Editing Sir Mix-a-Lot (section)

==Career==
===1980s===
Soon after high school, he began DJing parties at local community centers.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 [[KKDZ|KKFX]] (K-Fox).<ref>{{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}}</ref>

Sir Mix-a-Lot partnered with Nasty Nes and local businessman Ed Locke to found the Nastymix record label in 1983.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 Drive-In|Dick's]], just like Seattle. This gave him the idea to write his next hit, "[[Posse on Broadway]]".<ref>{{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}}</ref> The title referred to [[Broadway (Seattle)|Broadway]] in Seattle's [[Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington|Capitol Hill]] district.<ref name="allmusic">{{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}}</ref> 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"<ref name="allmusic"/> and "Iron Man", a [[rap metal]] track sampling from the [[Iron Man (song)|song of the same name]] by [[Black Sabbath]]; it was backed by the band [[Metal Church]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 1990, the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] certified ''Swass'' [[platinum record|platinum]].<ref name=RIAA>{{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}}</ref>

''[[Seminar (album)|Seminar]]'', released in 1989, featured "My Hooptie", "Beepers", "Gortex" and "I Got Game".

===1990s===
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<ref name=RIAA/> and won the 1993 [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[MTV]] aired the [[music video]] for the song only after 9 PM because of "many, many, complaints."<ref name="Billboard">{{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}}</ref>

In 1993, Sir Mix-a-Lot collaborated with Seattle-based grunge band [[Mudhoney]] for the song "Freak Momma" on the ''[[Judgment Night (film)|Judgment Night]]'' soundtrack.<ref name="allmusic"/>

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 (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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

===2000s===
Sir Mix-a-Lot signed with the [[independent label]] Artist Direct for his 2003 album ''[[Daddy's Home (Sir Mix-a-Lot album)|Daddy's Home]]'' with "Big Johnson" as its lead single.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> The next year, he released a DVD entitled "Shhhh... Don't Tell 'Em That" to promote the album.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===2010s===
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.<ref name=RIAA/> 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]]''.<ref name=spin_puscifer_remix>{{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}}</ref>

[[File:Winter Classic - Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken - January 1, 2024 - Sir Mix-a-Lot (53438513073).jpg|thumb|Sir Mix-a-lot performing at the [[2024 Winter Classic]] 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]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

In 2014, rapper [[Nicki Minaj]] released the single "[[Anaconda (Nicki Minaj song)|Anaconda]]",<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{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 &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHopDX.com |date=2014-08-12 |access-date=2015-03-27}}</ref>

In March 2016, Sir Mix-a-Lot collaborated with TNT and LK on the track and video, "Streets Don't Love Me".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.