301Studios

Lore & Background

The label's discography included compilations like TheFutureOfMusic I: Electronic by various artists, and albums such as lovelife. by Thosquanta, No One From Now On by Word Clock, and Codes of Ashes by Codes of Ashes. Other releases included reissues of works by Rek the Heavyweight and Thosquanta, as well as remix projects like Era Origin Decoded by Codes of Ashes/various artists. As of 2017, Lexvold co-founded the independent label Give/Take with Augustus Watkins, who was also affiliated with Bijou Noir, DEATHDANCE, Tulip Tiger, and the podcast Tied To The Tracks.

Reader's Guide

301Studios represents a small but deliberate independent label that prioritized artist development over commercial radio appeal, drawing inspiration from earlier independent labels known for their artist-centric models. Its significance lies in its commitment to nurturing artists rather than seeking pre-packaged hits, a philosophy that aligned with the ethos of labels like Amphetamine Reptile and Wax Trax!. The label's legacy is reflected in its catalog of electronic and hip-hop releases, which document a specific period in Minneapolis's independent music scene. Though the label ceased operations in 2012, its founder continued the independent label model by co-founding Give/Take in 2017. The label's roster and affiliated artists show a network of musicians who contributed to its output, and its discography includes both original works and reissues. 301Studios serves as an example of a small-scale independent operation that focused on long-term artist growth rather than immediate commercial success.

Did You Know?

• 301Studios was founded by Joshua Lexvold, who later co-founded the independent label Give/Take in 2017.
• The label's business model was inspired by Amphetamine Reptile, Ipecac Records, and Wax Trax!.
• Rek the Heavyweight, one of the label's artists, was formerly of Atmosphere.
• The label released a compilation titled TheFutureOfMusic I: Electronic by various artists.

Founding & Philosophy

301Studios emerged in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2003 as an independent imprint dedicated to electronic music and hip-hop. Its creator, Joshua Lexvold—an artist already active under projects like KPT and DEATHDANCE—built the label with a clear philosophical compass. Rather than chasing pre-packaged, radio-ready talent, Lexvold looked to the legacy of storied independent labels such as Amphetamine Reptile, Ipecac Records, and Wax Trax! as a blueprint. Those predecessors had demonstrated that nurturing artists over time could produce a loyal catalog and a genuine creative community. 301Studios adopted that same long-horizon approach, investing in the growth of its roster instead of simply signing acts that already had a finished sound. The label operated out of the Twin Cities for roughly nine years, closing its doors in 2012. Throughout that span, it carved out a niche in the Midwest independent scene, offering a home for electronic and hip-hop artists who valued artistic evolution over commercial shortcuts.

Roster & Artist Ecosystem

301Studios maintained a core roster of nine artists whose work spanned electronic and hip-hop territories. The lineup included Thosquanta, Word Clock, Codes of Ashes, Mister Thrasher, One 2wenty One, Terrell Lamont, Boxcar Strainsun, As the Evening Wore On, and Rek the Heavyweight—also known as Spawn, a former member of the well-known group Atmosphere. Beyond that inner circle, the label cultivated a broader network of affiliated artists who released individual songs or projects through 301Studios. This extended family included names like Amdeide, Bryantist, Caustic, Dave Swift, Death By Drowning, Dissociate, Endless Blue, Evarial, Fadladder, Gabrielle, Heliosphere, Humanoia, Jobot, KMA, Little Tin Box, Luio, Mark Suhonen, Max Haben, Monz tha Illeet, OBCT, Tameya Clark, TweakerRay, and Vertiform, among others. The sheer breadth of this roster reflected Lexvold's commitment to artist development: rather than a handful of marquee names, the label supported a wide and varied community of creators, many of whom were still finding their voice.

Catalog & Musical Output

Over its nine-year run, 301Studios released a catalog that reflected the breadth of its roster's ambitions. The label's output ranged from solo albums like Thosquanta's lovelife. and In Vitro Mutilation, Word Clock's No One From Now On, and Mister Thrasher's Through A Glass Darkly, to collaborative and remix projects such as Young, Rich & Out of Control and Era Origin Decoded. Rek the Heavyweight saw multiple re-releases through the imprint, including The Present, Timeless, and Two, suggesting the label valued preserving and recontextualizing earlier work. One 2wenty One contributed Life, Sin and God Vol. 1, Terrell Lamont released Turn the Radio Off, Codes of Ashes put out both a self-titled album and a remix collection, and Boxcar Strainsun delivered the evocatively titled A Giant Orange Sash Over the Pacific-ward Skies. The label also issued a compilation, TheFutureOfMusic I: Electronic, showcasing the collective sound of its roster. Together, these releases painted a picture of a label that prioritized artistic depth and variety over formulaic output.

Legacy & Life Beyond the Label

301Studios closed its operations in 2012, bringing an end to roughly nine years of independent label work in Minneapolis. Yet the story did not end there. Joshua Lexvold, the label's founder, continued his involvement in the independent music world. By 2017, he had co-founded Give/Take, another American independent record label, alongside Augustus Watkins. Watkins brought his own rich background to the partnership: he was a member of Bijou Noir and DEATHDANCE, contributed to Tulip Tiger, and co-hosted the Tied To The Tracks podcast. Lexvold himself had deep ties to DEATHDANCE and KPT, projects that predated 301Studios. The transition from 301Studios to Give/Take represented a continuation of the same philosophy—building a label around artist relationships and creative growth rather than chasing commercial trends. For the artists who had passed through 301Studios' doors, the label's brief but focused existence left a mark on the Midwest independent scene that outlasted its operational years.

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