Editor's Note: Although MC Hammer is best known as a pop rap phenomenon, his style of dancing and incorporation of R&B sensibilities into his music strongly warrant his inclusion in this Hall of Fame.
-- A. Knyte
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Stanley Kirk Burrell had two passions -- dancing and baseball. When he was younger, he became a batboy for the Oakland A's. As he got older, he became fascinated with rap music and decided to cut his own record from scratch. With a loan from players for the Oakland A's, Stanley called himself M.C.Hammer (a nickname given to him due to his resemblance "Hammerin'" Hank Aaron) and eventually sold an astounding 60,000 copies of his homemade album, "Feel My Power" out of the trunk of his car.
The popularity of M.C. Hammer caught the eye of Capitol Records. After being turned down relentlessly by Hammer, Capitol finally him gave an offer he couldn't refuse. A multi-million dollar deal (which included a $750,000 signing bonus). As a favor, Capitol re-packaged "Feel My Power" as "Let's Get It Started" which went gold in 1989. Notable singles from this album included the title track, "Turn This Mutha Out," and the summer '89 remix of "They Put Me In The Mix (Hammer, Hammer)." That same year, Hammer hit the road with Guy, Heavy D. & The Boyz, and Kool Moe Dee.
After that, Hammer went back into the studio to record the biggest (and cleverly sample-heavy) album of his career, "Please Hammer Don't Hurt `Em." It became the biggest selling album in 1990. Powered by "You Can't Touch This," the MC Hammer hit parade continued with the sugary slow-jam "Have You Seen Her," the proto-Kirk Franklin sounding "Pray" (featuring a memorable sample of Prince's "When Doves Cry") and "Here Comes The Hammer."
Hammer began touring non-stop, and throughout 1990 thru 1991, Hammer was seemed to be everywhere, selling "British Knights" sneakers, his own doll, endorsing Taco Bell and KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), winning awards left and right, and even producing his own cartoon show ("Hammerman"). Then in the fall of `91, Hammer decided to drop the M.C. moniker from his name and released his 3rd album, Too Legit to Quit, which sold a respectable 5 million copies worldwide, but people were tired of Hammer's positive, squeaky-clean image. The "Addams Groove" single marked the end of the "blockbuster" portion of Hammer's career.
Editor's Note: It also didn't help matters much that by the fall of '91, the record-buying masses were growing increasingly hostile towards anything that remotely sounded like traditional dance/pop music; Hammer's feel-good sound virtually defined the 'pop music' of the New Jack Era.
In 1994, Hammer left Capitol, signed with Giant Records, and released the gangsta rap-sounding "The Funky Headhunter", featuring the moderate hits "It's All Good" (which has become a popular phrase since) and "Pumps And A Bump" (featuring Hammer's most aggressive sound yet, and a scandalous video to boot). It was around this time that Death Row Records expressed interest in having Hammer join the label, but Hammer never released an album with Death Row.
Notably, "Pumps And A Bump" was produced by the King of New Jack Swing himself, Mr. Teddy Riley.
In late 1995, "Inside Out" was released (marking the first album where put the M.C. back into his name), however the album proved to be a commercial dissapointment. Hammer's luck took a turn for the worse when he filed for bankruptcy in `96. Although most people won't seem to admit it, M.C Hammer helped push the envelope for rap music to crossover to mainstream success. Hammer is now a minister and has recently released an album in 2001 called, "Active Duty."
*Substantial portions of this bio submitted by Jabar Robbins.
MC Hammer: Greatest Hits
