Seattle-based record label Sub Pop — home to Duluth’s Alan Sparhawk and Low, as well as Father John Misty, Beach House, and many others — has announced a new mutual aid compilation, Maximum MN.

Out Friday, Sept. 4, exclusively as part of Bandcamp Friday, the eight-track digital mixtape features artists on the Sub Pop roster covering classic songs by Minnesota artists, such as Prince, Hippo Campus, the Replacements, and more.

“Maximum MN was a project I pitched to Sub Pop because, after living there for an extended amount of time, it felt like home,” says Abbie Gobeli, Sub Pop’s social media manager and a host on Seattle radio station KEXP. While studying at the University of Minnesota, Gobeli was a host and music director at Radio K.

The goal was to create a benefit compilation to help out Minnesota families affected by recent ICE operations. Compilation proceeds will be donated to the non-profit organization The International Institute of Minnesota, which provides a variety of services to immigrants and refugees.

The idea crystalized about six months ago, she says. After getting the green light, Gobeli started pitching bands who were on her dream list, for instance, Shabazz Palaces. “All I want is [Shabazz Palaces rapper] Ishmael Butler to cover Prince,” she says. “And who would have thought it? He was already working on a cover, so it was kismet.”

“I love Minneapolis,” says Butler. “As a musician, I've been able to go there a lot of times and perform. I love Prince. I love the city and a lot of the musicians and music that has come out of there. Those things combined made it a very interesting project for me and something that I was happy to be a part of.”

On Thursday, Sept. 17, The Current will feature the album for an on-air listening party at 9 p.m. Central. Friday, Sept. 18, Maximum MN will be released on all major streaming platforms.

Track listing:
1. Downtown Boys - Can't Hardly Wait (The Replacements)
2. Yuno - The Way It Goes (Hippo Campus)
3. Sweeping Promises - Something I Learned Today (Hüsker Dü )
4. Mudhoney - Rubber Room (Halo of Flies)
5. Shabazz Palaces - Pop Life (Prince)
6. Flock of Dimes - Especially Me (Low)
7. Weird Nightmare - It's a Wonderful Lie (Paul Westerberg)
8. Pissed Jeans - The Body Rules (Jesse “The Body” Ventura)

“It was really cool to see a mix of things like Hippo Campus to Halo of Flies, which [Mudhoney’s] Mark Arm turned me on to” says Gobeli. “I was like ‘What? What's this?’ And he said, ‘Oh, we used to tour with them.’ It was really cool to just highlight the wealth of musical talent from Minnesota on top of acknowledging that it's dark times right now. If we can find some light by celebrating the music that comes out of Minnesota, I think there is so much power in that.”