{{Short description|American DJ, producer, and co-founder of rap group 2 Live Crew}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|9|23}} | caption = MR MIXX | birth_name = David P. Hobbs | origin = Santa Ana, California, U.S. | instrument = Turntables, keyboards | genre = Miami bass | occupation = DJ, music producer, vocalist, turntablist | years_active = 1983–present | label = Luke Skyywalker Records<br />Lil’ Joe Records<br />MIXX INTL | associated_acts = 2 Live Crew<br />Fresh Kid Ice<br />Brother Marquis<br />Luther Campbell<br />Afroman<br />Poison Clan<br />JT Money<br />Geto Boys<br />Kid Frost<br />Rudy Ray Moore<br />Lil Flip<br />Lil Troy<br />Amazing Vee <br />Mr. Mixx and Da Roughneck Posse<br />Bass Poets }}
'''David P. Hobbs''' (born September 23, 1963), also known by his stage name '''Mr. Mixx''', is an American musician and record producer who is the co-founder of the controversial rap group 2 Live Crew.
In 1986, Hobbs and the group released the single "Throw The 'D'"; it is now considered the blueprint of Miami bass. Later in 1986, 2 Live Crew released their debut album, ''The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are.'' The album established the group's signature style of comical sexually explicit lyrics. After a slew of successful releases, the group met with considerable controversy as a U.S. district court ruled the album legally obscene. They were prosecuted but acquitted.
Hobbs produced popular 2 Live Crew singles such as "Throw the D", "Me So Horny", "Hoochie Mama", and other titles in the group's Miami bass musical catalog. Currently, Hobbs continues to DJ and produce other artists.
==Early life== Hobbs was born on September 23, 1963, and raised in Santa Ana, California.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/07/mr-mixx-interview|title=2 Live Crew's DJ and Producer Mr. Mixx On the Roots of Miami Bass|last=Serwer|first=Jesse|date=July 7, 2016|website=www.redbullmusicacademy.com|publisher=Red Bull Music Academy|accessdate=August 3, 2019}}</ref>
In 1981, Hobbs graduated from Corona High School in nearby Corona, California, and enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly afterward.<ref name="auto" />
==Career== ===1984: Military service and founding of 2 Live Crew=== In 1984, while stationed at March Air Force Base near Riverside, California, Hobbs met fellow musicians and United States Air Force Airmen Amazing Vee (Yuri Vielot) and Fresh Kid Ice (Christopher Wong Won).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/193064-Fresh-Kid-Ice |title=Fresh Kid Ice Discography at Discogs |publisher=Discogs.com |date= |accessdate=August 22, 2014}}</ref> The trio, with Hobbs as DJ and Wong Won and Vielot as rappers, went on to form 2 Live Crew and would perform in small venues near the base, eventually releasing the group's first singles "The Revelation" and "2 Live Beat Box", on their own label independent label Fresh Beat Records, that same year.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p50048|pure_url=yes}}|title=The 2 Live Crew: Biography|last=Huey|first=Steve|year=1999|publisher=allmusic|accessdate=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
"The Revelation" and "2 Live Beat Box" became popular in Florida, so much so that, following their discharge from the United States Air Force, Hobbs and Wong Won eventually relocated to Miami at the behest of local concert promoter Luther Campbell, who helped cultivate the momentum the group was establishing in the area. Hobbs used the Roland 808 drum machine to DJ 2 Live shows.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
===1985–1986: Miami Bass DJ and 2 Live Crew success===
In 1985, 2 Live Crew released their follow up single, "What I Like" on Fresh Beat Records. That same year, the group entered into a joint venture with Campbell and formed Luke Skyywalker Records. Shortly after forming the record label, Campbell joined 2 Live Crew as a hype man. In April, 1986, rapper Brother Marquis (Mark D. Ross) joined 2 Live Crew, replacing Vielot, who left the group shortly after its relocation to Miami.
In January 1987, 2 Live Crew released the EP "Throw the D" with "Ghetto Bass" on the B-side, with Hobbs as DJ and producer on both tracks."Throw the D" became an influential blueprint as to how future Miami bass songs were written and produced.<ref name="Bein2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/tootsie-rolls-hoochie-mamas-and-cars-that-go-boom-the-story-of-miami-bass/|title=Tootsie Rolls, 'Hoochie Mamas,' and Cars That Go Boom: The Story of Miami Bass|last=Bein|first=Kat|date=November 3, 2014|website=thump.vice.com|publisher=VICE|access-date=February 27, 2017|quote=Miami Bass, Booty Bass, Booty Music, or whatever you want to call it, changed the scenes of hip hop, dance music, and pop forever...The story of music's dirtiest genre reaches back to the '80s with roots set firmly in Afrika Bambaataa's elektro-funk...foundational artists Amos Larkins and Maggotron, both of whom have been credited as kicking the regional sound into motion. According to Stylus Magazine, Larkins and the Miami Bass conception can be traced back to the movie Knights of the City...Inspired by the humid and vice-ridden melting pot of cultures, ...MC A.D.E.'s "Bass Rock Express" gets the title for first hit of the genre, but it was 2 Live Crew who became the poster boys of movement. Record store owners who sold the album were arrested and charged with crimes of obscenity, and 2 Live Crew members were arrested just for playing shows...US Appeals Court system ruled rap was protected by First Amendment rights...2 Live Crew made it safe for hip-hop as we know it to exist. The influence of the genre is far-reaching...Miami Bass remains not only one of the most ridiculous and enjoyable genres of music in recent memory but also one of the most important.}}</ref> Hobbs' performances on these releases made him the first Miami Bass scratch DJ.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhmOxINhe_Y|title=Uncle Luke Talks Tupac Movie, Forming '2 Live Crew', Remembers Rapper 'Fresh Kid Ice'|website=YouTube|publisher=OurVerity ENT|date=July 15, 2017}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>
The reconfigured group, featuring their most well known lineup (Hobbs, Campbell, Wong Won and Ross) became popular locally and nationally with the release of their Gold-certified debut album, ''The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are'' on January 25, 1987.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=2+LIVE+CREW&ti=THE+2+LIVE+CREW+IS+WHAT+WE+ARE|title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA|work=RIAA|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}}</ref> Notorious for sexually explicit lyrics, the album made Hobbs and his bandmates rap superstars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2018/07/25/today-in-hip-hop-history-2-live-crew-dropped-their-debut-album-2-live-crew-is-what-we-are-32-years-ago/|title=Today In Hip Hop History: 2 Live Crew Dropped Their Debut Album '2 Live Crew Is What We Are' 32 Years Ago|last=Allah|first=Sha Be|date=2018-07-25|website=The Source|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref>
===1988–1991: Continued 2 Live Crew success and attendant controversy=== {{Main|2 Live Crew}} In 1988, 2 Live Crew released their second album, ''Move Somethin'<nowiki/>'' It was also certified Gold and featured the singles "Move Somethin'" and "Do Wah Diddy Diddy".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=2+LIVE+CREW&ti=MOVE+SOMETHIN'|title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA|work=RIAA|access-date=2017-10-24|language=en-US}}</ref> The album improved on the charts from the previous album, making in to #68 on the ''Billboard 200'' and #20 on the ''Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums'' charts. A separate ”clean” version of the album, suitable for radio play, was released in addition to the explicit version.
2 Live Crew’s third album ''As Nasty As They Wanna Be'' (1989), became the group’s most successful commercial studio album and was certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album’s lead single "Me So Horny" peaked at 26 of the ''Billboard Top 100'' chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew|title=The 2 Live Crew Me So Horny Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref> A clean version of the album, ''As Clean As They Wanna Be'' was released concurrently with the explicit version.
In 1990, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled ''As Nasty As They Wanna Be'' to be legally obscene, becoming the first album in history to be so declared by a federal court;<ref>''Skyywalker Records, Inc. v. Navarro'', 739 F.Supp. 578 (S.D. Fla. 1990).</ref> this ruling was later overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.<ref>''Luke Records, Inc. v. Navarro'', 960 F.2d 134 (11th Cir. 1992).</ref><ref>Deflem, Mathieu. 2020. [https://deflem.blogspot.com/2019/07/music-censorship-labeling.html “Popular Culture and Social Control: The Moral Panic on Music Labeling.”] ''American Journal of Criminal Justice'' 45(1):2-24 (First online: July 24, 2019).</ref> An obscenity trial followed, where all of the defendants, including Hobbs, were eventually acquitted of all charges.
In late 1990, following the verdict in the obscenity trial, 2 Live Crew released their fourth studio album, ''Banned in the U.S.A.''. The album included the hits "Do the Bart" and the title track which peaked at 20 on the ''Billboard Top 100'' chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew|title=The 2 Live Crew Banned In The U.S.A. Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref> The eponymous title single referred to the earlier federal court obscenity ruling regarding the group's previous album ''As Nasty As They Wanna Be.'' Bruce Springsteen granted the group permission to interpolate his song "Born in the U.S.A." for the single. ''Banned in the U.S.A.'' was also the first album to bear the RIAA-standard Parental Advisory warning sticker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://europe.newsweek.com/does-parental-advisory-label-still-matter-tipper-gore-336329|title=Does the Parental Advisory Label Still Matter?|last1=Schonfeld|first1=Zach|website=Newsweek|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413195141/https://www.newsweek.com/does-parental-advisory-label-still-matter-tipper-gore-375607|archive-date=2019-04-13|url-status=|accessdate=24 July 2016}}</ref>
''Live in Concert,'' 2 Live Crew's fifth album and only live album, was also released in 1990. The album peaked at number 46 on the ''Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums'' chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums/song/375159|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511103724/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/r-b-hip-hop-albums/song/375159|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|title=The 2 Live Crew Live In Concert Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-04-03}}</ref>
''Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2,'' featuring the single "Pop That Coochie," which reached 58 on the ''Hot 100'' chart, was released by 2 Live Crew in 1991.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew|title=The 2 Live Crew Pop That Coochie Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> The group's sixth album was a sequel of sorts to ''As Nasty As They Wanna Be,'' and was also accompanied by a clean version, ''Sports Weekend: As Clean As They Wanna Be, Pt. 2.''
''Sports Weekend: As Nasty as They Wanna Be, Pt. 2'' would be the last studio album to include all of the most well known members of the group, Hobbs, Wong Won, Ross, and Campbell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/remembering-fresh-kid-ice-a-pioneering-asian-rapper/|title=Remembering Fresh Kid Ice, a Pioneering Asian Rapper|last1=Schwartz|first1=Zachary|last2=Horn|first2=Leslie|date=2017-07-14|website=Noisey|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408040744/https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/wj84aw/remembering-fresh-kid-ice-a-pioneering-asian-rapper|archive-date=2019-04-08|url-status=|access-date=2019-01-09}}</ref>
===1993–1999: Final albums with the most well known 2 Live crew line up, solo projects and 2 Live Crew reunion===
In 1994, Hobbs formed a group, Mr. Mixx and Da Roughneck Posse, which released the studio album ''One Monkey Don't Stop No Show''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mr-Mixx-Da-Roughneck-Posse-One-Monkey-Dont-Stop-No-Show/master/758335|title=Mr. Mixx And Da Roughneck Posse – One Monkey Don't Stop No Show|website=Discogs|date=1994 |language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref> That same year, with a group called Bass Poets, Hobbs released the album ''Bass-Boom-Booty''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bass-Poets-With-Special-Guest-Mr-Mixx-Bass-Boom-Booty/master/876284|title=Bass Poets With Special Guest: Mr. Mixx – Bass-Boom-Booty|website=Discogs|date=1994 |language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>
In 1995, Hobbs, Wong Won, and Ross reunited to release the single "Hoochie Mama" for the soundtrack of the popular 1995 movie ''Friday''. The soundtrack reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, where it held its position for two weeks, and remained on the ''Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums'' chart for six weeks.
Also in 1995, Hobbs teamed up with producer Billy Vidal to release several Miami Bass compilations from 1995 through 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/179826-Mr-Mixx|title=Mr. Mixx|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>
In 1996, Hobbs again reunited with Wong Won and Ross as the 2 Live Crew, to perform, produce and release the group's seventh studio album ''Shake a Lil' Somethin''' whose hit song of the same name, peaked at #72 on the ''Top 100'' chart and #11 on the ''Hot Rap Songs|Hot Rap Singles'' chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew|title=The 2 Live Crew Shake A Lil' Somethin'... Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2019-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/45664|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511103612/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/45664|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|title=The 2 Live Crew Shake A Lil' Somethin'... Chart History|work=Hot Rap Songs|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> Two of the album's singles charted: "Do the Damn Thing", which made it to #24 on the ''Hot Rap Singles'' chart, and "Be My Private Dancer", which peaked at #34.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/49192|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511103624/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/49192|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|title=The 2 Live Crew Do The Damn Thing Chart History|work=Hot Rap Singles|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/53380|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511103637/https://www.billboard.com/music/the-2-live-crew/chart-history/rap-song/song/53380|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 11, 2018|title=The 2 Live Crew Be My Private Dancer Chart History|work=Hot Rap Songs|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> ''Shake A Lil' Somethin''' would be the last 2 Live Crew album to feature Hobbs.
In 1998, Hobbs released his first solo album ''The Sex Files''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Mr-Mixx-The-Sex-Files/release/10402399|title=Mr. Mixx – The Sex Files|website=Discogs|date=1998 |language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>
===2000-present: Solo albums and current projects=== In 2002, Hobbs released his second solo studio album ''Nasty Controversial & Unauthorized Part 1''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Dj-Mr-Mixx-Nasty-Controversial-Unauthorized/release/6323483|title=Dj Mr Mixx* - Nasty Controversial & Unauthorized|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-03-17}}</ref>
In 2005, Hobbs released his third solo album ''Vgnl Minded'' on his own independent label, Mr. Mixx Recordings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/DJ-Mr-Mixx-Vgnl-Minded/release/MMR1201|title=Vgnl Minded|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=August 3, 2019}}</ref>
From 2008 to 2011, Hobbs created and ran his own website, ''Collegepeepshowtv.com''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.Collegepeepshowtv.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212180338/http://www.collegepeepshowtv.com/ |archive-date=2008-12-12 |title=Collegepeepshowtv.com |website=Collegepeepshowtv}}</ref>
In 2009, Hobbs released his fourth solo album ''The Money And The Booty ''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/DJ-Mr-Mixx-The-Money-And-The-Booty-Special-German-Edition/release/2821376|title=DJ Mr. Mixx* - The Money And The Booty (Special German Edition)|website=Discogs|date=26 June 2009 }}</ref>
In 2010, Hobbs briefly reunited with former bandmates Wong Won, Ross, and Campbell as 2 Live Crew, and were honored at the 2010 ''VH1 Hip-Hop Honors: The Dirty South Edition'' awards show where they also performed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1674045/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast|title=2010 VH1 Hip Hop Honors: The Dirty South (2010 TV Special) Full Cast & Crew|website=Imdb}}</ref>
In 2016, Hobbs reunited with Ross to reform 2 Live Crew shortly before Wong Won's death in 2017. The duo subsequently released two singles ''How Bout Dem Cowboys'' (2016) and ''One Horse Sleigh'' (2016), and continued to tour nationally as 2 Live Crew, until Ross' death in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/how-bout-dem-cowboys-single/1182827219|title=How Bout Dem Cowboys – Single The 2 Live Crew & Mr. Mixx|website=Itunes|date=Nov 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-horse-sleigh-ep/1182767167|title=One Horse Sleigh The 2 Live Crew & Mr. Mixx|website=Itunes|date=Nov 18, 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|https://mixxlifefan.com/|Mixxfan.com}} * {{Instagram|mixx_2_live_crew}} * [https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/07/mr-mixx-interview 2016 ''Red Bull Music Academy'' article/interview: "2 Live Crew’s DJ and Producer Mr. Mixx On the Roots of Miami Bass"]
{{2 Live Crew}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mixx, Mr.}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:People from Santa Ana, California Category:African-American DJs Category:American hip-hop DJs Category:American hip-hop record producers Category:East Coast hip-hop musicians Category:Miami bass musicians Category:Southern hip-hop musicians Category:West Coast hip-hop musicians Category:United States Air Force airmen Category:21st-century African-American people Category:20th-century African-American people