Protogen Records was a German drum-and-bass label based in Kassel, founded by Typecell, the recording name of Guido Hoppe, in 2001. Hoppe said the label had been active since early 2002 and was run with help from others. Its sound favored minimalist production shaped by techno, while avoiding a fixed formula. The label’s music spanned techstep and neurofunk as well as dancefloor-oriented drum and bass. Typecell’s Bad Illusions EP, the first vinyl release, appeared in June 2002 with “Bad Illusions” and “Justice of War.”
Typecell released the albums Macrocosm Lp in 2007 and Retroperspektive LP in 2009 through Protogen Records. The label also issued music by NickBee, Phace, N.Phect & Diz:Play, and Kemal. Other acts on its releases included Black Sun Empire, Su3-ject, and Rob F. of Sinthetix. Nu Urban handled international distribution before Alpha Magic took over.
