Lex Records

Lex Records is a British independent record label associated with alternative hip hop, alternative rock, and electronic music. Its catalogue has been characterised as stylistically broad, with Dazed describing the label as having a “wildly creative output” spanning more than a decade.

The label began in 2001 as a part-time, hip hop-oriented imprint of Warp Records, started by Tom Brown. Early activity focused on limited releases, before expanding into full-length albums; releases by Boom Bip and Non-Prophets were cited as key in that shift. As the operation grew, Lex moved from one-off singles toward developing a longer-term roster.

By 2005, Lex had developed into a larger independent label with artists including Danger Mouse, Boom Bip, Fog, and Subtle. In early 2005, Warp’s Steve Beckett and Kev Fleming agreed to sell the company to Brown, a change that made Lex fully independent while maintaining an ongoing relationship with Warp for support.

Across its history, Lex has been linked to left-field approaches to hip hop and adjacent genres. Artists associated with the label illustrate that range, from experimental hip hop and beat-driven electronic work to singer-led projects that sit closer to alternative rock. Notable names connected with Lex include Prefuse 73, Fly Anakin, Liv.e, and zzzahara, alongside other artists such as Loscar, LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON, U, and Tengu.