lo-fi recording, it sounds awesome" and went on to call "Invasion Party" "hands-down one of the best tracks of the year."
Young Adults Against Suicide reached the top ten of some college and alternative music charts in Canada.[5]
Discography
edit- We Win! (2004)
- Alphabet Series H 7-inch (2005)
- Young Adults Against Suicide (2005)
- The Terminator Mixtape Cassette (2007)
References
edit- ^ Flanagan, Nick (May 6, 2004). "Ninja tunes: Indie kiddos take a crack at rap", Now 23 (36). Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^ Richards, Jason (October 20, 2005). "Noisiest Ninjas: Ninja High School promote Participaction", Now 25 (8). Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^ Lindsay, Cam (January 1, 2006). "Ninja High School – 'It's All Right to Fight'", Exclaim!. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ Wilson, Carl (March 3, 2006). "Canadian Music Week", The Globe and Mail, p. R26.
- ^ (November 12, 2005). "The Charts", Edmonton Journal, p. E3.