hexd
what it is
hexd is an underground electronic style that emerged from soundcloud in the late 2010s, built around heavily distorted, bit-crushed vocals and compressed production. it grew from dj mixes that reworked existing tracks, especially those by reptilian club boyz, into something new.
what it sounds like
vocals are pitched up, sped up, and crushed into digital artifacts, layered over murky, compressed beats that pull from trap, cloud rap, trance, and breakbeat. thick reverb and delay create a dreamy, surreal fog that can feel nostalgic or coldly futuristic.
where it came from
it started with the hexcastcrew collective, particularly cargoboym's rare rcb hexd.mp3 mix in the late 2010s. the style draws on soundcloud rap's lo-fi energy and borrows sample manipulation ideas from vaporwave, turning existing hip hop and edm tracks into something warped and new.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make hexd a playlist
turn these 28 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is hexd?
hexd is an underground electronic style that emerged from soundcloud in the late 2010s, built around heavily distorted, bit-crushed vocals and compressed production. it grew from dj mixes that reworked existing tracks, especially those by reptilian club boyz, into something new. vocals are pitched up, sped up, and crushed into digital artifacts, layered over murky, compressed beats that pull from trap, cloud rap, trance, and breakbeat. thick reverb and delay create a dreamy, surreal fog that can feel nostalgic or coldly futuristic.
Where did hexd come from?
it started with the hexcastcrew collective, particularly cargoboym's rare rcb hexd.mp3 mix in the late 2010s. the style draws on soundcloud rap's lo-fi energy and borrows sample manipulation ideas from vaporwave, turning existing hip hop and edm tracks into something warped and new.
What are good hexd albums to start with?
Try FLASH DESIRE by YABUJIN, Reptilian Club Boys Bizzare Adventure by Reptilian Club Boyz, C3L3STIAL天の by bliss3three, and 19 by WHOKILLEDXIX.
Who are some women making hexd?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/hexd/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making hexd, from mainstream to underground.
artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-20