Synopsis
Watkin Tudor Jones goes by his stage name Ninja, and formerly Max Normal. He is a South African rapper. He rose to permanence as a member of the eccentric rave-rap crew Die Antwoord. The group released their breakout single ‘Enter the Ninja’, became viral on the internet.
Early Life and Education
Born on 26 September 1974, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Watkin Tudor Jones spent most of his youth with his father, mother, and younger brothers. Regarding his nationality, Jones is a South African and ethnicity wise, Jones is of mixed ethnical background.
In the autumn of 1989, Jones attended Parktown Boys’ High School; however, he left the school before graduating in the year 1992.
Professional Career
Upon leaving school, Watkin Tudor Jones began numerous less successful band project including ‘The Original Evergreens,’ ‘Max Normal,’ and ‘The Constructus Corporation’ as well. After getting first success with ‘MaxNormal.tv.’, he continued to work with some of this formation’s key parts, especially his longtime partner Yolandi Visser, and Justin de Nobrega.
Band Projects
Jones was the lead vocalist of a live hip-hop act ‘Max Normal’ that released their first album entitled ‘Song Form The Mall’ in the year 2001. The band also performed at various festivals throughout the South Africa like Up the Creek, Oppikoppi, and Splashy Fen.
However, Jones disbanded ‘Max Normal,’ in early 2002, just as the band was reaching South African stardom, charting on 5FM, and headlining festivals like Oppikoppi. After disbanding ‘Max Normal,’ he started the electronic/hip-hop group The Constructus Corporation in collaborative with Markus Wormstorm and Felix Laband.
Jones resurrected and revamped Max Normal as the ‘corporate’ hip-hop group ‘MaxNormal.TV,’ in 2005, after disbanding The Constructus Corporation in 2003. The band featured Justin De Nobrega and Neon Don portraying various recurring roles.
Their 2008 album ‘Good Morning South Africa’ became most popular. The group later evolved into a rap-rave group ‘Die Antwoord’ in 2009. They released their debut studio album ‘$O$’ in 2009. The group came into limelight after releasing their second album Ten$ion in the year 2012.
After a couple of years, they launched their third album ‘Donker Mag’ and in 2016, their fourth album ‘Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid.’ Both of them went viral and reached at number one on the US Dance charts.
TV and Film Career
In addition to his music career, Jones also made his remarkable appearances in TV series and movies. After playing the nonspeaking characters in various South African Nando’s commercials, he co-featured with du Toit in the short documentary on the South African ‘Tokoloshe,’ in 2010.
In the year 2015, Jones also made his silver screen debut with science-fiction film ‘Chappie,’ along with du Toit Yolandi Visser.
Personal Life
The South African rapper, record producer, and actor Watkin Tudor Jones is not married at the moment and doesn’t have a wife. However, Jones is dating his girlfriend and music partner Yolandi Visser for a long time.
The couple also has a daughter named Sixteen Jones, was born on January 15, 2006. Sixteen also made her debut on the music video of ‘I Fink U Freeky,’ at the age of seven and appeared in an issue of Obrigado Magazine with her parents as a baby. The couple also adopted a street-kid named Tokkie.
Jones and his long-time partner Visser first met in Cape Town, and they also formed the South African hip-hop group ‘Die Antwoord,’ along with producer DJ Hi-Tek. The pair never turned their love affair as a husband and wife though they are in a relationship for a long time.
Net Worth
Watkin Tudor Jones is one of the successful South African rapper and record producer who has garnered a hefty amount of money from his career. As of 2017, Jones has an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.