When you hear the name Sir Mix-A-Lot, many automatically think of “Baby Got Back,” the multi-platinum hit song from the rapper that talked about his admiration for the slightly heavier and shapely female, specifically her lower body.
While the song has made it’s way through karaoke bars all over the world and has been re-done by rock groups, the television show “Glee” and even the Philharmonic Orchestra, the original purpose behind the song is much more serious than you think. It was actually meant to be social statement to stop body-shaming of bigger, thicker women, especially women of color.
“You know, when I talk about ‘Baby Got Back’…,” explains Mix-A-Lot. “‘Baby Got Back’ was actually a serious song, but I realized that I didn’t wanna come off as, you know, as preachy. So what I did was I kind of kept it tongue-in-cheek but if you listen close enough to the song, it was a slap in the face of the establishment that was trying to define what all women should look like at that time. They wanted all women to look like heroin addicts. It wasn’t the case. And when I did that song, you had half of the women that were offended and the other half saying, ‘Thank God, about time!’”
Mix-A-Lot goes on to say that the commentary in the beginning of the song, “Oh my gosh, Becky…” was a reflection of how many white women used to look at shapely Black women — with misguided admiration–better known as “hating.”
People actually buy butt-enhancing jeans and underwear, and many even get surgeries now in order to look like they have “back”. But back in 1992 when the song was released…
…, the song was deemed as “controversial” and some women claimed it to even be “offensive”.
Now with songs like Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” or Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”, its becoming the “IT” thing to have an ample backside.
And rightfully so! Because its actually healthy to have a bigger rear end. Researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that subcutaneous fat, the type found in women’s butts, hips, and thighs, can protect against health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.
And Sir Mix-A-Lot approves all these contemporary songs bringing healthy backsides back into the spotlight.
“It’s amazing how people think I should be mad about the song,” Mix says. “I think it’s cool, she took part of the song, she made a Nicki Minaj song. I love the track, I have fun listening to the track, it’s crazy as hell, and for a guy who likes butts, how can i look at the video and say I don’t like it? I say more power to it. Go Nicki Go!”
With the body shaming of numerous black women from First Lady Michelle Obama to Serena Williams and even ballet great, Misty Copeland, we celebrate women of color. No matter what size you are, you will always be “in”.
