Is Sir Mix-a-Lot Back?
Sir Mix-a-Lot in 2016, performing in Texas as part of the "(Baby Got) Back to the 90's" concert tour.
Rick Kern/WireImage
Sir Mix-a-Lot is the “Godfather of Seattle Hip-Hop,” best known for his song “Baby Got Back.” If you were raised by parents who grew up in the 80s and early 90s, you’ve likely heard one of the many hits from the rapper. Even if you haven’t heard “Baby Got Back,” you’ve probably heard a sample of it on Nicki Minaj’s song “Anaconda.”
Gen Z’s use of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s songs on fan edits have become a prolific part of the short-form video app, TikTok. Even if you’re not in the fandom sector of TikTok, there’s no doubt you’ve heard “Nasty Dog” (6733 Videos), “Ride” (16.4k videos), or “Lockjaw” (317.1k videos) in the last six months.
I was raised on “Baby Got Back” because of my parents’ love for the music video. I more than likely heard other Sir Mix-a-Lot songs throughout my childhood, but there’s something different about seeing an edit of Stanley Pines from the beloved animated show Gravity Falls, set to “Nasty Dog.” The first time I saw a Nightwing edit to “Ride,” I agreed with the comment section with how utterly attractive the edit made him look, and it very quickly got sent to my friend who will watch edits of anyone and anything. The “Lockjaw” edits felt like a whole other level of hot — Sir Mix-a-Lot’s music having elevated the edit to a level of potential I didn’t think was possible. While the trend will only last the typical few months or so, Sir Mix-a-Lot’s music has been prominent on the app, causing a resurgence of 90s hip-hop.
I can scream from the rooftops that Sir Mix-a-Lot has more songs but that doesn’t mean they’ll resurface. Thus, from Gen Z’s knowledge of what I like to call the big three — “Ride,” “Nasty Dog,” and “Lockjaw” — I raise this community another three Sir Mix-a-Lot songs we should be pushing for fan edits, strut music, and anything else we can think of: “Posse on Broadway,” “Swap Meet Louie,” and “Monsta Mack.” These three give off the same energy as the current trending songs do. Sitting nicely in that 90s hip-hop genre, they each have their own vibes that make them unique and catchy. “Posse on Broadway” has a chorus that almost has a jingle-like ring to it, repetitive while also being peppy. “Swap Meet Louie” calls upon the market for dupes, making it perfect for those of us who spend weekends at flea markets and thrift stores looking for vintage and luxury items. Though “Monsta Mack” has some questionable lyrics, it’s empowering and sex positive — making it perfect for Gen Z’s focus on self-empowerment.
In the same vein, while talking with my friends about this article and the interest Gen Z has in reviving artists who are often featured on “Top Songs Before the Millenium” countdowns, I learned that the popular “Jump On It” song is in fact by Sir Mix-a-Lot. Now, this isn’t surprising to someone who listens to a lot of 90s rap or was born before 1995, but I have very clear memories of “Jump On It” being played in my PE classes growing up and even at middle school dances. Twenty-year-old me is concerned about my exposure to “Jump On It” and “Baby Got Back” at such a young age, but if we’re being totally honest, 90s rap has never been proven to damage the psyche of children (and it never will).
The utility of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s songs and their significance in the hip-hop cultural movement is undeniable). However, I want to put aside the reputation it holds with our parents and millennials, and instead focus on what the cultural significance could become with Gen Z. I can picture it now: squad breakdown videos (fictional or otherwise) put to “Posse On Broadway,” “Swap Meet Louie” playing over thrift hauls, and using “Monsta Mack” in even more fan edits.
Ultimately, I want to see both an expansion of Gen Z’s appreciation of Sir Mix-a-Lot and a more diverse use of his music. I want to see it added to more playlists. I want to hear it at a house party. I want his music to be a stepping stone for Gen Z to bring 90s rap back into the mainstream. With the genre’s resurgence, Sir Mix-a-Lot will mount a bridge between millennials and Gen Z.
“And then, hip-hop... a culture started. The pants, the hairdos, the breakdancing, the DJing, the slang, and I knew when it took off it would never die because when I was 12, 13 years old, a kid in the inner city, I don’t care what color he is, we had nothing to listen to, nothing we could identify with.... So when hip-hop came about, I knew. I said, ‘This is never going to die. As long as you’ve got kids in big cities, it’s never going to die.”