MC Hammer or simply Hammer (born Stanley Kirk Burrell) is known for hit records including "U Can't Touch This", "Pray" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" as well as his flashy dance movements, choreography and Hammer pants. His superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. Hammer has sold about 30 million albums in the U.S. alone. He has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, breaking down numerous doors for rap music and demonstrating that hip-hop had the potential for blockbuster success. A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop rap (incorporating elements of freestyle music), and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album.
Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business and created record labels such as Bust It Records, Oaktown Records and FullBlast. He has introduced, signed and produced new talent (his own acts collaborating with him and producing music of their own during his career) including Oaktown's 3.5.7, Common Unity, DRS, the vocal quintet Special Generation, Analise, James Greer, One Cause One Effect, DASIT (as seen on ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show), Teabag, Dom Kimberley, Geeman, Pleasure Ellis, B Angie B, The Stooge Playaz, Ho Frat Hoo! and Wee Wee, among others. A part of additional record labels, he has associated/collaborated/recorded with VMF, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, Whole 9,[1] Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson, as well as others. At about the age of 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and sought career advice from him. In 1992, Doug E. Fresh was signed to M.C. Hammer's Bust It Records label.
Before Hammer's successful career (with his mainstream/commercial popularity lasting approximately between the mid-1980s until the late-1990s) and his "rags-to-riches-to-rags-and-back saga", Burrell formed the Christian rap music group Holy Ghost Boys. Some songs produced were called "Word" and "B-Boy Chill". "This Wall", featuring Burrell (it was originally within the lyrics of this song he first identified himself as "K.B." and then eventually M.C. Hammer once it was produced), was later released by Jon Gibson (aka "J.G."). This was Contemporary Christian Music's first rap hit ever (by anyone), in particular by a Caucasian (Gibson) and/or from a duo. "This Wall" was featured in Time–Life's CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music. The track appeared on Gibson's album Change of Heart (1988), and "Son of the King" showed up on Hammer's debut album Feel My Power (1987) as well as the re-released version Let's Get It Started (1988). Burrell, along with Tramaine Hawkins, performed with Gibson's band doing several concerts in various venues such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills.
In late 2012, Hammer appeared with Psy at the 40th American Music Awards and during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest performing a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" together, which was released on iTunes. Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and "All In My Mind" (which samples "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers) in early 2014 with his newly formed group called Oakland Fight Club featuring Mistah F.A.B.[2][3][4]
Note: While with Death Row Records, an unreleased album called Too Tight was produced in 1996. A digital release was produced between 2008-2009 called DanceJamtheMusic.
Note: Back 2 Back Hits was originally released in 1998 for CEMA and was re-released in 2006 for Capitol Records.
Note: Music videos were produced for "Let's Get It Started", "Pump It Up (Here's the News)", "Turn This Mutha Out", "(Hammer, Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix", "You've Got Me Dancing" (with Glen Goldsmith), "U Can't Touch This", "Have You Seen Her", "Pray" (including remixes), "Too Legit to Quit", "Addams Groove", "Do Not Pass Me By" (with Tramaine Hawkins), "This Is The Way We Roll", "Pumps and a Bump", "It's All Good", "Too Late Playa", "Sultry Funk", "Keep On", "Going Up Yonder", "No Stoppin' Us (USA)", "Pop Yo Collar" and "Full Blast".
Additional singles with or without music videos released (charting and non-charting) were:
"We're All in the Same Gang" (1990) by West Coast Rap All-Stars with video and nominated at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1991
"The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album Different Lifestyles (1991) which peaked at #8 on the Christian charts in 1992
"Unconditional Love" from Family Affair (1998) without video
"I Got It from the Town" with video and "What Happened to Our Hood?" (featuring Sam Logan and originally from Active Duty) without video
"Hyphy, Dumb, Buck, Krump" and "YAY" (produced by Lil Jon) from Look Look Look (released digitally and via web in 2006) with videos originally via Myspace
"Bring Our Brothers Home" (non-album single released between 2006–2007) with video
"I Got Gigs", "I Go" (produced by Lil Jon), "Keep It In Vegas", "Lookin' Out The Window", "Dem Jeans" (by DASIT), "Stooge Karma Sutra" (by The Stooge Playaz) and "Tried to Luv U" (by DASIT featuring Pleasure Ellis) from DanceJamtheMusic (released digitally and via web download between 2008–2009) with some videos
"Better Run Run" (non-album single released online October 31, 2010) with video
"See Her Face" (non-album track Hammer premiered to the public on The Oprah Winfrey Show via Flipboard on February 3, 2011) without video
In late 2012, Hammer appeared with PSY at the 40th American Music Awards and during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest performing a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" together, which was released on iTunes.[5]
Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and "All In My Mind" (which samples "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers) in early 2014 with his newly formed group called Oakland Fight Club featuring Mistah F.A.B.[6][7][8]
Some singles have also appeared on other compilation albums, such as "Pump It Up (Here's the News)" and "U Can't Touch This". With exception to later remixes of early releases, Hammer produced and recorded many rap songs that were never made public, yet are now available on the Internet.
A sports fan, Hammer launched a new enterprise called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management between albums, Too Legit to Quit (1991) and The Funky Headhunter (1994). Clients included Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks.
During this time, in 1993, Hammer's production company released Gangsta Lean by DRS.[9][10] The hit rap song from this album, "Gangsta Lean", spent six weeks at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. "Gangsta Lean" has sold over 2.5 million copies with over 2 million views on YouTube.[11]
M.C. Hammer's chronological summary of accolades/awards and recognitions/nominations are as follows:
September 1989: The video for "Turn This Mutha Out" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video.
January 1990: Won two American Music Awards for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Let's Get It Started) and was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album (Let's Get It Started).
April 1990: Hit the Top 40 with "U Can't Touch This" from the LP Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.
May 1990: Hit the Top 10 with "U Can't Touch This".
July 1990: Hit the Top 40 with "Have You Seen Her".
August 1990: Hit the Top 10 with "Have You Seen Her".
September 1990: The video for "U Can't Touch This" won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Dance Video and was nominated for Best Male Video, Best Editing, and Best Choreography.
October 1990: Hit the Top 40 and Top 10 with "Pray".
November 1990: Hit #1 for a week with "Pray".
Hammer was a 1990 Top Singles Artist of the Year, a 1990 Billboard Hot Single Artist of the Year and was the 1990 Billboard Music Award Artist of the Decade. Another milestone was accomplished for Hammer when his album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em spent 21 weeks at #1, according to Billboard 200, eventually resulting in diamond certification.
January 1991: Hit the Top 40 with "Here Comes The Hammer". Won five American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist, Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("U Can't Touch This"), Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album (Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em), and was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album (Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em).
February 1991: Won three Grammy Awards including Best Rap Solo Performance and Best R&B Song ("U Can't Touch This") and Best Music Video: Long Form (Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie), and was nominated for Album of the Year (Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em) and Record of the Year ("U Can't Touch This").
September 1991: The video for "Pray" was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography and "Here Comes The Hammer" was nominated for Best Special Effects.
November 1991: Hit the Top 40 with "2 Legit 2 Quit".
December 1991: Hit the Top 10 with "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hit the Top 40 with "Addams Groove".
According to ARC Weekly, Hammer ranked the #43 Singles Artist of 1991. He also received a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song ("Addams Groove") in 1991.
January 1992: Won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist. Hit the Top 10 with "Addams Groove."
February 1992: Nominated for another Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance ("Here Comes The Hammer").
September 1992: Nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards including Best Video from a Film ("Addams Groove") and Best Choreography ("2 Legit 2 Quit").
Hammer was a 1992 Billboard Hot Single Artist of the Year, and ranked the #34 Singles Artist of 1992 according to ARC Weekly.
January 1993: Nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Rap Solo Performance ("Addams Groove") and Best Music Video: Long Form (Hammerin' Home).
In 1994, Hammer ranked the #84 Singles Artist of the Year according to ARC Weekly.
March 1994: Hit the Top 40 with "It's All Good".
April 1994: Hit the Top 40 with "Pumps and a Bump".
September 1994: Nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography ("Pumps And A Bump").
In 1999, MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made included Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" at #71.
In October 2000, VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs included Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" at #88.
In May 2001, VH1's 100 Greatest Videos included Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" at #59.
In April 2003, VH1's 50 Greatest Hip Hop Artists included MC Hammer at #44.
In 2004, Hammer was ranked #167 on the Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years chart.
In August 2005, the single "U Can't Touch This" was certified gold.
In April 2007, BET ranked Hammer as the #7 "Best Dancer Of All Time".
In December 2007, VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s included "U Can't Touch This" at #16.
In August 2008, at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, Hammer won a Living Legends of Hip Hop Award from Hip Hop International in Las Vegas.
In October 2008, Vibes The Best Rapper Ever Tournament declared Hammer the 17th favorite of all-time during the first round.
During 2008, "U Can't Touch This" ranked as #26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
In September 2009, Hammer made the "accomplishment appearance" in Zombie Apocalypse for the downloadable Smash TV/Left 4 Dead hybrid for the Xbox 360.
With over 2.6 million Twitter followers in 2010, his contribution to social media and as a co-founder of his own Internet businesses (such as DanceJam.com), Hammer was announced as the recipient of the first Gravity Summit Social Media Marketer of the Year Award. The award was presented to him at the 3rd Annual Gravity Summit on February 22, 2011 at the UCLA Covel Commons.
In December 2011, MuchMore's Top 100 Big Tunes of the 90s included "U Can't Touch This" at #83.
Hammer received the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement (not to be mistaken for the Gershwin Prize), presented during the UCLA Spring Sing in Pauley Pavilion on May 17, 2013.
