Mushi 45 is a Japanese 7-inch record label closely associated with DJ and producer Mister Mushi. The label specialises in limited-edition vinyl releases covering funk, soul, Hip-Hop, Afrobeat, jazz-funk and breaks, with a particular emphasis on reworks, edits and obscure grooves aimed at DJs and collectors. Retail listings describe Mushi 45 as a long-running Japanese label, with its records generally issued as small-run 45s. The label's catalogue began with releases including Mister Mushi's "Hard Lifetime" (MSH108), a funk and Hip-Hop edit built around elements of Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime", backed by an instrumental version. The original release was pressed as a limited 7-inch, with a later 2025 reissue limited to 200 copies. Mushi 45 has also looked beyond Mister Mushi's own productions. Releases have included The Ethiopian Brothers, Super Eagles Band with The Mushi Players, Afro Breed, and Japanese artists including Rinsyoe Kida and Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos. This has given the label a catalogue that moves between African funk, Japanese jazz-funk, rare groove, Hip-Hop and breakbeat material. Among the label's notable releases is "Masai Mobb" by Mister Mushi (MSH111), issued with vocal and instrumental versions. The track combines Hip-Hop and funk, while the instrumental version emphasises its chunky rhythm section and cinematic, 1960s-influenced sound. The label's catalogue has continued to expand with releases such as Super Eagles Band ft. Mushi Players – "Sock It To Me" (MSH114) and Mister Mushi – "Think / Once In A Remix" (MSH115). The latter reworks the Lynn Collins/J.B.'s recording "Think", the source of the famous vocal sample used in Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock's "It Takes Two". The 7-inch was limited to 300 copies. Mushi 45's records are particularly recognisable for their 7-inch format, small pressing runs and DJ-oriented presentation. The catalogue has included both contemporary edits and hard-to-find recordings from funk, soul, Afrobeat and Japanese groove records, making the label part of the modern international 45-edit and rare-groove scene.

Releases