Sir Mix-a-Lot

Anthony Ray was born on August 12, 1963, in Auburn, Washington, and grew up in Seattle's Central District. In Ray's youth, his mother worked as a licensed practical nurse at the King County Jail. Ray was a fan of hip hop and started rapping in the early 1980s.{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/artists/sir-mix-a-lot/biography/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013062848/http://www.mtv.com/artists/sir-mix-a-lot/biography/| url-status=dead| archive-date=October 13, 2012| title=Sir Mix-a-Lot Biography|website=Mtv.com| access-date=July 13, 2015}}

While living in the Bryant Manor apartments on 19th Ave and East Yesler Way, Anthony Ray started school at Roosevelt High School, near the University District, when the Seattle Public School District was in the throes of what would be a 21-year experiment to integrate the school system. Students were bused from their neighborhoods to schools at the other end of the city. From 1978 to 1999, when the busing program was in operation, minorities carried the burden of busing, going from the South End and the Central Area to predominantly white schools in the North End.{{cite web| url= http://kuow.org/post/busing-blues-when-seattle-sent-black-kids-white-north-end| title=Busing Blues|website=Kuow.org| access-date=January 2, 2018}}

Ray said he knew that some North End residents did not want black children bused into their neighborhoods. But for him, the experience offered respite from the projects. "I've heard things like, 'Forced integration is not good,' 'I want my kid to be able to go to school in our community; that's why we moved here' – all those things I totally understand," he said. "But from my perspective, I didn't have the luxury of living in a neighborhood where a good school was. We didn't make that kind of money. So from my perspective, it was the best thing that could have happened to me." A music teacher at Eckstein Middle School introduced Ray to the possibility of a music career.

Ray was interested in electronics and CB radio from a young age. One of his early jobs was working at a pinball arcade servicing machines, and during that time he started to fix keyboards and other musical equipment. He still works with electronics as a hobby.{{cite podcast |host=Bomani Jones|title=Sir Mix-A-Lot|website=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Radio|date=19 August 2018|time=12:24 |url=http://www.espn.com/espnradio/play/_/id/23862570 |access-date=19 August 2018}}

Soon after high school, he began DJing parties at local community centers.{{cite web| url=https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=50163| title=Going Way Back A Brief History of 206 Hiphop|website=Thestranger.com| access-date=January 2, 2018}} By 1983, Sir Mix-a-Lot had begun playing weekends regularly at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club in South Seattle. Soon he moved locations and started hosting his parties at the Rotary Boys and Girls Club in the Central District. It was there that he met 'Nasty' Nes Rodriguez, a local radio DJ and host of Fresh Tracks, the West Coast's first rap radio show on Seattle station KKFX (K-Fox).{{cite web| url=http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/sir-mix-lot-ray-anthony-1963| title=Sir Mix-A-Lot / Ray, Anthony|website=Blackpast.org| date=28 October 2013| access-date=January 2, 2018}}

Sir Mix-a-Lot partnered with Nasty Nes and local businessman Ed Locke to found the Nastymix record label in 1983.{{cite web |last1=Blecha |first1=Peter |author-link=Peter Blecha|title=Nastymix Records' party marks Gold Record awarded to Sir Mix-a-Lot's SWASS album on April 29, 1989 |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/9793 |website=Historylink.org |access-date=1 April 2019}} The first song to gain popularity outside of Seattle was "Square Dance Rap" in 1986. Mix-a-Lot had originally decided to rap the entire song slowly, then speed it up and increase its pitch in post production, Mix later told Seattle Refined in 2018 that "I didn't want to rap, that's why I use this weird Smurf voice".{{cite web |last1=Karlinsky |first1=Malia |title=Rapping with the King of Old School: Seattle's own Sir Mix-A-Lot |url=http://seattlerefined.com/lifestyle/rapping-with-the-king-of-old-school-aka-seattles-sir-mix-a-lot |website=Seattle Refined |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group |access-date=1 April 2019 |date=20 September 2018}} After the song was picked up by DJs in clubs nationwide, he toured Florida, New York, and other states. While in Arizona, he noticed a street named Broadway with a restaurant named Dick's, just like Seattle. This gave him the idea to write his next hit, "Posse on Broadway".{{cite magazine |last1=Weingarten |first1=Christopher R. |title=Best of '88: How Sir-Mix-A-Lot's 'Posse on Broadway' Put Seattle on Rap's Map |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/best-of-88-sir-mix-a-lot-posse-on-broadway-751314/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=1 April 2019 |date=6 November 2018}} The title referred to Broadway in Seattle's Capitol Hill district.{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Sir Mix-A-Lot – Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p96|pure_url=yes}}|website=AllMusic|year=2003|access-date=2015-03-27}} Released in 1987, the single made the Top 100 but quickly disappeared, although it remains popular in the Seattle area for its references to many local landmarks.

Swass, Sir Mix-a-Lot's debut album, was released in 1988 with two other singles: "Square-Dance Rap" and "Iron Man", a rap metal track sampling from the song of the same name by Black Sabbath; it was backed by the band Metal Church.{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/rap-metal-ma0000002817 |title=Rap-Metal |website=AllMusic |access-date=June 24, 2008 |last=Henderson |first=Alex}} In 1990, the Recording Industry Association of America certified Swass platinum.{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Sir%20Mix%20a%20Lot&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25|title=Gold & Platinum|publisher=RIAA|access-date=2009-03-13}}

Seminar, released in 1989, featured "My Hooptie", "Beepers", "Gortex" and "I Got Game".

In 1991, Sir Mix-a-Lot signed to the Def American label, which also bought the rights to his first two albums, and released his third album Mack Daddy in 1992. The single "Baby Got Back" was a number one hit that went double platinum and won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.{{cite web|url= {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p96|pure_url=yes}}|title=Sir Mix-A-Lot – Charts & Awards – Grammy Awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=2009-03-13}} MTV aired the music video for the song only after 9 PM because of "many, many, complaints."{{cite book |last1=Rosen |first1=Craig |last2=Newman |first2=Melinda |title=Billboard |date=Jun 27, 1992 |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |page=4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=sir+mix-a-lot |access-date=19 August 2018 |language=en}}

In 1993, Sir Mix-a-Lot collaborated with Seattle-based grunge band Mudhoney for the song "Freak Momma" on the Judgment Night soundtrack.

In 1994, he released the album Chief Boot Knocka, which reached #69 on the Billboard 200 and #28 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Charts. The album featured the hit single "Put 'Em On The Glass". "Just Da Pimpin' in Me" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance but lost to "Let Me Ride" by Dr. Dre.

When his 1996 album Return of the Bumpasaurus was only given a low label promotion, leading to lackluster sales, Sir Mix-a-Lot left Def American.

In 1999–2000, he worked closely with the band The Presidents of the United States of America under the group name "Subset" with a combination of rock and rap music. They released some songs online and toured, but nothing was ever officially released.{{Cite web |last=Blog |first=Badlands |date=2018-12-04 |title=Sir Mix-A-Lot & The Presidents - Subset Full Concert! {{!}} Pure Frosting |url=https://pusabase.com/blog/2018/12/04/sir-mix-a-lot-the-presidents-of-the-usa-subset-full-concert/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |language=en-US}}{{Citation |last=SUBSET |title=SUBSET (Sir Mix-A-Lot and The Presidents of the United States of America) - Demo Album |url=https://archive.org/details/SUBSET-Demo |access-date=2025-02-17}}{{cite magazine |last1=Horowitz |first1=Steven J. |title=Sir Mix-A-Lot on Nicki Minaj's 'Anaconda,' Booty Fever & New Music |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6251411/sir-mix-a-lot-on-nicki-minajs-anaconda-booty-fever-new-music |magazine=Billboard |access-date=11 August 2018 |date=September 12, 2014}}

Sir Mix-a-Lot signed with the independent label Artist Direct for his 2003 album Daddy's Home with "Big Johnson" as its lead single.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1475234/20030801/sir_mix_a_lot.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030806030250/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1475234/20030801/sir_mix_a_lot.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2003|title=Sir Mix-A-Lot Hoping Baby's Got Comeback|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=2003-08-01|publisher=MTV News|access-date=2009-03-13}} The next year, he released a DVD entitled "Shhhh... Don't Tell 'Em That" to promote the album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oldies.com/product-view/7515JD.html|title=Shhhh… Don't Tell 'Em That|website=Oldies.com|access-date=27 June 2021}}

In 2010, Sir Mix-a-Lot announced his next album, Dun 4got About Mix. The lead single "Carz" was released to YouTube on 23 Nov 2010. By June 2011, the video had had over a million views, although no release date for the album has been set as of 2023. In the same year, his F.U.B.a.R. Remix for the song Conditions Of My Parole appeared on Puscifer's remix album All Re-Mixed Up.{{cite web|last=Martins|first=Chris|title=Sir Mix-a-Lot's Puscifer Remix Laces 'Conditions of My Parole' With Noisy Wubs|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/07/puscifer-sir-mix-a-lot-conditions-of-my-parole-remix-fubar/|work=SPIN|date=18 July 2013 |access-date=2 March 2014}}

File:Winter Classic - Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken - January 1, 2024 - Sir Mix-a-Lot (53438513073).jpg in Seattle.]]

In 2013, Sir Mix-a-Lot produced the album Dream for the urban rock band Ayron Jones and The Way. He opened their album release party at Neumos on November 2. That Christmas season, he promoted the Washington State Lottery over the Christmas season, with advertisements featuring his music appearing on Spotify.{{cite web |url=http://www.walottery.com/holiday/default.aspx |title=Washington's Lottery - Happy Holidays Lottery |publisher=Walottery.com |access-date=2015-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213214942/http://www.walottery.com/holiday/default.aspx |archive-date=2015-02-13 }}

On June 6, 2014, Sir Mix-a-Lot collaborated and performed with the Seattle Symphony on a new composition by Gabriel Prokofiev as part of the symphony's Sonic Evolution series of new orchestral pieces inspired by Seattle's music icons.{{cite web|last=Cross |first=Charles R. |url=http://seattletimes.com/html/entertainment/2023791569_mixsymphonyreviewxml.html |title=Sir Mix-A-Lot had a lot of fun with Seattle Symphony |publisher=Seattletimes.com |date=2014-06-07 |access-date=2015-03-27}}{{cite magazine |last=Coleman |first=Miriam |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sir-mix-a-lot-to-update-baby-got-back-with-seattle-symphony-20140409 |title=Sir Mix-a-Lot to Perform Classical Music Version of 'Baby Got Back' With Seattle Symphony |magazine=Rollingstone.com |date=2014-04-09 |access-date=2015-03-27 |archive-date=2015-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404095117/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sir-mix-a-lot-to-update-baby-got-back-with-seattle-symphony-20140409 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|author=Zak Burns |url=http://mynorthwest.com/11/2494079/Sir-MixALot-hit-gets-the-Seattle-Symphony-treatment |title=Sir Mix-A-Lot hit gets the Seattle Symphony treatment - Local News |publisher=MyNorthwest.com |date=2014-04-10 |access-date=2015-03-27}}

In 2014, rapper Nicki Minaj released the single "Anaconda",{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/LDZX4ooRsWs| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Nicki Minaj - Anaconda |publisher=YouTube.com |date=2014-08-19 |access-date=2015-03-27}}{{cbignore}} which prominently featured samples from "Baby Got Back". Sir Mix-a-Lot praised both the artist and the song, calling it the "new and improved version" of "Baby Got Back".{{cite web|last=Harling |first=Danielle |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30188/title.nicki-minaj-s-anaconda-dubbed-new-improved-baby-got-back-by-sir-mix-a-lot |title=Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" Dubbed New & Improved "Baby Got Back" By Sir Mix-A-Lot | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHopDX.com |date=2014-08-12 |access-date=2015-03-27}}

In March 2016, Sir Mix-a-Lot collaborated with TNT and LK on the track and video, "Streets Don't Love Me".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKjgK6q1AH0 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/DKjgK6q1AH0| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live| title=TNT X Sir Mix-A-Lot X LK - Streets Don't Love Me | publisher=YouTube.com | date=2016-03-18 | access-date=2017-03-23}}{{cbignore}}

From 2017 to 2019, Sir Mix-a-Lot hosted a morning radio show based in Seattle on Hot 103.7 FM.

He owns multiple residences, including one in Auburn, Washington, where he has continued to maintain a strong presence performing at small festivals across the country.

In 1995, Sir Mix-a-Lot was the regular host of the short-lived UPN anthology drama series The Watcher, in which, in 2000, he was quoted in Vibe magazine as saying "in retrospect, I wish I hadn't done (the show)"{{cite book |last1=Caramanica |first1=Jon |title=VIBE |date=October 2000 |publisher=Vibe Media Group |page=82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yicEAAAAMBAJ&q=sir+mix-a-lot+watcher&pg=PA82 |access-date=19 August 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2006, Sir Mix-a-Lot appeared on Adult Swim's Tom Goes to the Mayor and the 17th Treehouse of Horror on Fox's The Simpsons. In 2008, he appeared on Adult Swim's Robot Chicken singing a song entitled "Table Be Round". It was sung in the style of "Baby Got Back", but was about to King Arthur's creation of the Round Table. He also voiced politician Hans Blix and singer Stevie Wonder in the season 3 finale. He appeared in "The Judge" episode of Season 4 of BoJack Horseman playing himself. Then in 2025, He appeared in the episode, "Lois C.K." on Fox's Family Guy while singing a song entitled "Lady Kneecaps". Which was also sung in the style of "Baby Got Back", but was about big thighs.

Sir Mix-a-Lot provides narration and commentary in Wheedle's Groove, a 2009 documentary about the Seattle 1960s and 70s funk and soul scene.{{cite web |url=http://www.siff.net/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=41222&FID=166 |title=Wheedle's Groove | 2010 Seattle International Film Festival | Jennifer Maas | USA - Films |publisher=Siff.net |access-date=2012-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110000343/http://www.siff.net/festival/film/detail.aspx?id=41222&fid=166 |archive-date=2011-11-10 |url-status=dead }}

In June 2018, the DIY Network aired a special called Sir Mix-A-Lot's House Remix, which involved Sir Mix-a-Lot buying and flipping a house in Seattle.{{cite web |title='Sir Mix-A-Lot's House Remix' Starring The Grammy Award-Winning Rap Artist Premieres On DIY Network June 30 |url=https://corporate.discovery.com/discovery-newsroom/sir-mix-a-lots-house-remix-starring-the-grammy-award-winning-rap-artist-premieres-on-diy-network-june-30/ |website=corporate.discovery.com |publisher=Discovery, Inc. |access-date=19 August 2018}}

In 2019, he became the spokesperson for Cards Against Humanity's "Ass Pack".{{cite web |title=Cards Against Humanity Presents: Ass Pack + 2000s Nostalgia Pack |url=https://www.ass.lol/ |access-date=5 November 2019}}

{{Main|Sir Mix-a-Lot discography}}

• Swass (1988)
• Seminar (1989)
• Mack Daddy (1992)
• Chief Boot Knocka (1994)
• Return of the Bumpasaurus (1996)
• Daddy's Home (2003)

{{Reflist}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{official website}}{{dead link|date=October 2022}}
• {{Instagram|therealsirmixalot}}
• {{Twitter|therealmix}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0802719|name=Sir Mix-a-Lot}}

{{Sir Mix-a-Lot}}

{{American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance}}

{{The Presidents of the United States of America (band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sir Mix-A-Lot}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Auburn, Washington

Category:Rappers from Seattle

Category:Record producers from Washington (state)

Category:African-American male rappers

Category:20th-century American male rappers

Category:West Coast hip-hop musicians

Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music

Category:20th-century American rappers

Category:21st-century American rappers

Category:20th-century American male musicians

Category:21st-century American male musicians

Category:20th-century African-American musicians

Category:21st-century African-American musicians