Sir Mix-a-Lot knows they’re out there in the audience: The “Baby Got Back” fans.
They don’t want to hear “Swass.” They don’t care about “My Hooptie.” And they’ve never even heard “Posse on Broadway.”
They just want that famous ode to big butts, thank you very much. And that’s pretty much it.
And you know what? Sir Mix-a-Lot is more than happy to do it. He'll rap that famous opening line — "I like big butts and I can not lie" — and the rest of "Baby Got Back, too.
And, yes, he'll make it big and juicy.
“I do a long version of 'Baby Got Back,'" he says. "I have fun with it. I jump out into the crowd.
"And I’m rapping with ya, right in front of you, so you know this guy’s not lip syncing.”
So no worries, “Baby Got Back” fans: Sir Mix-a-Lot will definitely do the song when he performs Thursday, April 19, at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon in Fort Myers. He wouldn't dream of leaving out the song.
“I don’t do what some artists do: They do a medley and they squeeze their hit in the medley,” he says. “ I don’t like that. I’m a fan, too.
“And when I saw Prince do that, it really hurt me a lot, because I’m a big Prince fan. I’ll buy your new stuff, but I also want to hear 'Purple Rain.” Don’t cheat me.”
Sir Mix-a-Lot talked about all sorts of things during his 20-minute interview with The News-Press, including his love of heavy metal, what he did with his first royalty check and his plans to release new music. Here’s more from the interview:
News-Press: First off, what should I call you? Should I call you Sir Mix-a-Lot? Mr. Mix-a-Lot?
Sir Mix-a-Lot: Well, my name is Anthony, but most of my friends just call me Mix. Because it’s much shorter than Anthony.
OK, great! You know, as I was getting ready for this interview, it dawned on me that you’re probably the first rap artist to mix rap and heavy metal. I'm a huge metal fan, too.
Well, yeah, obviously Run-DMC was the first to go BIG with it.
But that wasn’t metal. That was more hard rock. But you did “Iron Man" in 1988 (based on the Black Sabbath song and featuring the band Metal Church).
Yeah, I’ve always been attracted to metal. The percussiveness of it, the thunder.
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You've always been very creative, but I didn't realize until now how musical you are. You talk a lot about musical tones and octaves and things like that. Do you have a background in musical theory?
No, not really, actually! I’m an engineer. I taught myself, pretty much. My first studio, that was the first thing I bought when I got a check. I was living in a raggedy house. But the first thing I did, I bought a couple of MCI 2-inch 16 tracks (recorders).
I bought two of those, tied them together, and bought a big mixer. I’m so old of a Pro Tools user, it wasn’t even called Pro Tools. It was SoundTools. It was just a two-track editing thing … and I started dabbling with that.
I said, “This is eventually where we’re all going, like it or not.” I adopted digital way before most people.
And you still have your studio, right?
Oh yeah! It’s even bigger now (laughs)! People keep telling me I should do some YouTube videos or something like that to talk about it. Because I am a studio geek, man!
I can tell! So are you making new music? What are you doing in the studio?
You know, it’s kind of interesting. The thing about me is I’ve never been motivated by money. … I gotta feel it to do it. And there was a moment there where I just didn’t feel anything.
And now I have a young girl named Tomeka Williams, and I’m producing her. We did one record and it didn’t work too well. It was all over the place, everything from rock to soul. It was not cohesive at all — not even coherent.
Then she said, “I want to do something in 4/3 time that sounds like Otis Redding, and I’m like, “Oooooh! NOW you’re waking me up!" And we actually did one song already.
Now I’m all into that. (And) I’ve made up my mind: I’m just gonna start producing tracks, and some of them will be Mix-a Lot tracks and I’ll just throw ‘em out there. And if people like ‘em, they like ‘em. And if they don’t, who cares? Keep on moving.
So you are putting out some new Mix-a-Lot tracks!
I’m already doing stuff! It’s kinda odd. The last album I recorded was an album called “Daddy’s Home” (in 2003). I never really promoted it. I just threw it out there just to see what would happen. And the first thing I noticed is a lot of people said, “Dude, I didn’t know you could rap like that!”
My hit songs are very simple rhyme styles — “Posse on Broadway,” “My Hooptie,” “Baby Got Back," "Beepers" — they’re pretty simple and straightforward. And on “Daddy’s Home,” because it was MY record and I didn’t have anybody over me telling me this is what will hit on the radio, I didn’t care what would hit on the radio.
I wanted to do what I felt artistically, and I did it. And it kinda worked! For me. I never really tried to push it to the masses.
They're more complicated rhymes?
Aw definitely! (he launches into a couple of verses from the song “Daddy’s Home”). People had never heard me rap like that! They were just looking for simplicity. Some people were like, “What happened to you? I just want ‘I like big butts…’
But let’s face it: Whenever you try to re-do a classic, you usually get torched.
You've always been a really inventive guy. You’ve mixed metal and rap, and then you did things like “Buttermilk Biscuits” — which is a kind of crazy country music, square dancing thing. But some people still only know you as the “Baby Got Back” guy.
Well, I have two types of fans who show up (at concerts). We’re on tour right now. Half the people who come to the show come just for “Baby Got Back.” The other half HATES “Baby Got Back” and they want “Posse on Broadway” and “My Hooptie,” you know? So you get kind of an interesting mix.
Tell me more about what people can expect when you play The Ranch?
I prefer clubs to large venues… I just love the feeling of the hot and sweaty, up close. I’m sweatin’ by the second song. Spits flying, and they get to see it. I love that stuff!
That’s a personal kind of thing. Touching hands, and people make requests — and I do ‘em! I just do it. It’s very live, very up front.
I’ll be at the show, by the way. I’m not going to miss this one!
Yeah, I haven’t been to Florida in probably over 20 years.
Let’s talk more about “Baby Got Back.” How do you feel about it being THE song most people remember you for? I’ve talked to a lot of musicians, and some are bitter that they’re only known for one song, while others are grateful to have had a hit at all.
Well, I agree with the latter. But I understand. Because when you’re an artist, you have to challenge yourself. That’s what makes you an artist and not just an entertainer — two different things, in my opinion.
At the same time, let’s be honest: When we go into that studio as kids and we make that first song, we imagine it on the radio. We imagine it going to No. 1. We imagine winning a Grammy. And then when it happens, the first thing you’re thinking is “Wait a minute, I’m not a sell-out!” (Laughs)
I just kind of learned to go, “Hey, you know what, I appreciate the fact that they like the song.”
Well, Mix, thanks for the great interview. Hey, look, I called you Mix!
There you go! I told you, it's easier to say, man! (Laughs)
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)
If you go
What: Sir-Mix-A-Lot
When: 9 p.m. Thursday, April 19
Where: The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers
Tickets: $24 and $56
Info: 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com