Legendary West Coast DJ Nasty Nes suffered a heart attack over the weekend. HitsDoubleDaily broke the news, including information about a GoFundMe campaign for the DJ of Sir Mix-A-Lot on Saturday (Nov. 9). Also known as “Crazy Pony,” Nasty Nes is fighting for his life as he suffers from a heart attack, kidney failure, and pneumonia. He will endure a difficult road to recovery. The family of Nasty Nes, real name Nes Rodriguez, launched a GoFundMe with a visual explanation of the DJ’s condition to help support his recovery.
“His recovery will necessitate extensive physical therapy, as well as a wheelchair or scooter for mobility, specialized rehabilitation and rest,” the GoFundMe reads.”[The] financial strain of his medical care, combined with high living costs and inadequate health insurance, has placed him in a precarious position.” Nes’ current medical condition ignites a call for musicians to receive health insurance. Damion “Damizza” Young, rapper and friend of Nasty Nes, said in the video, “This is exactly why we need insurance for our artists, producers, and DJs. We need insurance for artists … and that’s what we’re working on.”
Nasty Nes’ contributions have profoundly shaped West Coast hip-hop culture. With a career spanning decades, Nes left an indelible mark through his radio work and as the founder of RapAttackLives. This platform has championed both emerging and seasoned hip-hop artists. FreshTracks, the first all-rap radio program on the West Coast, helped launch the careers of many artists, including Sir Mix-A-Lot, and became a cornerstone for hip-hop.
Dedicated to amplifying hip-hop voices, his legacy endures today, touching both artists and fans. With Sir Mix-A-Lot, Nasty Nes helped support the rap legend’s breakout debut single, “Baby Got Back.” He has toured the world with the legend as his DJ for years. “Baby Got Back” has expanded decades with the sample used by superstars such as Nicki Minaj and Gucci Mane. As someone who devoted his life to elevating others, the call for support demonstrates the incomparable respect and admiration the hip-hop world has for Nes Rodriguez.
On this day in Hip Hop history, we celebrate the birth of a man who loved asses more than most without shame, Six Mix-a-Lot. Although some may only now him for his timeless crossover mega hit, “Baby Got Back,” to call the man a one hit wonder would be an ignorant oversight of the career of a successful crossover pop-rappers. His multiple Grammy nominations and platinum selling albums may be overshadowed by his affinity for big butts (which got him a double platinum #1 single and a Grammy), but they exist nonetheless, proving Sir Mix-a-Lot has earned his place in Hip Hop history.
When people think of Seattle in the late ’80s, an ever-growing and evolving Hip Hop scene is the last thing that comes to mind. The overcast, grunge capital was much more intrigued by the birth of new sound in Hip Hop to match their local climate. In these days, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Alice in Chains ruled the Pacific Northwest with the lane for rappers to gain support virtually nonexistent. This was Sir Mix-a-Lot’s world.
Without any infrastructure or support system to guide his development, Sir Mix-a-Lot was forced to build his brand from the ground up. With his partner Nasty Nes, he founded his own record label, Nastymix Records, in 1983. In 1988, Mix-a-Lot put out his first hit single “Posse on Broadway,” peaked at #70 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Nastymix a distribution deal with Def Jam. What followed was his platinum debut LP Swass. A year later he released his second album on Nastymix, 1989’s Seminar, and finally earned himself a record deal with Def American Recordings.
After three years of studying the game under Rick Rubin, Sir Mix-a-Lot put out his masterpiece album Mack Daddy. Although it may not have been on par with the hardcore gangsta sound that was beginning to become the tone of the industry, this album still hit the scene hard and peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200. The album’s hit single “Baby Got Back” claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and made appearances on charts across the world.
Following Mack Daddy and “Baby Got Back,” Mix-a-Lot’s career began to lose some steam. His fourth LP Chief Boot Knocka peaked only at #69 on the Billboard 200 chart although being nominated for a Grammy in 1994. His next two albums were met with the same decline in support.
Sir Mix-a-Lot’s career is a DIY fairy tale. Coming from an area in the country where rap music isn’t widely accepted, he rose up against the odds to become a household name. His name may never come up in the “best rapper of all time” conversation, but Sir Mix-a-Lot’s career will never be erased from Hip Hop history. From everyone here at The Source, Happy Birthday Sir Mix-a-Lot. May you see many more years of success and big butts.
Hip-hop has to be one of the oldest genres on the planet. The one to go through the most tonal shifts, the one to evolve the most, and more importantly, the one that has entertained the masses uniquely so often that we end up with more than a handful of one-hit wonders. While hip-hop is great, the reliance on a beat and catchy tune can make some songs dispensable. When they’re here, they’re here in your mind on a loop inside your head. But when they’re gone, they’re gone for good. That’s exactly what it means to be a one-hit-wonder.
What’s a One Hit Wonder?
Before we jump into our list, it may be best to go over the parameters of what we think a One Hit Wonder even means. Does it mean that it’s no longer relevant today? I wouldn’t say so. There are plenty of songs that are still relevant today that are considered one-hit wonder. No, a one-hit wonder is when a song releases, captivates the population, and then just as quickly as it came, the artist never produces something on the same level of quality again.
They hit it once, and it’s a wonder how they hit it at all, and that same spark was never slapped again. So no, that doesn’t mean the artist is bad, or that the song is. A one-hit wonder is simply one of the beautiful nuances of creating and following music. You never know what’s going to appear, and you don’t have any guarantee of producing the same hit twice.
So, while the term does have a negative connotation, think of it like this: a one-hit-wonder goes viral. It’s almost a prerequisite. So even though the one-hit wonder is a temporary burst of fame, anyone would be happy to create one, even just once.
With all that out of the way, let’s jump right into our top picks for one-hit wonders!
Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby (1990)
Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice is probably one of the biggest and most well-known one-hit wonders in hip-hop history. The song was released in the 90’s and quickly (as well as unsurprisingly) became an overwhelmingly massive hit. When it hit the fan, it reached top rankings in the US, UK and even Australia. The catchy beat, singable lyrics, and overall sass made it a great song for parties. In addition to the song itself doing well, the music video paired with it did stellar too. It reached viral status and became a phenomenon in and of itself.
However, circumstances more than public opinion led to Vanilla Ice’s quick race into one-hit wonder-ness. His subsequent releases didn’t stack up to the previous precedence. He also sampled both Queen and David Bowie’s Under Pressure without explicit permission. This threw him into controversy and gutted any attempts at reaching that level of stardom again.
MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This (1990)
MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” was another massive hit in 1990. It’s still played at parties and weddings to this day. The song’s iconic video featured Hammer’s trademark dance moves and parachute pants. Its catchy chorus made it an instant classic.
Despite the song’s success, MC Hammer’s subsequent releases failed to replicate its popularity. His next album, “Too Legit to Quit,” was a commercial disappointment. He struggled to remain relevant in the rapidly changing hip-hop landscape. However, MC Hammer’s impact on the genre cannot be denied, and “U Can’t Touch This” remains a beloved classic.
Young MC – Bust a Move (1989)
Young MC’s “Bust a Move” was a massive hit in 1989. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance the following year. The song’s upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics made it an instant party favorite, and it appears on radio stations still today.
Despite the song’s success, Young MC was unable to replicate it with his subsequent releases. His follow-up album, “Brainstorm,” failed to match the success of his debut. He faded into obscurity in the early 1990s. However, “Bust a Move” remains a beloved classic of the genre, experts often cite it as one of the greatest hip-hop hits of all time.
The Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight (1980)
One of the earliest and most significant one-hit wonders in hip hop history is “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. The song was released in 1979 and was the first rap song to achieve mainstream success. It was a huge hit, reaching number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling over 2 million copies. The song’s success helped to establish hip hop as a viable genre and paved the way for many other artists. While it did well, there was no significant reason this song became a one-hit-wonder. Reception afterward simply didn’t match the volume with Rapper’s Delight.
Tag Team – Woomp! (There It Is) (1993)
In 1993, Tag Team released “Whoomp! (There It Is),” which became a massive hit. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for seven weeks. It also reached the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart and the Hot Rap Singles chart. The song’s catchy chorus and danceable beat made it an instant party anthem, and it continues to be played at events to this day.
Sir Mix-a-Lot – Baby Got Back (1992)
In 1992, Sir Mix-a-Lot released “Baby Got Back,” which became a cultural phenomenon. The song’s catchy chorus and risqué lyrics made it an instant hit, and it spent five weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s success also helped to launch Sir Mix-a-Lot’s career, and he went on to release several other albums and singles. However, none of them achieved the same level of success as “Baby Got Back.”
Psy – Gangnam Style (2012)
In 2012, Psy released “Gangnam Style,” which became a viral sensation. The song’s catchy beat and bizarre music video made it an instant hit, and it became the first video on YouTube to reach one billion views. The song’s success helped to introduce K-pop to a global audience and paved the way for other Korean artists to achieve international success. However, Psy has yet to replicate the success of “Gangnam Style,” and he remains a one-hit wonder in the United States.
Positive K – I Got A Man (1992)
In 1992, Positive K released “I Got a Man,” which became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. The song features Positive K’s back-and-forth conversation with a woman who is trying to flirt with him, but he is not interested because he already has a man. The song’s catchy hook and playful lyrics made it a hit, but Positive K never achieved the same level of success with any of his other songs.
Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It (1995)
In 1995, Montell Jordan released “This Is How We Do It,” which became a massive hit and is still a classic party song today. The song’s catchy beat and lyrics about partying and having a good time made it a hit, but Montell Jordan never achieved the same level of success with any of his other songs.
On this day in Hip-Hop history, Sir Mix-a-Lot released his third LP, Mack Daddy. This was the Seattle-born rapper’s most successful project, housing his timeless hit single, “Baby Got Back.”
Although the shine of “Baby Got Back” gave Sir Mix-a-Lot his claim to fame, it wasn’t the strongest track on the project. As much as people want to tag Sir Mix-a-Lot a “one-hit wonder,” his ability as a rapper is one that doesn’t give much room for questioning. At the time of his popularity, there weren’t many rappers outside of New York or Los Angeles gaining any real commercial success, let alone chart placements. Sir Mix-a-Lot was able to gain stardom due to the bulk of this project.
Released under Def American Recordings with the majority of the production coming from Rick Rubin, this project hit the ground running. The first single “One Time’s Got No Case” is one containing traditional Hip-Hop subject matter: racist police and social injustice. The rest of the project, besides the hit single, of course, narrates a tale of his life in the streets of Seattle.
“Baby Got Back” is a song Sir Mix-a-Lot will be performing until the end of his career. The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release. It also saw international success claiming #8 in Australia, #3 in New Zealand, #25 in Germany, #56 in the UK, and #31 in the Netherlands. The song has also been voted the #1 “Greatest One Hit Wonder Of The 90s” by VH1.
After this album, Sir Mix-a-Lot went on to release three more studio albums. He’s also taken his talents to the small screen, being cast in reality television with guest appearances on various shows. In 2014, Nicki Minaj released the single “Anaconda” paying homage to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s famed single and sampling a section of one of his verses.
