The Mouse Outfit

The Mouse Outfit is a Manchester-based hip-hop production team, live band and collective of musicians and vocalists. It is formed by founding members Chini and Defty, who meet in a rehearsal room in an old warehouse, and it develops as an independent act with DIY hip-hop sensibilities. The group works with more than 85 musicians, producers and vocalists across studio recordings and live performances.

Releases and production

The Mouse Outfit self-releases three studio albums and an album of remixes over a five-year period. Its debut album, Escape Music, appears in 2013 and acts as the group’s breakthrough release. Chini and Pitch 92 of High Focus Records produce all of the music, while Defty makes most of the videos. The album features younger local artists alongside more established vocalists, and it wins UK hip-hop album of the year from Wordplay Magazine.

The follow-up album, Step Steadier, appears in 2015 and receives international praise, including a number 9 placing in ABC News’ top albums of the year. A 12-track remix album follows in 2016 with contributions from Dub Phizix, Tall Black Guy, Mungo’s HiFi, Sivey, Flofilz and DJ Vadim, with production again handled by Pitch and Chini.

The third album, Jagged Tooth Crook, appears in 2018. Metrodome and Deese join the production team for the first time, while Pitch 92 contributes to two tracks. The album features IAMDDB and other Manchester artists, and HHV Records in Germany releases it on vinyl. Chini and Metrodome produce 14 of the 17 tracks together.

Live work and recognition

The Mouse Outfit becomes known for live performances and plays festivals including Glastonbury, Boomtown, Outlook in Croatia, Soundwave in Croatia, Hip Hop Kemp in the Czech Republic, Fusion in Germany and VH1 in India. The group tours for five years as a live band, often fronted by Sparkz and Dr Syntax, who are the two most significant lyrical contributors to the debut album. It performs in thirteen countries across Europe and Asia.

The group also operates as a music video production team and builds a large audience through its YouTube channel, which gathers more than 10 million views.