Behind the Song: “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot

On May 8th, 1992, Sir Mix A Lot (born Anthony Ray) officially put booties on the map. That was the day the Seattle-based rapper released his now-timeless hit, “Baby Got Back.” The single, which appeared on his record, Mack Daddy, was the second-best selling song in the U.S. that year and hit number-one on Billboard in July (more on this moment later), spending five weeks at the top.

While the song is titillating and salacious, if you ask Mix, he’ll tell you that there was a sincere, socially progressive message behind the track, too. It wasn’t just about the allure of a rotund posterior. No, it was also about bringing different body shapes and silhouettes into popular culture. Women with curves, women with big butts – these are attributes to celebrate, not shun from magazine covers, movies and television screens. So, Mix made a song about it and that song has lasted ever since on throwback hip-hop stations and in karaoke bars, alike.