In the late 1990s, two huge parts of Seattle’s music scene came together in an unexpected way. Famed hip-hop artist Sir Mix-a-Lot and alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America (PUSA) collaborated as Subset between 1998 and 1999. They played several shows in Seattle and worked on recording an album. However, the group disbanded in 2000 over creative differences before the album was finished.

Sir Mix-a-Lot (Anthony Ray) was born in Seattle in 1963 and was involved in the birth of hip-hop in Seattle in the early 1980s. His first hit, "Posse on Broadway," was released in 1987. It describes a trip through Seattle’s Central Area and Capitol Hill and remains one of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s most well-known songs. His biggest hit was "Baby Got Back," which released in 1992, topped pop music charts for five weeks, and won Sir Mix-a-Lot the Grammy for Best Solo Rap Performance in 1993.

The Presidents of the United States of America was founded by Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer, and Jason Finn in Seattle in 1993. They quickly became popular around Seattle and released their debut self-titled album in 1994, eventually going double platinum. PUSA were on hiatus between 1998 and 2000, during which they collaborated with Sir Mix-a-Lot. They reunited in 2000 and issued several more albums before breaking up in 2015.

This photo shows Sir Mix-a-Lot and PUSA recording at Jupiter Studios on West Government Way in Seattle.

Written on negative envelope: Jupiter Studios, 3524 W. Gov't Way, Presidents of the USA & Anthony Ray aka Sir Mix-a-Lot. 7/28/99

Caption information sources: “Subset,” by Steve Huey, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/subset-mn0001873339 ; “ANTHONY “SIR MIX-A-LOT” RAY (1963- ),” by Daudi Abe, https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/sir-mix-lot-ray-anthony-1963/ ; “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-presidents-of-the-united-states-of-america-mn0000414889/biography.