MC Hammer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids MC Hammer
MC Hammer in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Stanley Kirk Burrell
Also known as	Hammerman Hammer
Born	(1962-03-30) March 30, 1962 (age 63) Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop pop rap
Occupation(s)	Rapper dancer record producer entrepreneur
Years active	1973–present
Labels	Capitol EMI Death Row Giant Reprise World Hit Full Blast Warner Bros.
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–1984
Rank	Petty Officer First Class
Unit	VP-47

Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), known as MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper. He is famous for hit songs like "U Can't Touch This", "2 Legit 2 Quit", and "Pumps and a Bump". He was also known for his exciting dance moves, amazing choreography, and his special Hammer pants. Hammer rose to fame quickly and was also a successful business person and celebrity spokesperson. He won many awards and is seen as a pioneer of pop rap, which mixes hip hop with elements of freestyle music.

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Hammer served three years in the United States Navy. After that, he released his first album, Feel My Power, in 1986 on his own. He then signed with Capitol Records and released Let's Get It Started in 1988, which sold millions of copies. Hammer was the first hip hop artist to sell over 10 million copies of an album with Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990). This made him one of the biggest celebrities in the early 1990s.

Later, as hip hop music changed, his sales for Too Legit To Quit (1991) were lower. He tried to adapt his style with The Funky Headhunter (1994). However, his popularity decreased by the mid-1990s, leading to some financial challenges starting in 1996. Since then, he has released five more albums.

Hammer also had a Mattel doll and other merchandise. He starred in a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman in 1991. In the late 1990s, he became an ordained preacher and hosted a Christian ministry show called MC Hammer and Friends on TBN. He was also a dance judge on Dance Fever in 2003. He co-created the dance website DanceJam.com and was the executive producer of his own reality show, Hammertime, which aired in 2009.

Throughout his career, Hammer managed his own music business as a record label CEO. He helped create and produce music for other artists like Ho Frat Hoo!, Oaktown's 3.5.7, Special Generation, DRS, and B Angie B. He also worked with famous artists like Psy, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, and Big Daddy Kane. In 1995, Hammer signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records.

BET ranked Hammer as the No. 7 "Best Dancer of All Time". He continues to perform concerts and appear in television advertisements. He is also active on social media and participates in community events.

Early Life and Baseball Dreams

Stanley Kirk Burrell was born in Oakland, California, on March 30, 1962. His father was a professional poker player and a warehouse supervisor. Hammer grew up in East Oakland with his mother and eight brothers and sisters. They lived in a small apartment. The Burrell family often went to horse races and later owned several successful racehorses.

In the Oakland Coliseum parking lot, young Burrell would sell baseballs and dance. Oakland Athletics team owner Charlie Finley saw the 11-year-old doing splits. Impressed by his energy, Finley hired Burrell as a clubhouse assistant and batboy. Burrell worked with the team from 1973 to 1980. In 2010, Hammer shared on ESPN that his brother was the official batboy. Hammer's job was to take calls and give "play-by-plays" to the team's owner, who lived in Chicago.

Reggie Jackson, a famous baseball player, gave Burrell his nickname:

Hell, our chief executive, the guy that ran our team, uh, that communicated [with] Charlie Finley, the top man there, was a 13-year-old kid. I nicknamed him "Hammer" because he looked like Hank Aaron [whose nickname was "The Hammer"].

Other players also called him "Little Hammer" because he looked like Hank Aaron. Burrell also got the nickname "MC" because he was a "master of ceremonies". He used this name when he started performing at clubs while traveling with the A's and later in the military. Hammer played second base in high school and dreamed of being a professional baseball player. However, he did not make the team at a San Francisco Giants tryout.

Burrell graduated from McClymonds High School in Oakland in 1980. He took college classes in communications. When his baseball dreams didn't work out, he joined the United States Navy. He served for three years before being honorably discharged.

Music and Entertainment Journey

Before his successful music career, Burrell formed a Christian rap group called the Holy Ghost Boy(s) with singer Jon Gibson. They performed together in concerts. Some early songs they produced were "Word" and "B-Boy Chill". Hammer also released "Son of the King" on his first album, Feel My Power (1986).

Hammer also helped new artists through his record labels like Bust It Records and Oaktown Records. He signed and produced talent such as Oaktown's 3.5.7 and B Angie B. Around age 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and got career advice from him.

Feel My Power (1986)

In the mid-1980s, after a record deal fell through, Hammer borrowed money from former Oakland A's players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy. He used this money to start his own record label business. As the CEO of Bust It Productions, Hammer sold records from his basement and car. He worked hard to promote himself. His dance skills and unique style made him stand out.

Calling himself "MC Hammer," he recorded songs for his first album, Feel My Power, in 1986. It was released on his independent label, Bustin' Records. The album sold over 60,000 copies. Singles like "Ring 'Em" became popular in dance clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1988, a radio DJ played the song "Let's Get It Started," which also became popular.

Hammer then started rehearsing seven days a week with his dancers, musicians, and backup singers. His energetic stage show led to his big break in 1988. He impressed a record executive at an Oakland club. Hammer signed a multi-album deal with Capitol Records for $1,750,000. Capitol Records quickly made back its investment.

Let's Get It Started (1988)

After signing with Capitol Records, Hammer re-released his first album, Feel My Power, with new songs. It sold over two million copies. Popular singles from this album included "Pump It Up" and "Let's Get It Started". Hammer wanted his next album to be even more musical. Some people criticized him for being more of a dancer than a rapper. But Hammer believed people were ready for a different style of rap music.

Hammer was good friends with Arsenio Hall. He was invited to perform "U Can't Touch This" on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989, even before the song was officially released. He also performed "Dancing Machine".

Hammer used some of the money from this album to put a recording studio on his tour bus. He recorded much of his next album there. In 1989, Hammer was featured on a song with Glen Goldsmith called "You've Got Me Dancing." He also formed the rap group Oaktown's 3.5.7, which had a hit song called "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!".

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)

Hammer's third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, came out on February 12, 1990. It included the huge hit single "U Can't Touch This", which used a sample from Rick James' "Super Freak". The album was produced and mixed on a modified tour bus. "U Can't Touch This" became a top 10 hit, and the album was number one for 21 weeks. This was a first for a pop album. "U Can't Touch This" has been used in many movies and TV shows.

Other successful songs from the album included "Have You Seen Her" and "Pray". "Pray" was his biggest hit in the US, reaching number 2. The album became the first hip-hop album to sell over 10 million copies, selling more than 18 million to date. In 1990, Hammer toured Europe, including a sold-out concert in Birmingham.

The album was known for sampling other famous artists. "Dancin' Machine" sampled The Jackson 5, and "Help the Children" used parts of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)". All the songs had background vocals from his group, Special Generation. This mix of sounds made the album very popular on radio and TV. The album helped make hip hop music even more popular. It is still the best-selling hip hop album of all time.

Music videos from this and earlier albums were played a lot on MTV and VH1. A movie called Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie was also released in 1990, featuring parts of his music videos. Hammer also appeared in the song "We're All in the Same Gang" with other West Coast rappers. He released "This is What We Do" on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie soundtrack and "That's What I Said" on the Rocky V soundtrack.

Some critics said his lyrics were too simple and that he relied too much on sampling other artists' songs. Other rappers like 3rd Bass and Ice Cube made fun of him in their music videos. Q-Tip said, "Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop." LL Cool J also criticized him. However, Ice-T defended Hammer, saying that people were just jealous. Despite the criticism, Hammer's career continued to be very successful, with tours in Asia, Europe, Australia, and Russia. Soon after, M.C. Hammer Mattel dolls, lunchboxes, and other merchandise were sold. He also got his own Saturday-morning cartoon, Hammerman, where he was the host and voice.

Too Legit to Quit (1991)

After dropping "MC" from his stage name, Hammer released Too Legit to Quit in 1991. He responded to his critics in some of the songs on the album. Sales were strong, with over five million copies sold. The title track was the biggest hit from this album. Another hit was "Addams Groove", which reached No. 7 in the US.

Hammer went on a big tour to promote the album. His stage show had many singers, dancers, and musicians. In 1992, Boyz II Men joined the tour as an opening act. Sadly, their tour manager was murdered in Chicago. Boyz II Men dedicated their song "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" to him. The expensive show was eventually canceled because it cost too much to support through album sales.

Music videos were made for all four singles from this album, and they all charted. The "2 Legit 2 Quit" video featured many celebrities and was one of the most expensive videos ever made. The hand motions in the song and video became very popular. "2 Legit to Quit" was a success in the US, reaching No. 5. Even though the album sold millions, it was one-third of the sales of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em.

At the end of the "2 Legit to Quit" video, James Brown asks Hammer to get Michael Jackson's famous glove. A silver-white sequined glove is then shown on the hand of a Michael Jackson look-alike doing the "2 Legit to Quit" hand gesture. Hammer later shared that Michael Jackson had seen the video and liked it. Hammer and Jackson both appeared at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006. In 1991, Hammer was featured on the single "The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album.

New Ventures and The Funky Headhunter (1992–1994)

In 1992, Doug E. Fresh signed with Hammer's label, Bust It Records. Before Hammer's next album, The Funky Headhunter, rumors spread that Hammer had left music or was having financial problems. Hammer denied these rumors. He said he had given his record label to his brother and his horse racing interests to his other brother and father.

Hammer signed a new multi-million-dollar deal with Giant Records, bringing his Oaktown label with him. Hammer also started a new company called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, which worked with athletes like Evander Holyfield and Deion Sanders. In 1993, his company released the hit rap song "Gangsta Lean" by DRS.

Hammer said he was happy and not broke during a tour of his mansion for Ebony magazine. He said his music style was more "aggressive" now, but he was not a "gangsta."

In 1993, Hammer began recording his fifth album, The Funky Headhunter. This album had a more aggressive sound to fit the changing hip-hop scene. Hammer co-produced it with Stefan Adamek. While his look changed, his lyrics remained mostly clean. However, this change in sound caused Hammer to lose some fans. The album reached number two on the R&B charts and was eventually certified platinum.

Hammer debuted the video for "Pumps and a Bump" on The Arsenio Hall Show. The video was banned from heavy rotation on MTV because of how Hammer was shown. This led to a different video being filmed where Hammer was fully clothed. "It's All Good" was the second single from the album.

In December 1994, Deion Sanders released a rap album called Prime Time on Hammer's Bust It Records label. Sanders, a friend of Hammer's, had appeared in his "Too Legit to Quit" music video.

Later Albums and Death Row Records (1995–1996)

In 1995, Hammer released the album Inside Out. This album did not sell well compared to his earlier records. Giant Records then dropped him and Oaktown Records. Songs like "Going Up Yonder" and "Sultry Funk" received some radio play. Hammer later explained that many of his friends had used and betrayed him, which contributed to his financial challenges.

In 1995, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" with Deion Sanders from the Street Fighter soundtrack. The song charted in the UK. Hammer signed with Death Row Records in 1995, which was home to Snoop Dogg and his friend, Tupac Shakur. The label did not release Hammer's album, Too Tight, while he was with them. However, Burrell recorded songs with Shakur and others, including "Too Late Playa". After Shakur's death in 1996, Burrell left the record company.

Return to EMI and Family Affair (1996–1998)

In October 1996, Burrell and Oaktown signed with EMI. They released a compilation album of Hammer's hit songs called Greatest Hits. In 1998, another "greatest hits" album, Back 2 Back Hits, was released by CEMA. As Hammer's music career faced challenges, he turned to a gospel-friendly audience.

In 1998, Hammer released Family Affair with EMI. This album was meant to introduce the artists he had signed to his Oaktown Records. It was promoted on Trinity Broadcasting Network but did not have any charting singles and sold about 1,000 copies worldwide. The album also features a song written for Hammer by Tupac called "Unconditional Love". Hammer later danced and read the lyrics to this song at the first VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2004.

Family Affair was a double album mostly about faith and family values. After this album, new projects were rumored, but they did not appear.

The Hits and Active Duty (2000–2001)

In 2000, another compilation album called The Hits was released. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hammer released his album, Active Duty, on his own World Hit Music Group label. This album honored those lost in the attacks. It featured two singles with videos, "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" and "Pop Yo Collar". The album did not sell as many copies as earlier projects. However, Hammer promoted it on shows like The View.

This patriotic album donated some of its proceeds to 9/11 charities. Hammer filmed a video for "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" in Washington, D.C., with members of the United States Congress who sang and danced in the video.

Full Blast (2004)

After leaving Capitol Records and EMI, Hammer moved his Oaktown label to an independent distributor. He released his ninth album, Full Blast, in early 2004. This album did not have any charting singles. A video was made for the song "Full Blast".

Look Look Look and Platinum MC Hammer (2006–2008)

Hammer created a digital label to release his tenth album, Look Look Look, in February 2006. The album featured the title track single and a music video. It sold better than his previous release, with 300,000 copies worldwide.

Between 2006 and 2007, Hammer released a military-inspired rap song with a political message to President George W. Bush about bringing American troops home from war. It was called "Bring Our Brothers Home." The video was filmed at the Santa Monica Pier.

In 2008, Platinum MC Hammer was released by EMI Records. This compilation included 12 tracks from Hammer's previous albums.

DanceJamtheMusic (2008–2009)

Since his 2006 album, Hammer continued to make music and released several raps on his social websites like Myspace and Dancejam.com. A new album was announced for late 2008.

"Getting Back to Hetton" was released in 2008 as a digital single. The song "I Got Gigs" from this album was used in a 2009 ESPN commercial.

In February 2009, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice had a concert in Orem, Utah. This concert helped promote Hammer's new music and TV show. During the concert, they mentioned it was their first headline show together in almost 20 years. Hammer said, "Contrary to popular belief, Ice and I are not only cool with each other, we are like long lost friends."

Recent Releases (2010–Present)

"Better Run Run" (2010)

MC Hammer released a song called "Better Run Run" in response to a song by Kanye West and Jay-Z that mentioned his past financial challenges. On November 1, Hammer's song and video "Better Run Run!" were released online. In the video, Hammer accuses Jay-Z of being involved with the Devil and then defeats the Devil.

Jay-Z later said he did not mean his verses as a personal attack. He said he had written good things about Hammer in his book.

"See Her Face" (2011)

On February 3, 2011, MC Hammer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to premiere his song "See Her Face" through Flipboard. It was the first time Flipboard included music in its application.

"Raider Nation" and "All in My Mind" (2013–2014)

Among other songs, Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" with a video in late 2013. He also released "All in My Mind" in early 2014 with his new group Oakland Fight Club.

"Help the Children" (2017)

Hammer released an updated version of his 1990 charting song with a short film video in late 2017.

Other Business Ventures

In 1991, Hammer started Oaktown Stable, which owned nineteen Thoroughbred racehorses. His horse Lite Light won several important races. His colt Dance Floor also won races and finished 3rd in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. He still attends horse shows and sporting events. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hammer worked on MC Hammer USA, an online portal.

In 2002, Hammer signed a book contract with Simon & Schuster. He received money to write an inspirational book called Enemies of the Father: Messages from the Heart on Being a Family Man. However, the book was never finished, and the company sued Hammer in 2009 to get their money back.

Hammer became involved in several Internet projects. In 2007, he co-founded DanceJam.com, a community site for dancing videos. Hammer sometimes judged or rated the videos.

In July 2010, Hammer started a mixed martial arts management company called Alchemist Management. It managed, marketed, and promoted fighters. He also announced a clothing line called Alchemist Clothing. Hammer had always been interested in boxing.

On September 28, 2010, Hammer performed at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. He appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011 to talk about his tech-media work. He explained that he had been involved with the Internet since 1994, including YouTube and Twitter. He also said that his past financial challenges were not as bad as the media made them seem.

In October 2011, Hammer announced a new internet project called WireDoo, a "deep search engine" that aimed to compete with Google and Bing. However, WireDoo never fully launched.

Television and Film Career

Hammer produced and starred in his own movie, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990). For this project, Hammer won a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video. He later produced MC Hammer: 2 Legit (The Videos).

Hammer appeared in major marketing campaigns for companies like Pepsi, KFC, Toshiba, and Taco Bell.

In 1991, Hammer hosted and voiced a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman. That same year, he and his production company appeared in a concert from New Orleans on BET.

Hammer made cameos and performed on many TV shows, including Saturday Night Live and Martin. He also had a cameo in the 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero. Hammer appeared as himself in The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (1995). He also acted in movies like One Tough Bastard (1996) and Finishing the Game (2007).

Despite his financial challenges, Hammer helped fund the film Better Luck Tomorrow (2002) by filmmaker Justin Lin. MTV Films later acquired the movie.

Hammer appeared in two cable TV movies. At 39, he was a producer for the VH1 movie Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story, which aired in 2001. The film tells the story of his rise and fall.

In 2003, Hammer appeared on The WB's first season of The Surreal Life, a reality show where celebrities live together. He was also a dance judge on the 2003 ABC Family TV series Dance Fever. He appeared on VH1's And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop (2004). His oldest child, A'Keiba Burrell, was a contestant on MTV's Rock the Cradle in 2008.

Hammer had his own reality show called Hammertime on A&E in the summer of 2009. This show was about his personal, business, and family life. He promoted the show on Live with Regis and Kelly.

In August 2008, a new ESPN ad featured Hammer and his song "I Got Gigs'". The commercial was for Monday Night Football. Hammer has also been in commercials for Lay's, Hallmark Cards, and Citibank. In February 2009, Hammer and Ed McMahon were in a Super Bowl XLIII commercial for Cash4Gold.

Hammer's music has been used in many TV shows and movies. "U Can't Touch This" was featured in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Hot Shots!, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and Glee. "This Is What We Do" was on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film soundtrack.

Hammer was a voice actor on an episode of Glenn Martin, DDS in 2010. In 2016, he appeared as himself in an episode of Uncle Grandpa. In June 2017, Hammer appeared on Beat Shazam. He has recently been a spokesman for 3M Command Strips and Starburst. In September 2020, Hammer appeared on The Greatest AtHome Videos via Zoom.

Dancer and Entertainer

Hammer's dance style helped bring hip-hop and rap to the Bay Area. With his famous Hammer pants, Hammer was a unique entertainer. His flashy dancing was a big part of his performances. He is often considered one of the greatest dancers. He used styles from James Brown and Nicholas Brothers, like the splits, and created energetic dance routines. His dances, like the "Hammer dance" and "the bump" from "U Can't Touch This", were very creative.

Hammer's showmanship and detailed stage choreography (with fifteen dancers, twelve backup singers, and musicians) made his shows visually exciting. Hammer was the first rap artist to create such a choreographed show. His visual style helped his videos get a lot of airplay on MTV.

In 1990, Jennifer Lopez was one of the dancers Hammer was auditioning for. At the peak of his career, Hammer had his legs insured for millions of dollars. He later had a knee injury that stopped him from dancing for a while. BET ranked Hammer as the 7th Best Dancer of All Time. However, having too many dancers and band members eventually contributed to his financial challenges.

Hammer stayed active in the dance world. He was a co-founder of DanceJam.com, which showed dance competitions and instructional videos. He and his partner sold it to Grind Networks. Many of his dancing skills can still be seen on dance websites.

Hammer has also shown his dancing on talk shows like The Arsenio Hall Show, Soul Train, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He was a dance judge on Dance Fever. In 2009, he performed his "Hammer dance" on Live with Regis and Kelly with Will Ferrell.

Hammer and Michael Jackson were friends. Hammer shared a story about a phone call he had with Jackson about his "Too Legit to Quit" video. They also appeared together at James Brown's funeral in 2006, where Hammer danced to honor the "Godfather of Soul". After Jackson's death, Hammer shared his memories and sympathy on Twitter.

In 2022, Bobby Brown claimed he started wearing the "diaper pants" that Hammer made famous.

Personal Life

When his first album came out, Hammer opened his own music management company. After the success of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, Hammer had earned about $33 million. In 1997, Hammer sold his Fremont, California mansion for $5.3 million after facing financial challenges in 1996. Hammer now lives in a large home in Tracy, California, with his wife Stephanie. They met at a church meeting and married on December 21, 1985. They have five children and also raised Hammer's nephew.

Hammer often posted about his life on his blog "Look Look Look" and on social media like Facebook and Twitter. He was one of the first celebrities to join Twitter. He described himself as a "super geek" and invested in several technology companies. He spent many hours each day working on his tech projects. Hammer was also a supporter of the SAFE California Act in 2012.

Financial Challenges and Public Reaction

Contrary to public rumors, Hammer said he was never truly "down-and-out" as reported by the media. He had an estimated net worth of over $33 million. However, he spent a lot of money on staff and personal luxuries. He also supported many friends and family members. Hammer eventually became over $13 million in debt due to lower album sales, unpaid loans, a large payroll, and an expensive lifestyle. He filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996.

Hammer's mansion was sold for much less than its original price. He told Ebony that his priorities were out of order. He said they should have been "God, family, community and then business." Rick James sued Hammer for copyright infringement on "U Can't Touch This." The lawsuit was settled, and Hammer agreed to credit James as a co-composer. By the late 1990s, Hammer seemed to stabilize his finances and started new projects.

In 1992, Hammer admitted in court that he got the idea for the song "Here Comes the Hammer" from a Christian artist named Kevin Christian. Christian sued Hammer for copyright infringement. The case was settled in 1994.

In 1997, Hammer was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and the VH1 series Behind the Music. In these appearances, Burrell admitted that he had used up most of his fortune. He said that money means nothing if it doesn't bring peace and if priorities are wrong.

Hammer was often asked about his financial challenges in interviews. In 2011, the U.S. government filed a lawsuit against Hammer for unpaid taxes from 1996 and 1997. Hammer said on Twitter that he had already paid his debt and had proof. However, the court ruled against Hammer. He appealed, but the court rejected his argument in 2015. According to a 2017 TV show, the situation was eventually resolved. As of that time, Hammer had a reported net worth of $1.5 million.

Misunderstanding with Police

Hammer was arrested in 2013 in Dublin, California, for allegedly obstructing an officer and resisting an officer. Hammer claimed he was a victim of racial profiling. He said an officer pulled out his gun and asked him if he was on parole. Police said Hammer was playing loud music in a car with expired registration and was not the registered owner. They said he became argumentative. Hammer was booked and released. All charges were dropped in early March. Hammer tweeted that he was not upset and considered it a "teachable moment."

Christian Beliefs and Ministry

In 1984, Burrell started attending Bible studies and joined a street ministry. He formed a gospel rap group called the Holy Ghost Boy(s) with Jon Gibson. They performed concerts together. They recorded songs like "The Wall" before Hammer's mainstream success. Burrell also produced "Son of the King" on his first album.

Hammer was raised Pentecostal. He moved away from his Christian faith during his success but later returned to ministry. He showed this in a film he wrote and starred in, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990), where he played a preacher. As a tribute to his faith, Hammer promised to dedicate at least one song on each album to God.

In 1991, Hammer was featured on the single "The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album. In 1992, the song reached No. 8 on the Christian charts. In October 1997, Hammer reaffirmed his beliefs and started a television ministry called MC Hammer and Friends on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. He also appeared on Praise the Lord programs, where he spoke publicly about his devotion to ministry as an ordained minister. Hammer performed weddings for celebrities like Corey Feldman in 2002 and Vince Neil in 2005.

During an interview in the late 1990s, Hammer said he adopted "MC" back into his name, which now stood for 'Man of Christ'. Hammer continued to preach while making music, running a social media business, and doing his TV show. He also dedicates time to prison and youth ministries. From 2009 to 2010, Hammer joined Jaeson Ma at a crusade in Asia. Hammer helped and co-starred in Ma's documentary film 1040, which explores the spread of Christianity throughout Asia.

Legacy and Pop Culture Fame

Because of his early success in hip hop music, BET called Hammer the first "mainstream" rapper. Hammer became a familiar face on TV and in movies. His music is still used in many popular shows, movies, and commercials today. Hammer appeared in major marketing campaigns for companies like British Knights, who signed him to a $138 million deal.

Hammer's impact on the music industry was huge. He had several costly videos, including "Too Legit to Quit" and "Here Comes the Hammer".

Hammer is well known for his fashion style during the late 80s and early 90s. He and his hype man 2 Bigg MC introduced the "shiny suit" and made Hammer pants popular in America.

Hammer also started a children's foundation called Help The Children (HTC). It was named after his song "Help The Children." A Sesame Street segment features Elmo as "MC Elmo," rapping a song about the number five.

In 1994, British TV presenter Mark Lamarr jokingly interrupted Hammer with his catchphrase ("Stop! Hammer Time!") in an interview. Hammer took it well and explained that he was changing with the times, not becoming a "hardcore gangsta." Some believe this change contributed to his decline in popularity.

In 2005, Hammer appeared in a commercial for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company that humorously referred to his career. It showed him performing "U Can't Touch This" in front of a mansion, then sadly sitting on the curb as the house was foreclosed. The commercial's message was "Life comes at you fast. Be ready with Nationwide!"

In 2006, Hammer's music catalog was sold to Evergreen/BMG for almost $3 million. Evergreen said the songs were "some of the best-selling and most popular rap songs of all time." VH1 stated that "Hammer was on the money. Hit singles and videos like "U Can't Touch This" and "Too Legit To Quit" created a template of lavish performance values that many rap artists still follow today."

In March 2009, Ellen DeGeneres invited Hammer to her show after he contacted her on Twitter. Hammer continued to give interviews, discussing his relationship with Vanilla Ice, his reality show Hammertime, his family, and his positive financial status.

In 2010, Rick Ross released "MC Hammer" from the Teflon Don album, which samples Hammer's "2 Legit 2 Quit". To celebrate Hammer's 50th birthday, game maker Zynga featured drawings from his fans.

In 2012, Slaughterhouse released a single called "Hammer Dance" with a video. During the 2013 Oakland Athletics season, the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video played at baseball games. The video featured famous athletes like Jose Canseco and Rickey Henderson. Hammer appeared in a Cheetos commercial during the Super Bowl in 2020, celebrating the 30th anniversary of "U Can't Touch This."

In January 2024, a storage unit was sold at auction containing what was reported to be 30 master tapes with at least 14 unreleased songs from Hammer's time at Death Row Records.

Influences and Effect

Hammer's career in rap and entertainment was influenced by artists like James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson, and Rick James. Hammer also influenced musicians such as Will Smith, Diddy, Young MC, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, and Kris Kross. Hammer also made popular catchphrases and slang in pop culture.

Some critics felt Hammer's early music lacked originality. Entertainment Weekly said "U Can't Touch This" copied its main part from Rick James' "Super Freak." Hammer admitted that other artists later copied his style. Hammer had some disagreements with other rappers, including LL Cool J, Vanilla Ice, and Jay-Z. Several songs on his albums featured these disagreements.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout the years, Hammer has won many awards for his music, videos, and choreography. He has sold over 50 million records worldwide. He has won three Grammy Awards for Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1990), Best Rap Solo (1990), and Best Music Video: Long Form (1990) for Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie. He also received eight American Music Awards, a People's Choice Award, and the Billboard Diamond Award, being the first hip hop artist to do so.

He also received the Juno Award for International Album of the Year. Hammer was honored with a Soul Train Music Award (Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year) in 1991. He has been a presenter and performer at the Soul Train Music Awards many times. Hammer appeared on the gospel music's Stellar Awards show in 1997 and spoke about his renewed commitment to God. In 2005, Hammer made a surprise appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards with his friend Jermaine Jackson.

In August 2008, Hammer won a Living Legends of Hip Hop Award from Hip Hop International in Las Vegas.

Hammer, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Shaquille O'Neal celebrated the Best of Twitter at the first Shorty Awards in 2009. In September 2009, Hammer appeared in the video game Zombie Apocalypse. Hammer attended the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards.

Hammer was a judge for the Real-Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences at the Second Annual Shorty Awards in 2010. Hammer opened the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" with Rick Ross, Diddy, and DJ Khaled.

With over 2.6 million Twitter followers in 2010, Hammer received the first Gravity Summit Social Media Marketer of the Year Award in 2011.

At the 40th American Music Awards in November 2012, Hammer danced to a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" with South Korean pop star Psy. They both wore his signature Hammer pants. They performed it again on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in December 2012.

Hammer received the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement in 2013.

Tours and Concerts

Hammer has had many notable tours and concerts, including: A Spring Affair Tour (1989), Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour (1990 & 1991), Too Legit to Quit World Tour (1992), McKay Events Center with Vanilla Ice (2009), Illinois State Fair with Boyz II Men (2011), and Hammer's All-star House Party Tour (2019).

Discography

See also

In Spanish: MC Hammer para niños

• List of dancers