Xtra-Terrestrial: MC Hammer

The late 1980s to mid 1990s boast of an American dancer and rapper known as MC Hammer, arguably the world’s biggest entertainer at the time.

Born Stanley Kirk Burrell, MC Hammer was considered the flag bearer of Hip-Pop music and is reportedly the first Hip-hop artist to reach diamond status (10 million records) in album sales.

Game Time

Although always dancing, young Stanley’s dream was to become a baseball player. He sold stray baseballs at age 11 before being spotted and asked to work as an office assistant for the Oakland A’s team owner Charles O. Finley.

His musical career kicked off in a Christian group, the Holy Ghost Boys before his solo debut in 1987, Feel My Power, which he released and sold independently. The album sold over 60,000 copies with lead track “Let’s Get it Started” becoming a club hit.

His impressive act led to a recording contract with Capitol Records and in 1988, his first album was re-released as Let’s Get it Started with additional tracks recorded for the re-issue. “Turn This Mutha Out” and “They Put Me in the Mix” were some of the hits from this album.

In 1990, the release of the monster single, “U Can’t Touch This” off the album Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em propelled him to superstardom. The album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 21 weeks, making it the first rap album on the pop chart.

Half Time

MC Hammer made hit after hit including “Have You Seen Her” and “Pray”; pushing the album sales of over 18 million units worldwide, breaking the Hip-hop album sales record. In 1991, after dropping the “MC” from his name, Hammer released Too Legit to Quit which sold three million records and received massive airplay.

Clearly a peak period in his career, Hammer became a Hip-Hop icon; his hair style and dance patterns were imitated by fans and his Arabian baggy styled pants evolved into another crazy fashion trend. Hammer dolls were made amidst other promotional merchandise including lunch boxes, T-Shirts and pants.

Although some critics believe his songs were always unfocused with repetitive lines, one thing was clear, he was a good entertainer colonising different dance floors. It was the Hammer era!

Crunch time

With critics not ‘getting behind him’, Hammer’s relevance began to wane in the later part of the 90s. After his ill received 1994 ‘gangsta rap’ album The Funky Headhunter, he signed to Suge Knight’s infamous Death Row Records in 1995.

Although he reportedly made tracks with the legendary 2pac, he never released any official track on the label. After 2Pac’s death in 1996, Hammer signed with EMI Records and released the 1998 album Family Affair, which did not measure up to his earlier albums.

After the September 11 terror attack on America, he released his eight studio album which also failed to chart signalling his loss of relevance in Hip-Hop. Even an attempt at dissing Eminem and Busta Rhymes on a 2003 track “Full Blast” didn’t help bring the spotlight back on Hammer.

Down Time

Although he released a 2006 album, Look Look Look, Hammer has failed to regain the god-like status he once commanded. He has confirmed in several interviews that he has lost most of the money he made, about $20 million.

He currently stays in Tracy, California with his wife of 24 years, Stephanie, and their five children (three boys and two girls). He re-affirmed his faith in Christ in the late 90s and has since said the MC part of his name stood for Man of Christ.

He continues to feature in some commercials including work for ESPN amongst others. In February 2009, he was reported to have penned a deal with A&E for a reality show, Hammertime, about his life and family; dubbed the reality version of The Cosby Show.

The show premiered in June with a second season yet to be confirmed. He featured alongside his biggest rival of the 1990s, fellow obsolete Hip-Popper, Vanilla Ice in March 2009 at a Utah concert. Now the chief executive officer of Oaktown Records; he is clearly just too legit to quit!

Additional Information: WIKIPEDIA, ZIMBIO.COM, IPLANETHIPHOP.COM