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In the late stages of his career, Sir Mix-a-Lot likes giving back and he cannot lie.
“I don’t really care much about touring and selling platinums. I did that already,” Mix-a-Lot told the Reporter in an interview.
Mix-a-Lot finds his time is better at community events, dedicating his Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7 to a holiday toy drive at the Outlet Collection Seattle on Outlet Collection Way in Auburn, which the rapper said is “up the street” from his Auburn home.
Stationed at a holiday-themed area in the mall, Mix-a-Lot, whose most famous hit is “Baby Got Back” (1992), posed for pictures and signed autographs with mallgoers who donated toys to the drive.
The sixth annual event was organized by The Jewell Project, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that empowers historically underserved communities. All toys donated at the drive will be donated to families in King County, according to Erica Conway, who co-founded the organization with her son in honor of Conway’s mother, who died from cancer in 2012.
“She was always giving back to the community,” Conway said. “So we founded the Jewell Project because her middle name is Jewell.”
After last year’s drive, which Mix-a-Lot also attended, the Jewell Project donated about 175 toys and gift cards to families who signed up. Conway said Mix-a-Lot has had a lot to do with the success of the events, providing name recognition and incentive to come out and give toys.
Conway has known Mix-a-Lot a long time, having shared community circles in Seattle’s Central District where Mix-a-Lot grew up.
Mix-a-Lot told the Reporter that a lot has changed where he used to live, in the Bryant Manor apartment complex on 19th Avenue and Yesler Way, an area that has been heavily gentrified in recent decades.
“The culture is gone,” Mix-a-Lot told the Reporter.
To this day, Mix-a-Lot makes a point to actively support the community where he grew up, mentoring students at the Central District’s Garfield High School on 23rd Avenue. One of the students he mentored came to the event to help take photos of Mix-a-Lot with attendees.
“He’s all about community and giving back,” Conway said about Mix-a-Lot.
