How to Hire MC HAMMER For Your Event!
aka: Stanley Kirk Burrell, Hammerman, Hammertime
Based in: California
Based in: San Francisco area
Based in: Tracy
Hire: MC Hammer
GRAMMY award-winning Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), better known by his stage name MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper. He is known for hit songs such as “U Can’t Touch This”, “2 Legit 2 Quit” and “Pumps and a Bump”, flashy dance movements, extravagant choreography, and his eponymous Hammer pants.
Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer has also been an entrepreneur and celebrity spokesperson.
Throughout the years, Hammer has been awarded for his music, videos, and choreography. He has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. He has won three Grammy Awards (one with Rick James and Alonzo Miller) for Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1990), Best Rap Solo (1990) and Best Music Video: Long Form (1990) taken from Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em: The Movie.
He also received eight American Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award, an NAACP Image Award, and the Billboard Diamond Award (the first for a hip-hop artist).
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After failing in professional baseball and attending a college course in communications, MC Hammer (named after his likeness to baseball’s big hitter, Henry ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ Aaron) joined the US Navy for three years. Indeed, his first forays into music were financed by baseball players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy, allowing him to form Bustin’ Records and release the solo single, “Ring ‘Em.”
He had previously been part of religious rap group, the Holy Ghost Boys. Together with a backing band consisting of two DJs and singers, Tabatha King, Djuana Johnican and Phyllis Charles, he cut a 1987 debut set, “Feel My Power.”
A minor hit, it did enough to bring MC Hammer to the attention of Capitol Records. After contracts were completed, including a reported advance of $750,000 (unheard of for a rap artist), the album was reissued under the title “Let’s Get It Started.” Such success was overshadowed, however, by the follow-up, 1990’s “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em.”
Following massive exposure due to sponsorship deals with British Knights footwear and Pepsi-Cola, the album began a residency at the top of the US charts for a record-breaking 21-week run.
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The US/UK Top 5 single, “U Can’t Touch This,” embodied his appeal, with near constant rotation on pop channel MTV, and dance routines that were the equal of Michael Jackson. The single sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak,” creating a precedent for follow-ups “Have You Seen Her” (the Chi-Lites) and “Pray” (Prince’s “When Doves Cry”), the latter achieving his highest chart position when it reached US number 2.
Hammer was being praised as a suitable role model for black youth (not least by himself) and was honored by “M.C. Hammer Days” in Los Angeles and Fremont. “Here Comes the Hammer” reached number 54 in the US charts, despite its appearance on the soundtrack to “Rocky V.”
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A multitude of awards, including Grammys, Bammys and International Album of The Year at the Juno awards in Canada, reflected the global success of the album and the M.C. Hammer name – at this point in his career. His exposure to US audiences included the television adventures of cartoon hero “Hammerman,” and a Mattel Hammer doll with attached ghetto blaster.
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The follow-up, “Too Legit to Quit,” was released under the name Hammer. The sleeve notes to the album expanded on his desire for black youth to rid themselves of drugs and resurrect their Christian morality through self-education. Despite a soundtrack hit with “Addams Groove,” heavily promoted in The Addams Family movie, Hammer’s fortunes declined.
In 1992, The San Francisco Examiner reported that Hammer faced financial ruin after poor attendance for his Too Legit To Quit tour, promoting an album that had seen him tracing a more R&B-based groove. Though MC Hammer denied there was any truth in such stories, it was obvious a re-think was needed.
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By 1994, there was a huge image switch, from harem pants and leather catsuits to dark glasses and a goatee beard. The resultant album pulled in producers G-Bomb from Grand Jury Records, the Hines brothers from Detroit, Teddy Riley, and members of the Dogg Pound, and specifically went after the Oakland G-funk sound of artists such as Too $hort.
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Hammer‘s “Family Affair” album was released in 1998. In November 2001, he released his new studio album, Active Duty.
The “new” Hammer returned with “The Funky Headhunter” (a gangsta rap album) and a rebellious ghetto image. Though “The Funky Headhunter” briefly peaked at No. 2 and went gold, Hammer quickly abandoned his look and returned to pop-rap with 1995’s “Inside Out.”
After declaring bankruptcy in 1997, Hammer publicly announced that he would take responsibility for his past actions and, from now on, would use his musical talents, such as they are, to praise God and emphasize traditional family values.
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MC Hammer‘s career in rap and entertainment has been influenced by such artists as: Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson, Kurtis Blow, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James, Run-DMC, Grandmaster Flash, and the Furious Five.
Doug E. Fresh joined Hammer‘s Bust It Records label in 1992 and issued the album Doin’ What I Gotta Do with the track “Bustin’ Out (On Funk)” sampling the Rick James single “Bustin’ Out”.
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