2. XL Recordings
XL Recordings is a British independent record label owned by Richard
Russell. It originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records.
XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Radiohead, The White Stripes,
Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A., Vampire Weekend, The xx, Gil Scott-Heron, Tyler, the
Creator, and Adele.
The label releases albums worldwide and operates across a range of
genres.
During the early nineties, XL Recordings releases were dance orientated
ranging from Belgium techno to Breakbeat hardcore to Drum and Bass.
Russell later broadened the musical horizons of the label whilst maintaining a
credo of working with artists he saw as original and inventive.
More recently XL recordings have released the album 21 by Adele and
have signed Tyler the creator to a one album deal.
3. Ill Flava Records
Ill Flava Records is a record label based in East London it was founded by
UK Hip Hop award winner Karl Hinds in 2000. The label gained instant
recognition with its classic first release "Don Gramma" by Karl Hinds.
Ill Flava released its first album in 2002 Hindsight by Karl Hinds and featured
recording artists Blak Twang, Estelle, Wildflower, and Seanie T.
Ill Flava Records entered the International music scene when Karl Hinds
secured the exclusive rights in the UK to release German producer DJ
Dynamite's album Welcome to the world of Joni Rewind while on tour with
him in Germany supporting ASD.
4. I-innovate
I-innovate is a London-based independent record label that branched
out from video production in to music management from 2009. I-
innovate was founded by Najero Okenabirhie in 2008.
Najero’s background stems from the music industry originally working with
Sanctuary Music Management on royalties accountancy projects for Iron
Maiden and Bruce Dickinson in the early 00’s. Najero left Sanctuary in
2002 to set up his own imprint label Greasy Geezers. Greasy Geezer’s first
releases were UK Garage titles.
The Greasy Geezers label was disbanded and repackaged as a dance
production house collaborating with other dance acts and producers on
the I-innovate roster.
5. Ninja Tune
Ninja Tune is a London-based independent record label started by DJs
Matt Black and Jonathan More.
The label caters largely to artists who make Alternative Hip Hop,
Instrumental music, Nu Jazz, Drum and Bass, Trip Hop.
Pre-dating Ninja Tune is the radio show Solid Steel, which Coldcut set up
in 1988. What initially began as a radio show on then pirate Kiss FM went
on to become a weekly podcast and also the name of live nightclub
events showcasing the talents of a number of Ninja Tune artists. Solid
Steel is also the name of a series of DJ mix CDs from the label.
