MC Hammer
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MC Hammer (later Hammer), real name Stanley Kirk Burrell, (born March 30, 1962) is an American rapper who was popular during the 1980s and early 1990s, known for his dramatic rise to and fall from fame and fortune, his trademark parachute pants, and for leaving a lasting influence on hip hop culture and music.
Image:MCHammerPleaseHammerDontHurtThemAlbumcover.jpg
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Early life
MC Hammer was born in Oakland, California. Even though Hammer wanted to be a professional baseball player, he did not catch on in any professional organization. He instead joined the NavyTemplate:Fact and upon his return began performing music in clubs and started his own record label, Bust ItTemplate:Fact.
Early career
His debut album was Feel My Power (1987), produced by Felton Pilate (of Con Funk Shun). The album sold over 60,000 copies, which led to several offers from major labels.
Burrell initially refused to sign a contract from Capitol Records, but he eventually did after a substantial signing bonus was added to his contract. His debut album was then re-released as Let's Get It Started. The album eventually went triple-platinum (more than 3 million units sold). The title song, "Turn This Mutha Out", and "Feel My Power" saw heavy rotation on R&B/Hip-Hop radio stations.
His second album, 1990's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em included the highly successful single "U Can't Touch This", which sampled "Super Freak" (Rick James); "Have You Seen Her" (cover of the Chi-Lites); and "Pray" (sampled from Prince's "When Doves Cry"). The album eventually went on to become the first hip-hop album to reach diamond status (more than 10 million units sold).[1] During 1990 Hammer toured extensively in Europe which included a sell out concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
A critical backlash began brewing over the repetitive nature of his lyrics, his clean cut image, and his perceived over-reliance on sampling others' hooks for the basis of his singles. He was mocked in music videos by 3rd Bass and Ice Cube. However Ice-T mentioned him on his 1991 album OG: Original Gangster: "A special shout out to my man MC Hammer; A lot of people diss you man, but they just jealous. Fuck em!". Despite the criticisms, MC Hammer's career remained highly successful. Soon, MC Hammer dolls, lunchboxes, clothing, and other apparel were marketed. He was even given his own Saturday morning cartoon.
After dropping the MC from his stage name, Burrell released 2 Legit 2 Quit in 1991. Burrell took the opportunity to answer his critics on certain songs on the album. Though the album was, by and large, no more critically accepted than his first, sales were strong and the title track was yet another hit. Another hit came soon after, with "Addams Groove" (which appeared on both The Addams Family motion picture soundtrack and the vinyl version of 2 Legit 2 Quit).
Later career
Later, Hammer switched record labels and signed with Giant Records. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, his next album was a more aggressive record titled, The Funky Headhunter. (The accompanying video to The Funky Headhunter's first single, "Pumps and a Bump", was banned from heavy rotation on MTV with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in speedos was too graphic. [2][3].)
In 1995, Hammer released the album Inside Out, which critics claimed was unfocused. The album sold poorly (peaking at number 119 on the Billboard Charts) [4] and Giant Records dropped him from their roster. [5] Because of dwindling album sales and a garish lifestyle, Hammer, who was $13 million in debt, filed for bankruptcy on April 3, 1996. [6]
Hammer next signed with Death Row Records, then home to gangsta rap stars Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. The label did not release any of Hammer's music while he was with them. However, Burrell did record music with Shakur. Their collaborative efforts are yet to be released. After the death of Shakur in 1996, Burrell left the record company. In 1996, Burrell signed with EMI, which saw the release of a compilation of Hammer's chart topping songs. The album, Greatest Hits, featured 12 former hits and was released in October, only six months after his bankruptcy.[7]
In 1997, MC Hammer (who by that time had readopted the MC) was the subject of an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and the VH1 series Behind the Music. In these appearances, Burrell admitted that he had already used up most of his fortune of over $20 million. Much of this money was spent on a large mansion that Burrell had built in Fremont, California, 30 miles south of where he grew up, along with keeping an entourage that numbered to as much as 20-plus individuals. VH1 also produced a dramatic movie about his life in 2001 entitled Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story.
Following the September 11 attacks, in late 2001, Hammer released the patriotic album Active Duty on his own WorldHit label. He donated portions of the proceeds to 9/11 charities. In 2004, he released the Full Blast album. Neither album managed to peak on the Billboard Charts.[8]
In February 2006, the first single off Hammer's new album Look 3X was released. The song was titled "Look" and a music video was produced for it.
Hammer now frequently posts about his life on his blog "Look Look Look."[9]
MC Hammer's legacy
After his rapid fall from fame and subsequent bankruptcy, MC Hammer spent most of the latter half of the 1990s as a punchline in the music business. In 2000, Nelly, in his breakthrough hit "Country Grammar", announced his intention to "blow 30 mill[ion] like I'm Hammer".[10]
However, he has also influenced the industry. Hammer's sampling of large portions of well-known pop oldies (as opposed to short James Brown or George Clinton funk riffs) has shown increasing popularity among mainstream rappers, particularly Diddy's Bad Boy Records stable. Other examples include Eminem's Like Toy Soldiers which samples nearly the entire chorus from Martika's similarly-named 1989 hit.
Hammer's image as a clean living "nice guy" became increasingly rare in mainstream rap music with the rise of gangsta rap, but has occasionally resurfaced in the likes of Will Smith and Usher.
Hammer's catchphrase, "Stop! Hammer time!" is considered something of an internet meme, appearing in various spoofed error messages in the Windows XP operating system.
Hammer recently performed a self-parody role in a television ad for Lay's potato chips. Some kids lose their baseball over the fence of a neighbour apparently infamous for not returning lost toys, so they throw him a bag of chips to appease him. He throws back their ball, their dog, a car belonging to one kid's dad, and MC Hammer, still dressed in golden sparkle shirt and parachute pants. MC Hammer instantly breaks into the chorus of "U Can't Touch This." The kids then toss Hammer back over the fence. He also appeared in an ad for Nationwide Insurance which made fun of his sudden fall from fame and wealth.
Pastoral Career
Hammer reaffirmed his Christian beliefs in October 1997. [11] Eventually he became a preacher with his own television program. He now lives in Tracy, California, with his wife and 5 children. His music video of "Can't Touch This" was featured in a 30 second scene in the move "Charles Angels: Full Throttle."
Hammer has officiated at these celebrity weddings:
- Actor Corey Feldman and Susie Sprague on 30 October 2002 [12]
- Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil and Lia Gerardini in January 2005 [13].
Music sampled by Hammer
- Rick James' "Super Freak" was the basis for "U Can't Touch This."
- Prince's song "When Doves Cry" was used for Hammer's song "Pray."
- George Clinton's song "Atomic Dog" was sampled on "Pumps and a Bump."