MC Hammer: The Pop Rap Pioneer

MC Hammer is an American rapper and entertainer who became a global superstar in the early 1990s. Hailing from Oakland, California, his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em achieved diamond certification, selling over 10 million copies in the United States alone.

Early Career

Born Stanley Kirk Burrell in 1962, he began performing and dancing in his youth around Oakland. After a stint with the Oakland Athletics baseball team, he founded his own record label, Bust It Records, and released his independent debut album, Feel My Power, in 1987.

Breakthrough

His major-label debut, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, released on Capitol Records in 1990, catapulted him to unprecedented fame. Driven by its massive lead single, the album spent 21 weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time.

Key Tracks

U Can't Touch This - This 1990 single, built on a sample of Rick James's "Super Freak," became a worldwide anthem and won Hammer two Grammy Awards.

Pray - A gospel-tinged rap track from the same album that showcased a more serious side and also reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

2 Legit 2 Quit - The title track from his 1991 follow-up album became another signature hit, accompanied by an elaborate music video.

Addams Groove - This 1991 single was commissioned for the film "The Addams Family" and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Pumps and a Bump - His 1994 release marked a noted shift in his musical style and image during the mid-90s.

The success of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em was followed by the 1991 album Too Legit to Quit, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum. Known for his energetic dance routines, lavish music videos, and baggy parachute pants, Hammer's pop rap style dominated the airwaves. His later career included work on the 1994 album The Funky Headhunter and the 1995 album Inside Out, as he adapted to the evolving hip hop landscape.

Artists with a similar blend of hip hop and pop sensibilities from the same era include Vanilla Ice, who also experienced massive crossover success around 1990. Will Smith transitioned from TV to a hugely successful pop rap recording career. The group Kriss Kross achieved similar chart-topping success with a youthful, dance-oriented hip hop sound in the early 90s.

MC Hammer's music remains a staple on classic hip hop and pop radio stations, frequently featured in retrospectives of early 1990s music. His influential tracks continue to be played on various online radio streams dedicated to throwback hits and hip hop history.

The music of MC Hammer can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover or listen to the artist through radio stations available on onairium.com.