МС Хаммер

Эта статья об американском рэпере и бывшем руководителе бейсбола. Чтобы узнать о песне Рика Росса, см. Teflon Don (альбом) .

«Стэнли Баррелл» перенаправляется сюда. Чтобы узнать о баскетболисте, см. Стэнли Баррелл (баскетбол) .

МС Хаммер
Хаммер в 2010 году
Background information
Birth name	Stanley Kirk Burrell
Also known as	Hammerman Hammertime Hammer King Hammer Kirk Burrell K.B. Holy Ghost Boy
Born	(1962-03-30) March 30, 1962 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.
Spouse(s)	Stephanie Burrell ​ (m. 1985)​
Military Service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–1984
Rank	Petty officer third class

Стэнли Кирк Баррелл (родился 30 марта 1962 года), более известный под своим сценическим псевдонимом MC Hammer (или просто Hammer ), — американский рэпер, танцор, продюсер и предприниматель; известен такими хитами, как « U Can't Touch This », « 2 Legit 2 Quit » и « Pumps and a Bump », яркими танцевальными движениями, экстравагантной хореографией и одноименными штанами Hammer . Запомнившийся быстрым ростом славы, Хаммер также был предпринимателем. и представитель знаменитости .

Обладатель множества наград, Хаммер считается «праотцом» и новатором-новатором. поп -рэпа (включающего элементы фристайла ), и является первым исполнителем хип-хопа, достигшим бриллиантового статуса со своим альбомом Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em . После того, как его назвали аншлагом , а также в связи с изменением ландшафта хип-хоп музыки , Хаммер попытался апеллировать к росту гангста-рэпа . Однако из-за передержки и критической реакции , his popularity waned by the mid-1990s (which led to a highly publicized bankruptcy beginning in 1996).

Along with a Mattel doll and other merchandise, Hammer starred in a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman in 1991. He became an ordained preacher during the late 1990s and hosted M.C. Hammer and Friends, a Christian ministry program on TBN. Hammer was also a dance judge on Dance Fever in 2003, was the co-creator of the dance website DanceJam.com, and was executive producer of his own reality show titled Hammertime (which aired on the A&E Network during the summer of 2009).

Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business as a record label CEO. As a result, he has created and produced his own acts/music including Ho Frat Hoo!, Oaktown's 3.5.7, Special Generation, Analise, DRS, B Angie B, Gentry Kozia and Oakland Fight Club. A part of additional record labels, he has associated, collaborated and recorded with Psy, VMF, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, The Whole 9, The Hines Brother, Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson. Hammer signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records in 1995.

BET ranked Hammer as the No. 7 "Best Dancer of All Time". Vibe's "The Best Rapper Ever Tournament" declared him the 17th favorite of all-time during the first round. He continues to perform concerts at music venues and appears in television advertisements, along with participating in social media and ministry/outreach functions. He is also active in community and sports activities, being interviewed locally and nationally.

Early life and education

Stanley Kirk Burrell was born in Oakland, California, on March 30, 1962. His father was a professional poker player and gambling casino manager (at Oaks Card Club's cardroom), as well as a warehouse supervisor. He grew up poor with his mother (a secretary), and eight siblings in a small apartment in East Oakland. He recalled that six children were crammed into a three-bedroom housing project apartment. The Burrells would frequent thoroughbred horse races, eventually becoming owners and winners of several graded stakes.

In the Oakland Coliseum parking lot the young Burrell would sell stray baseballs and dance accompanied by a beatboxer. Oakland Athletics team owner Charlie Finley saw the 11-year-old doing splits and hired him as a clubhouse assistant and batboy as a result of his energy and flair. Burrell served as a "batboy" with the team from 1973 to 1980. In 2010, Hammer discussed his lifelong involvement with athletes on ESPN's First Take as well as explained that his brother Louis Burrell Jr. (who would later become Hammer's business manager) was actually the batboy while his job was to take calls and do "play-by-plays" for the A's absentee owner during every summer game. The colorful Finley, who lived in Chicago, used the child as his "eyes and ears". Reggie Jackson, in describing Burrell's role for Finley, took credit for 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"].

Team players, including Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Pedro García, also dubbed Burrell "Little Hammer" due to his resemblance to Aaron. Ron Bergman, at the time an Oakland Tribune writer who covered the A's, recalled that: He was an informant in the clubhouse, an informant for Charlie, and he got the nickname "Pipeline".

According to Hammer:

Charlie said, "I'm getting you a new hat. I don't want you to have a hat that says "A's" on it. I'm getting you a hat that says 'Ex VP,' that says 'Executive Vice President.' You're running the joint around here." ... Every time I come down to the clubhouse, you know, Rollie would yell out "Oh, everybody be quiet! Here comes Pipeline!"

He acquired the nickname "M.C." for being a "master of ceremonies" which he used when he began performing at various clubs while on the road with the A's, and eventually in the military. Hammer, who played second base in high school, dreamed of being a professional baseball player but did not make the final cut at a San Francisco Giants tryout. However, he has been a participant/player in the annual Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game wearing an A's cap to represent Oakland (American League).

Burrell went on to graduate from McClymonds High School in Oakland in 1980 and took undergraduate classes in communications. Discouraged by his studies at a local college, and failing to win a place in a professional baseball organization, he joined the United States Navy for three years. He served with PATRON (Patrol Squadron) FOUR SEVEN (VP-47) of NAS Moffett Field in Mountain View, California, as a petty officer third class aviation store keeper (AK3), until his honorable discharge.

Music and entertainment career

Before Hammer's successful music career and "rags-to-riches-to-rags-and-back saga", Burrell formed a Christian rap group with singer and musician Jon Gibson (or J.G.) known as the Holy Ghost Boy(s). Hammer and Tramaine Hawkins performed with Gibson's band, in concerts at various venues such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills. Some early songs produced were "Word", "B-Boy Chill" (a live audio performance is on YouTube) and "Stupid Def Yal" (1987). Hammer also produced "Son of the King" during this time, releasing it on his debut album Feel My Power (1986), as well as the re-released version Let's Get It Started (1988). Additionally, "The Wall" featured Hammer (a song Stanley Kirk Burrell—or K.B.—originally identified himself as M.C. Hammer), which was later released on Gibson's album Change of Heart (1988). This was CCM's first rap hit by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo.

In addition to later remixes of early releases, Hammer produced and recorded many rap songs that were never made public, yet are now available on the Internet. Via his record labels such as Bust It Records, Oaktown Records and Full Blast—Hammer has introduced, signed and/or produced new talent including: Oaktown's 3.5.7, Ho Frat Hoo!, the vocal quintet Special Generation, Analise, James Greer, One Cause One Effect, B Angie B, The Stooge Playaz, DASIT as seen on Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show, Teabag, Common Unity, Geeman and Pleasure Ellis (all collaborating with him and/or producing music of their own during his career).

At about the age of 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and sought career advice from him.

Feel My Power (1986)

Main article: Feel My Power

In the mid-1980s, while rapping in small venues and after a record deal went sour, Hammer borrowed US$20,000 each from former Oakland A's players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy to start an independent record label business. As the CEO of Bust It Productions, Hammer kept the company going by selling records from his basement and car. Bust It Records spawned Bustin' Records, and collectively the companies had more than 100 employees. Recording singles and selling them out of the trunk of his car, he marketed himself relentlessly. Coupled with his dance abilities, Hammer's style was unique at the time.

Now billing himself as "M.C. Hammer", he recorded songs for his debut album Feel My Power in 1986. It was originally released on his independent label, Bustin' Records (via Oaktown Records), and produced by Felton Pilate of Con Funk Shun. It sold over 60,000 copies, and was distributed by City Hall Records. Hammer released singles from the album, including "Ring 'Em" in 1987. Largely on the strength of tireless street marketing by Hammer and his wife, in addition to continuous radio play, it achieved considerable popularity at dance clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the spring of 1988, Tony Valera (a 107.7 KSOL Radio DJ), played the track "Let's Get It Started" in his mix-shows. The track also gained popularity in nightclubs. Hammer declared he was "second to none from Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J or DJ Run" within the song. He would continue to call out other East Coast rappers in future projects as well.

Heartened by his rising prospects, Hammer launched into seven-day-a-week rehearsals with the growing troupe of dancers, musicians and backup vocalists he had hired. It was Hammer's stage show, and his infectious stage presence, that led to his big break in 1988 while performing in an Oakland club. There he impressed a record executive who "didn't know who he was, but knew he was somebody", according to the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Though Hammer had previously received and declined offers from major record labels before, he agreed to a multi-album contract with Capitol Records with a $1,750,000 advance. It did not take long for Capitol to recoup its investment.

Let's Get It Started (1988)

Main article: Let's Get It Started (album)

Once signed to Capitol Records, Hammer re-issued his first record (a revised version of Feel My Power) with additional tracks added, which sold over 2 million copies. "Pump It Up" (also performed during Showtime at the Apollo on September 16, 1989), "Turn This Mutha Out", "Let's Get It Started" and "They Put Me in the Mix" were the most popular singles from this album (which all charted). Not entirely satisfied with this first multi-platinum success, Hammer's music underwent a metamorphosis, shifting from the standard rap format. "I decided the next album would be more musical," he said at the time. Purists chastised him for being more dancer than rapper. Sitting in a leopard-print bodysuit before a concert, he defended his style: "People were ready for something different from the traditional rap style. The fact that the record has reached this level indicates the genre is growing."

Hammer was very good friends with Arsenio Hall (as well as a then-unknown teen named Robert Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, despite later rumors that there was a "beef" between the two rappers which was addressed during the height of both their careers on Hall's show, and whom he would later reunite with in a 2009 concert in Salt Lake City, Utah), and as such, Hammer was first invited to perform the song "U Can't Touch This", prior to its release, on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989. He also performed "Dancing Machine" which later appeared in the Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990).

Hammer used some of the proceeds from this album to install a rolling recording studio in the back of his tour bus, where he recorded much of his second album.

In 1989, Hammer was featured on "You've Got Me Dancing" with Glen Goldsmith, which appeared on Goldsmith's album Don't Turn This Groove Around via RCA Records. The track was Hammer's first release in the UK. Hammer also appeared in Glen Goldsmith's music video for this song. The single failed to chart.

During this period, Hammer formed the rap group Oaktown's 3.5.7, releasing the No. 9 single "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" from the album Wild & Loose (1989).

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)

Main article: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em

Hammer's third album (and second major-label release), Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, was released February 12, 1990 (with an original release date of January 1, 1990). It included the successful single "U Can't Touch This" (which sampled Rick James' "Super Freak"). It was produced, recorded and mixed by Felton Pilate and James Earley on a modified tour bus while on tour in 1989. Despite heavy airplay and a No. 27 chart debut, "U Can't Touch This" stopped at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart because it was released only as a twelve-inch single. However, the album was a No. 1 success for 21 weeks due primarily to this single, the first time ever for a recording on the pop charts. The song has been and continues to be used in many films and television shows, and appears on soundtrack and compilation albums as well (such as Man of the House and Back 2 Back Hits).

Follow-up successes included a cover of the Chi-Lites' "Have You Seen Her" and "Pray" (a beat sampled from Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Faith No More's "We Care a Lot"), which was his biggest hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. "Pray" was also a major UK success, peaking at No. 8. The album went on to become the first hip-hop album to earn diamond status, selling more than 18 million units to date. During 1990, Hammer toured extensively in Europe which included a sold-out concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. With the sponsorship of PepsiCo International, Pepsi CEO Christopher A. Sinclair went on tour with him during 1991.

The album was notable for sampling other high-profile artists and gave some of these artists a new fan base. "Dancin' Machine" sampled The Jackson 5, "Help the Children" (also the name of an outreach foundation Hammer started) interpolates Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", and "She's Soft and Wet" also sampled Prince's "Soft and Wet". All of the songs were complimented by the background vocals of his singing group, Special Generation: this combination of sound made this album to be successful on radio and video television, with "U Can't Touch This," "Pray" (most successful), "Have You Seen Her", "Here Comes the Hammer" and "Yo!! Sweetness" (UK only) all charting. The album increased the popularity of hip hop music. It remains the genre's all-time best-selling album.

Music videos from this and previous albums began to receive much airplay on MTV and VH1. A movie also accompanied the album, and was produced in 1990, entitled Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (with portions of his music videos included within the movie). During this same time, Hammer also appeared in The West Coast Rap All-Stars posse cut "We're All in the Same Gang". Additionally, Hammer released the tracks "This is What We Do" on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie soundtrack (1990), and "That's What I Said" on the Rocky V soundtrack (1990).

A critical backlash began over the repetitive nature of his lyrics, his clean-cut image, and his perceived over-reliance on sampling entire hooks by others for the basis of his singles (criticisms also directed to his contemporary Vanilla Ice). He was mocked in music videos by 3rd Bass (including a rap battle with MC Serch), The D.O.C., DJ Debranz and Ice Cube. Oakland hip-hop group Digital Underground criticized him in the CD insert of their Sex Packets album, by placing Hammer's picture in it and referring to him as an unknown derelict. Q-Tip criticized him in "Check the Rhime", saying: "What you say Hammer? Proper. Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop." LL Cool J dissed him in "To da Break of Dawn" (from his Mama Said Knock You Out album), calling Hammer an "amateur, swinging a Hammer from a body bag [his pants]" and stated: "my old gym teacher ain't supposed to rap." However, it could have been a response to Hammer calling him out in "Let's Get it Started", when he was mentioned along with Run-DMC and Doug E. Fresh as rappers that Hammer claimed to be better than. LL Cool J would later compliment and commend Hammer's abilities/talents on VH-1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, which aired in 2008. Ice-T came to Hammer's defense on his 1991 album O.G. Original Gangster: "A special shout out to my man M.C. Hammer. A lot of people diss you man, but they just jealous." Ice-T later explained that he had nothing against people who were pop rap from the start, but rather emcees who switch from being hardcore or "dirty" to pop rap, in order to sell more records.

Despite the criticisms, Hammer's career continued to be highly successful including tours in Asia, Europe, Australia and Russia. Soon after, M.C. Hammer Mattel dolls, lunchboxes and other merchandise were marketed. He was also given his own Saturday-morning cartoon, called Hammerman, which he hosted and voiced.

Too Legit to Quit (1991)

Main article: Too Legit to Quit

After publicly dropping the "M.C." from his stage name, Hammer released Too Legit to Quit (also produced by Felton Pilate) in 1991. Hammer answered his critics within certain songs from the album. Sales were strong (over five million copies), with the title track being the biggest hit single from this record. The album peaked in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200. Another hit came soon after, with "Addams Groove" (which appeared on both The Addams Family motion picture soundtrack and the vinyl and cassette versions of 2 Legit 2 Quit), reaching No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the UK. His video for the song appeared after the movie.

Hammer set out on a high-profile tour promoting the album which included a stage show ⁠loaded with singers, dancers and backup musicians. In 1992, Boyz II Men joined the tour as an opening act. While traveling the country, their tour manager Khalil Roundtree was murdered in Chicago, and the group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. As a result of this unfortunate experience, the song would help advance their success. Ultimately, however, the lavish show proved too expensive to support through album sales and it was cancelled partway through its scheduled run.

Music videos were produced for all four singles released from this album (including "Do Not Pass Me By" and "This Is The Way We Roll"), all which charted.The "2 Legit 2 Quit" video featured many celebrity appearances. It's been ranked as one of the most expensive videos ever made. The hand motions used within the song and video also became very popular. The song proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking in the Top 10 at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite the album's multi-platinum certification, the sales were one-third of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em.

At the end of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video, after James Brown enlists Hammer to get the famous glove of Michael Jackson, a silver-white sequined glove is shown on the hand of a Michael Jackson look-alike doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. In a related story, M.C. Hammer appeared on The Wendy Williams Show (July 27, 2009) and talked about his hit reality show Hammertime on A&E, his marriage, his role as a dad and the reasons he eventually went bankrupt. He told an amusing story about a phone call he received from "M.J.", regarding the portion of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video that included a fake Michael Jackson, giving his approval and inclusion of it. He explained how Michael had seen the video and liked it, and both expressed they were fans of one another. Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and/or perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.

The artwork featured in the album was created by James B. Young and accompanying studios.

During 1991, Hammer was featured on the single "The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album, Different Lifestyles. In 1992, the song peaked at No. 8 on the Christian charts.

New venture with Oaktown/Giant Records (1992–1993)

In 1992, after a four-year hiatus, Doug E. Fresh signed with Hammer's label, Bust It Records and issued one album, Doin' What I Gotta Do, which (despite some minor acclaim for his single "Bustin' Out (On Funk)" which sampled the Rick James 1979 single "Bustin' Out") was a commercial failure.

Prior to Hammer's next album, The Funky Headhunter, rumors from critics and fans began claiming Hammer had quit the music/entertainment business or had suffered a financial downfall (since a couple of years were passing between his two records), which Hammer denied. Hammer claimed rumors falsely heralded his downfall were most likely a result of the fact he turned over his "trimmed-down" Bust It Records to his brother and manager Louis Burrell Jr., and his horse racing interests to his brother Chris and their father, Louis Burrell Sr.

During his hiatus between albums, Hammer consequently signed a multi-million dollar deal with a new record company. He said there were a lot of bidders, but "not too many of them could afford Hammer". Therefore, Hammer parted ways with Felton Pilate (who had previously worked with the successful vocal group Con Funk Shun) and switched record labels to Giant Records, taking his Oaktown label with him. Hammer was eventually sued by Pilate. Additionally, Hammer launched a new enterprise, called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, with clients such as Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks. In 1993, his production company released the hit rap song "Gangsta Lean" by DRS (from their debut album Gangsta Lean).

By this time, he also parted ways with his only female executive music business administration consultant and songwriter, Linda Lou McCall (who previously worked with the Delfonics and her husband Louis A. McCall, Sr.'s band Con Funk Shun). A music industry vet, McCall was hired by Hammer's brother and manager Louis K. Burrell, in 1990. She helped set up his corporate operations and administration, at Bust It Management & Productions Inc. in Oakland, California. She later became Vice President of Hammer's talent management company, overseeing artists like Heavy D, B Angie B and Ralph Tresvant. While at Bust It, she and her husband brought their artist Keith Martin to Felton's attention, who hired him as a backup musician and vocalist for Hammer's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em and Too Legit to Quit world tours. In 1993 and 1994, McCall was also involved in several lawsuits against Hammer, which were eventually settled out of court.

With a new home and daughter, a new record soon to be released and his new business, Hammer claimed he was happy and far from being broke during a tour of his mansion for Ebony. "Today there is a more aggressive Hammer, because the '90s require you to be more aggressive", Hammer said of his music style. "There is a harder edge, but I'm no gangsta. Hammer in the '90s is on the offense, on the move, on the attack. And it's all good".

The Funky Headhunter and Prime Time (1994)

Main article: The Funky Headhunter

In 1993, Hammer began recording his fifth official album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, this album was a more aggressive sounding album entitled The Funky Headhunter. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek. While Hammer's appearance changed to keep up with the gangsta rap audience, his lyrics still remained honest and somewhat clean with minor profanity. Yet, as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out and disrespect other rappers on this album. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em), the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans. This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year. The album was eventually certified platinum. Within this album, Hammer disses rappers such as A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip), Redman and Run DMC for previous attacks they made against him.

Hammer debuted the video for "Pumps and a Bump" during another appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show during the mid-1990s. Host Arsenio Hall said to M.C. Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer, but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron."

The video to the album's first single, "Pumps and a Bump", was banned from heavy rotation on MTV with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in Speedos (and with what appeared to be an erection) was too graphic. This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks. "It's All Good" was the second single released from the album.

On December 20, 1994, Deion Sanders released Prime Time, a rap album on Hammer's Bust It Records label which featured the minor hit "Must Be the Money". "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'" was also released as a single. Sanders, a friend of Hammer's, had previously appeared in his "Too Legit to Quit" music video, and his alter-ego "Prime Time" is also used in Hammer's "Pumps and a Bump" video.

The song "Help Lord (Won't You Come)" appeared in Kingdom Come.

Inside Out, Death Row Records and Too Tight (1995–1996)

Main article: Inside Out (MC Hammer album)

In 1995, Hammer released the album Inside Out (or inside out V). The album sold poorly compared to previous records (peaking at 119 on the Billboard Charts) and Giant Records dropped him and Oaktown Records from their roster. Songs "Going Up Yonder" and "Sultry Funk" managed to get moderate radio play (even charting on national radio station countdowns).

Along with a fickle public, Hammer would go on to explain in this album that he felt many of his so-called friends he had helped staff had used and betrayed him, which contributed to a majority of his financial loss (best explained in the song "Keep On" and the bio from this album). He would also hint about this again in interviews, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2009.

In 1995, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" (with Deion Sanders) from the Street Fighter soundtrack (released in December 1994). The song charted No. 57 in the UK.

Hammer's relationship with Suge Knight dates back to 1988. Hammer signed with Death Row Records by 1995, then home to Snoop Dogg and his close friend, Tupac Shakur. The label did not release the album of Hammer's music (titled Too Tight) while he had a career with them, although he did release versions of some tracks on his next album. However, Burrell did record tracks with Shakur and others, most notably the song "Too Late Playa" (along with Big Daddy Kane and Danny Boy). After the death of Shakur in 1996, Burrell left the record company. He later explained his concern about this circumstance in an interview on Trinity Broadcasting Network since he was in Las Vegas with Tupac the night of his death.

Return to EMI and Family Affair (1996–1998)

In October 1996, Burrell and Oaktown signed with EMI, which saw the release of a compilation album of Hammer's hit singles prior to The Funky Headhunter. The album, titled Greatest Hits, featured 12 former hits. In 1998, another "greatest hits" album, called Back 2 Back Hits, was produced and released by CEMA. (Another compilation version of Back 2 Back was later released by Capitol Records in 2006.) As Hammer's empire began to collapse when his last album failed to match the sales of its predecessors, and since he unsuccessfully attempted to recast himself in the "streetwise/hardcore rap" mold of the day, Hammer turned to a gospel-friendly audience.

In 1998, M.C. Hammer released his first album in his new deal with EMI, titled Family Affair, because it was to introduce the world to the artists he had signed to his Oaktown Records (Geeman, Teabag, and Common Unity) as they made their recording debut. Technically his seventh album since his debut EP, this record was highly promoted on Trinity Broadcasting Network (performing a more gospel version of "Keep On" from his album Inside Out V), yet featured no charting singles and selling about 1,000 copies worldwide.

The album also features a song written for Hammer by Tupac called "Unconditional Love". Hammer would later dance and read the lyrics to this song on the first VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2004.

A double album mostly about faith and family values, additional tracks from Family Affair are: "Put It Down", "Put Some Stop in Your Game", "Big Man", "Set Me Free", "Our God", "Responsible Father Shout", "He Brought Me Out", (Geeman Intro), "Eye's Like Mine", "Never Without You", "Praise Dance Theme Song", "Shame of the Name", (Smoothout Intro), (Teabag Intro), "Silly Heart", "I Wish U Were Free", (Common Unity Intro), "Someone to Hold to You", "Pray" (1998), "Let's Get It Started" (1998), and with "Hammer Music/Shouts/Tour Info" announcements between songs. The compact discs are also "PC Ready" with interactive features.

After this album, new projects were rumored to be in the works, including an album (War Chest: Turn of the Century) and a soundtrack to the film Return to Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Man, but neither appeared.

The Hits and Active Duty (2000–2001)

Main article: Active Duty (album)

In 2000, another compilation album was released, titled The Hits. It contains 17 tracks from his first four albums.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, M.C. Hammer released his 8th studio album, Active Duty, on his own World Hit Music Group label (the musical enterprise under his Hammertime Holdings Inc. umbrella) to pay homage to the ones lost in the terrorist attacks. The album followed that theme, and featured two singles (with accompanying videos), "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" and "Pop Yo Collar" (featuring Wee Wee) which demonstrates "The Phat Daddy Pop", "In Pop Nito", "River Pop", "Deliver The Pop" and "Pop'n It Up" dance moves. The album, like its predecessor, failed to chart and would not sell as many copies as previous projects. Hammer did however promote it on such shows as The View and produced a video for both singles.

This patriotic album, originally planned to be titled The Autobiography Of M.C. Hammer, donated portions of the proceeds to 9/11 charities. Hammer shot a video for the anthem "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" in Washington, D.C., with several members of the United States Congress, who sang in the song and danced in the video. Present members of the United States House of Representatives included J. C. Watts, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Thomas M. Davis, Earl Hilliard, Alcee Hastings, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Full Blast (2004)

Main article: Full Blast (album)

After leaving Capitol Records and EMI for the second time in his career, M.C. Hammer decided to move his Oaktown imprint to an independent distributor and released his ninth studio album, Full Blast (which was completed in late 2003 and released as a complete album in early 2004). The album would feature no charting singles and was not certified by the RIAA. A video was produced for "Full Blast", a song that attacks Eminem and Busta Rhymes for previous disrespect towards him.

Some of the original songs didn't end up making the final album release. Guest artists included The Stooge Playaz, Pleasure, Rain, JD Greer and DasIt.

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

Main article: Look Look Look

After going independent, Hammer decided to create a digital label to release his tenth studio album, Look Look Look. The album was released in February 2006 and featured production from Scott Storch. The album featured the title-track single (Look Look Look) and a music video. It would sell much better than his previous release (300,000 copies worldwide).

"YAY" was produced by Lil Jon. "What Happened to Our Hood?" (featuring Sam Logan) was originally from Active Duty. "I Got It From The Town" was used in the movie but is only present in one scene instead of the originally planned two on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (soundtrack).

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

In 2008, Platinum MC Hammer was released by EMI Records. The compilation consists of 12 tracks from Hammer's previous albums, with a similar playlist as former "greatest hits" records (with the exception of including a remix of "Hammer Hammer, They Put Me In A Mix" which includes rap lyrics that "They Put Me In A Mix" originally did not). An import was released by Capitol Records.

DanceJamtheMusic (2008–2009)

Since his 2006 album, Hammer continued to produce music and released several other raps that appeared on his social websites (such as Myspace and Dancejam.com) or in commercials, with another album announced to be launched in late 2008 (via his own record label Fullblast Playhouse). Talks of the tour and a new album were expected in 2009.

"Getting Back to Hetton" was made public in 2008 as a digital single. It was a departure for Hammer, bringing in funky deep soul and mixing it with a more house style. Released through licence on Whippet Digital Recordings, media reviews were said to be "disappointing". However, the song "I Got Gigs" from this album was used in a 2009 ESPN commercial and performed during Hammertime (as well as played while he danced just prior to introducing Soulja Boy during YouTube Live on November 22, 2008).

Other tracks and videos from the album included: "I Go" (produced by Lil Jon), "Keep It In Vegas", "Lookin' Out The Window", "Dem Jeans" (by DASIT), "Stooge Karma Sutra" (by The Stooge Playaz) and "Tried to Luv U" (by DASIT featuring Pleasure Ellis).

MC Hammer performing with Vanilla Ice in July 2009.

In February 2009, M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice had a one-off concert at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah. This concert aided in the promotion of Hammer's new music and television show. During the concert (as shown during an episode of Hammertime), it was mentioned between the two rappers that this was their first headline show together in nearly 20 years, since the time when they were touring together at the peak of their hip-hop careers. Hammer said: "Contrary to popular belief, Ice and I are not only cool with each other, we are like long lost friends. I've known him since he was 16, before he had a record contract and before I had a record contract. It is a great reunion." Vanilla Ice said: "It's like no time has passed at all. We set the world on fire back in the day ... I'm so happy right now, the magic is here."

Most recent releases (2010–present)

Hammer has occasionally released singles over the past few years. Below are the most publicized:

"Better Run Run" (2010)

M.C. Hammer promised to release a track (expected on October 31, 2010) responding to a song by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z which attacked him. On the "So Appalled" track, which features Swizz Beatz and RZA, Jay-Z raps a verse targeting Hammer about his financial dilemma in the 1990s. On it Jay says: 'Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused / I lost 30 mil' so I spent another 30 / 'Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me'. Hammer addressed his displeasure about the diss on Twitter, claiming he would react to Jay-Z on Halloween.

Hammer released a sample of his "beef" with Jay-Z (aka 'Hell Boy' according to Hammer) in a brief teaser trailer called "Better Run Run" by 'King Hammer'. At one point, it was uncertain if his reaction would be a film video, a music video or a combination of both. Regardless, he claimed he would show evidence that 'Jigga worships the devil'. It's possible that Jay-Z was offended by an analogy Hammer was conveying in an earlier interview in response to "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" on AllHipHop.

On November 1, Hammer's song with video called "Better Run Run!" hit the web in retaliation to Jay-Z's September 2010 diss towards him. M.C. accuses Jigga of being in league (and in the studio) with Satan—and then Hammer defeats the devil and forces Jay to be baptized. Speaking on the video, Jacob O'Gara of Ethos Magazine wrote: "What's more likely is that this feud is the last chapter in the tragic cautionary tale of M.C. Hammer, a tale that serves as a warning to all present and future kings of hip-hop. Keep your balance on the pedestal and wear the crown strong or you'll have the Devil to pay."

In an interview with BBC's DJ Semtex, Jay said he didn't mean the verses as a personal attack. "I didn't know that [Hammer's financial status] wasn't on the table for discussion!" he said. "I didn't know I was the first person ever to say that..." He continued, "When I say things, I think people believe me so much that they take it a different way — it's, like, not rap anymore at that point. I say some great things about him in the book I have coming out [Decoded] — that wasn't a cheap plug," he laughed. "He's gonna be embarrassed, I said some really great things about him and people's perception of him. But it is what it is, he took it that wrong way, and I didn't know I said anything wrong!"

"See Her Face" (2011)

On February 3, 2011, M.C. Hammer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show premiering the track "See Her Face" via Flipboard. It was the first time Flipboard included music in the application.

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

Among other songs, Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and "All in My Mind" (which samples "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers) in early 2014, with his newly formed group Oakland Fight Club (featuring Mistah F.A.B.).

"Help the Children" (2017)

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

Additional business ventures

In 1991, M.C. Hammer established Oaktown Stable that would eventually have nineteen Thoroughbred racehorses. That year, his outstanding filly Lite Light won several Grade I stakes races including the prestigious Kentucky Oaks. His D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt Dance Floor won the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the Breeders' Futurity Stakes in 1991, then the following year won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and finished 3rd in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. He continues to attend shows as well as many sporting events alongside celebrities.

In the late 1990s into the early 2000s, along with a new clothing line called J Slick, Hammer began creating and working on M.C. Hammer USA, an interactive online portal.

In 2002, Hammer signed a book contract with publishing company Simon & Schuster which called for a release the following year. However, a manuscript for an inspirational book called Enemies of the Father: Messages from the Heart on Being a Family Man (addressing the situation of African American men), for which Hammer received advance money to write, was never submitted in 2003. This resulted in Hammer being sued by the book company over claims that he never finished the book as promised. The company's March 2009 lawsuit sought return of the US$61,000 advance given to Hammer for the unwritten book about fatherhood.

Hammer was a popular web mogul and activist, becoming involved in several Internet projects (including TechCrunch40 conferences). In 2007, Hammer was co-founder and chief strategy officer of Menlo Park-based (Silicon Valley) DanceJam.com along with Geoffrey Arone. The community site (valued at $4.5 million) was exclusively dedicated to dancing video competitions, techniques and styles which Hammer sometimes judged or rated. After receiving $4.5 million in total equity funding, the site closed on January 1, 2011.

In July 2010, Hammer started a mixed martial arts management company to manage, market, promote and brand-build for fighters. Artists included Nate Marquardt, Tim F. Kennedy and Vladimir Matyushenko, among others. According to MMAWeekly.com and Bizjournals, his new company was Alchemist Management based in Los Angeles, managing at least ten fighters. That same month, Hammer also announced an apparel line called Alchemist Clothing. The brand described as colorful lifestyle clothing debuted during an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Austin. Middleweight fighter Nate "The Great" Marquardt wore an Alchemist shirt as he walked out to the boxing ring. Hammer had shown an interest in boxing throughout his career.

On September 28, 2010, M.C. Hammer headlined at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference for an official after-hours party.

Hammer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011 to discuss his tech-media-mogul status, as well as his creation, demonstration and consulting of social applications/sites/media (such as having an involvement with the Internet since 1994 including YouTube and Twitter), and devices such as iPad and ZAGGmate by Zagg. He also explained how employing/helping so many people in the past never really caused him to be broke in terms of the average person, as the media made it seem, nor would he have changed any experiences that has led him to where he is today. During the "Whatever Happened to M.C. Hammer" episode, he discussed his current home, family and work life as well.

In October 2011, Hammer announced a new internet venture called WireDoo, a "deep search engine" that planned to compete with the major search engines, Google and Bing. With the motto, "Search once and see what's related", Hammer's team planned to eventually open up the site to a select number of beta testers. However, WireDoo never left beta mode.

Television and film career

MC Hammer in 2008

M.C. Hammer produced and starred in his own movie, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990). The film is about a rapper returning to his hometown who defeats a drug lord using kids to traffic his product. For this project, Hammer earned a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video at the 33rd Grammy Awards (having been nominated for two). He later produced MC Hammer: 2 Legit (The Videos), which included many actors and athletes.

Hammer appeared in major marketing campaigns for companies such as Pepsi, KFC, Toshiba, British Knights and Taco Bell during the height of his career.

In 1991, Hammer hosted, sang/rapped and voiced a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman. That same year, he and Bust It Productions (including B Angie B, Special Generation and Ho Frat Hoo!) appeared in concert from New Orleans on BET.

Hammer has made cameos and/or performed on many television shows such as Saturday Night Live (as host and musical guest), Amen and Martin. He also made a cameo in the 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero. Hammer would also go on to appear as himself on The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (1995). Additionally, he has been involved in movies as an actor such as, One Tough Bastard (1996), Reggie's Prayer (1996), the Showtime film The Right Connections (1997), Deadly Rhapsody (2001), Finishing the Game (2007) and 1040 (2010), as well as a television and movie producer.

Despite his financial status being publicly attacked, after meeting at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas in April 2001, Hammer (credited as a producer) provided the much needed funding to filmmaker Justin Lin for Better Luck Tomorrow (2002). In its first ever film acquisition, MTV Films eventually acquired Better Luck Tomorrow after it debuted at The Sundance Film Festival. The director said, "Out of desperation, I called up MC Hammer because he had read the script and liked it. Two hours later, he wired the money we needed into a bank account and saved us."

Hammer appeared in two cable television movies. At the age of 39, he was one of the producers for the VH1 movie Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story, starring Romany Malco and Tangi Miller as his wife, which aired on December 19, 2001. The film is a biopic which chronicles the rise and fall of the artist. 2 Legit To Quit: The Life Story of M.C. Hammer became the second highest-rated original movie in the history of VH1 and broadcast simultaneously on BET. "The whole script came from me," says Hammer, "I sat down with a writer and gave him all the information."

In 2003, Hammer appeared on The WB's first season of The Surreal Life, a reality show known for assembling an eclectic mix of celebrities to live together. He was also a dance judge on the 2003 ABC Family TV series Dance Fever. Additionally, he appeared on VH1's And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop (2004) as well as in 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s (2008), a countdown which he was also commentator on. His eldest child, A'Keiba Burrell, was a contestant on MTV's Rock the Cradle in April 2008 (which Hammer also made appearances on).

Hammer had shown an interest in having his own reality show with specific television networks at one point. Already being a part of shows for VH1 and The WB (I Married... M.C. Hammer and The Surreal Life), it was later confirmed he would appear in Hammertime on A&E in the summer of 2009. This reality show was about his personal, business and family life. The following year, Hammer appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly June 3, 2009, to promote his show which began June 14, 2009, at 10 PM Eastern Time Zone (EST).

In August 2008, a new ESPN ad featured Hammer in it, showcasing his single "I Got Gigs'" (from his DanceJamtheMusic album). The commercial was for Monday Night Football's upcoming football season. This is not the first commercial in more recent years that Hammer has been in, or his songs/raps/dancing was used for and included in such as Lay's, Hallmark Cards, Purell, Lysol, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Citibank, etc. On February 1, 2009, Hammer and Ed McMahon were featured in a Super Bowl XLIII commercial for Cash4Gold.

In addition to appearing in television commercials, M.C. Hammer's music has also been used in television shows and movies, especially "U Can't Touch This" during: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), Hot Shots! (1990), The Super (1991), Doogie Howser, M.D. (1992), Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), Into the Wild (2007), Tropic Thunder (2008), Dancing with the Stars (2009), Glee (2010) and many more. Additionally, "This Is What We Do" was a 1990 track by Hammer (featuring B Angie B) for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and soundtrack. Tracks "That's What I Said" and "Feel My Power" were used for the Rocky V film and soundtrack. Some examples of other raps by Hammer used in movies and television were: "Addams Groove" (The Addams Family), "Pray" (License to Wed), "2 Legit 2 Quit" (Hot Rod), "I Got It From The Town" (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift), "Help Lord, Won't You Come" (Kingdom Come), "Let's Go Deeper" (Beverly Hills, 90210) and "Straight to My Feet" (Street Fighter), among others.

Along with Betty White, Hammer was a voice actor on the September 17, 2010 episode of Glenn Martin, DDS called "Step-Brother". In 2016, MC Hammer appeared as himself in an episode of Uncle Grandpa on Cartoon Network.

In June 2017, Hammer appeared during Beat Shazam on Fox. Hammer has most recently been a spokesman for 3M Command Strips and Starburst. In September 2020, Hammer appeared on The Greatest AtHome Videos via Zoom.

Dancer, choreographer and entertainer

M.C. Hammer's dance style not only helped pave the way for the San Francisco Bay Area movement called hyphy, but also helped to bring hip-hop and rap to the Bay Area. His dancing skills are still taught to this day. With his popular trademark Hammer pants, one phenomenal difference from Hammer versus other performers during his heyday was that he was an entertainer, both during live shows and in music videos. His flamboyant dancing was as much a part of his performances as rapping and musical instruments were. With high-energy dance routines, he is often considered one of the greatest dancers. While adding his own techniques, Hammer adopted styles from James Brown and Nicholas Brothers such as the splits, as well as feverishly choreographed dance routines including leaps and slides. His creation of such dances as the "Hammer dance" (or the "typewriter dance") and "the bump" from "U Can't Touch This", as well as the "running man" and the "butterfly", made his flashy and creative dance skills unlike any others at the time.

Hammer's showmanship and elaborate stage choreography (involving fifteen dancers, twelve backup singers, seven live musicians and two disc jockeys), gave him a powerful visual appeal. Hammer was the first rap artist to put together a choreographed show of this type, and his visual flair attracted heavy airplay for his videos on MTV, which at the time had a predominantly white viewership that had aired little rap music before Hammer.

During a 1990 visit from Hammer (accompanied by his friend Fab Five Freddy) on Yo! MTV Raps, one of the dancers whom Hammer was holding auditions for was then-unknown Jennifer Lopez.

At the height of his career, Hammer had his legs insured for a substantial amount of money (into the millions), as mentioned in an interview by Maria Shriver in 1990. He later suffered an injury to his knee that halted his dancing career for a period of time. Eventually, BET ranked Hammer as the 7th Best Dancer of All Time. Some of Hammer's entourage, or "posse" as he called them, were also trained/skilled dancers (including Tiffany Patterson). They participated in videos and at concerts, yet too many dancers and band members eventually contributed to Hammer's downfall, proving to be too much for him to finance.

Хаммер оставался активным в танцевальных медиа/жанрах, как в телевизионных шоу, так и в качестве соучредителя DanceJam.com (на котором демонстрировались танцевальные конкурсы и обучающие видеоролики по всем новейшим танцевальным стилям), пока он и его партнер Джеффри Ароне не продали его Grind Networks. . Хорошо известен тем, что привнес хореографию в хип-хоп, многие из его танцевальных навыков до сих пор можно увидеть на танцевальных сайтах и ​​в социальных сетях. «Танец не похож ни на одну другую социальную среду. Это ядро ​​нашей культуры», — сказал Баррелл Wired .

Помимо его веб-сайтов и присутствия в Интернете, Хаммер также появлялся, демонстрируя большую часть своих танцевальных способностей на ток-шоу, таких как «Шоу Арсенио Холл» , «Поезд души» , «Поздняя ночь с Конаном О'Брайеном» исполняя » О'Брайена знаменитый « струнный танец ( также вместе ), «Шоу Эллен ДеДженерес» и Вид . Хаммер также был судьей по танцам на Dance Fever . 3 июня 2009 года он исполнил свой «Танец с молотком» в программе Live with Regis and Kelly с Уиллом Ферреллом в качестве соведущего.

Хотя Хаммер, возможно, бросал вызов Майклу Джексону и соревновался с ним в разгар своей карьеры, они были друзьями, о чем свидетельствует телефонный разговор Хаммера с Джексоном по поводу его видео «Too Legit to Quit», которым он поделился на шоу Венди Уильямс в июле 2009 года. Хаммер хотел убедиться, что его не обидел финал видео, где предполагаемый Майкл Джексон (видимый только сзади) делает жест рукой «2 Legit 2 Quit» своей знаменитой перчаткой. Они также появились вместе на панихиде Джеймса Брауна в 2006 году, где Хаммер танцевал в честь « Крестного отца соула ». После смерти Джексона Хаммер опубликовал в Твиттере свои воспоминания и сочувствие суперзвезде. Друг Майкла и коллега-икона поп-культуры Хаммер сказал Spinner , что «теперь, когда «король поп-музыки» ушел из жизни, обязанность его поклонников и близких нести творческий факел Джексона». Далее он сказал: «Майкл Джексон зажег запал, который зажег во всех нас дух танца. Он подарил нам песню и сладкую мелодию, которая никогда не умрет. Теперь мы все несем его наследие с радостью и гордостью».

В 2022 году Бобби Браун заявил, что начал носить « штаны-подгузники », которые Хаммер изменил и сделал знаменитыми, в своем A&E шоу « Бобби Браун: Каждый маленький шаг» . Тем не менее, Браун носил менее обвисший вариант во время некоторых концертов и в музыкальных клипах, таких как « My Prerogative » (1988) и « Every Little Step » (1989).

Личная жизнь

Во время выпуска своего первого альбома MC Hammer открыл собственную фирму по музыкальному менеджменту. В результате успеха своего третьего альбома « Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em» Хаммер заработал около 33 миллионов долларов США.

В 1997 году Хаммер продал свое во Фримонте, штат Калифорния. поместье и особняк за 5,3 миллиона долларов США после подачи заявления о банкротстве в 1996 году.

Совсем недавно Хаммер проживал в большом глинобитном доме в стиле ранчо , расположенном на угловом участке площадью два акра в Трейси, Калифорния . со своей женой Стефанией. Они встретились на собрании возрождения церкви и поженились 21 декабря 1985 года. У них трое сыновей и две дочери, а также они воспитали племянника Хаммера. В июле 2012 года сообщалось, что Хаммеру предложил жениться на Уитни Хьюстон ее отец на Супербоуле в 1991 году.

Хаммер часто писал о своей жизни и деятельности в своем блоге «Look Look Look», а также на других социальных сайтах, таких как Facebook , Myspace и Twitter (будучи одной из первых знаменитостей, которые внесли свой вклад и присоединились). Хаммер, назвавший себя «супер-компьютерщиком», который консультировал восемь технологических компаний или инвестировал в них, утверждал, что по 10–12 часов в день работает над своими технологическими проектами, и по состоянию на 2012 год писал в Твиттере 30–40 раз в день. он был отмечен как популяризатор и защитник философии . В своих постах в социальных сетях

Хаммер был сторонником Калифорнийского закона SAFE , который, если бы он был принят в ноябре 2012 года, заменил бы смертную казнь . Однако это предложение было отклонено.

Банкротство, судебные иски и реакция СМИ

Вопреки общественным слухам, Хаммер утверждал, что на самом деле он никогда не был «безнадежным», как сообщали СМИ (в конечном итоге это было высказано на шоу Опи и Энтони и шоу Эллен ДеДженерес в 2009 году). По данным журнала Forbes , первоначально его собственный капитал составлял более 33 миллионов долларов , но предположения о статусе Хаммера впервые возникли во время задержек между альбомами Too Legit to Quit и The Funky Headhunter , когда Хаммер потратил большую часть своих денег на персонал и личные предметы роскоши. Помимо чрезмерных расходов на поддержку друзей и семьи, В конечном итоге долг Хаммера превысил 13 миллионов долларов. - из-за сокращения продаж альбомов, невыплаченных кредитов, большой заработной платы и расточительного образа жизни. Таким образом, Хаммер в конечном итоге подал заявление о банкротстве по главе 11 в Суд США по делам о банкротстве в Окленде, штат Калифорния. 1 апреля 1996 года. 23 сентября 1998 года дело было преобразовано в главу 7. Однако Хаммеру было отказано в признании банкротом . 23 апреля 2002 года

Хаммера Особняк был продан за небольшую часть прежней цены. «Мои приоритеты были не в порядке», — сказал он Ebony . Он сказал: «Моими приоритетами всегда должны были быть Бог, семья, сообщество, а затем бизнес. Вместо этого они были бизнесом, бизнесом и бизнесом». Вместе с Фелтоном Пилатом и другими членами группы Рик Джеймс подал в суд на Хаммера за нарушение авторских прав на «U Can't Touch This», но иск был урегулирован во внесудебном порядке, когда Хаммер согласился указать Джеймса как соавтора, фактически отрезав Джеймса. о миллионах долларов, которые зарабатывал рекорд. К концу 1990-х годов Хаммер, казалось, стабилизировался и был готов к новым проектам.

В 1992 году Хаммер в показаниях и судебных документах признал, что идея песни «Here Comes the Hammer» пришла ему от христианского записывающегося исполнителя из Далласа по имени Кевин Кристиан. Кристиан подал иск на 16 миллионов долларов против Хаммера за нарушение авторских прав на его песню под названием «Oh-Oh, You Got the Shing». Этот факт, дополненный показаниями свидетелей из окружения Хаммера и Кристиана, а также другими доказательствами (включая фотографии), привел к соглашению с Capitol Records в 1994 году. Условия мирового соглашения остаются нерешенными. В следующем году Хаммер поселился с Кристианом.

В 1997 году, незадолго до начала своего служения, Хаммер (который к тому времени вновь принял «MC») стал героем эпизода «Шоу Опры Уинфри» и VH1 сериала «За музыкой» (музыка из его альбома «Наизнанку» была показан в этом документальном фильме). В этих выступлениях Баррелл признал, что «[он] уже израсходовал большую часть [своего] состояния, составляющего более 20 миллионов долларов, доказав, что деньги — ничто, если они не приносят мира и если приоритеты неверны». Он продолжал высказывать аналогичную точку зрения и в других интервью.

Во время многочисленных интервью на радиостанциях и телеканалах на протяжении многих лет Хаммера постоянно спрашивали о его банкротстве. Во время интервью WKQI -FM (95.5) по поводу продвижения его концерта "Pioneers Of Hip Hop 2009" в Fox Theater в Детройте (в котором приняли участие 2 Live Crew , Naughty by Nature , Too Short , Biz Markie и Роксана Шанте ), спросил Хаммера о его финансах Ведущий Mojo в программе Morning . Хаммер ответил в Твиттере, заявив, что Моджо был «трусом», и пригрозил отменить рекламу своего предстоящего шоу.

21 ноября 2011 года правительство США подало иск в Федеральный окружной суд Калифорнии против Хаммера, чтобы добиться решения суда о его неуплаченных налогах за 1996 и 1997 годы. В декабре 2011 года об этом судебном процессе сообщалось в СМИ. Хаммер задолжал 779 585 долларов в виде задолженности по налогам со своих доходов за 1996–1997 годы; Считалось, что на протяжении многих лет Хаммер сталкивался с худшими финансовыми проблемами. После многих лет насмешек со стороны общественности и средств массовой информации по поводу его финансовых проблем Хаммер попытался заверить фанатов и «скептиков» через Твиттер, заявив, что у него есть доказательства того, что он уже позаботился о своем долге перед IRS. «700 тысяч — не волнуйтесь слишком… Я уже заплатил им и сохранил квитанцию. Отпечатано федеральным судьей США», — написал Хаммер в Твиттере из своего аккаунта @MCHammer. Однако районный суд вынес решение против Хаммера. Он подал апелляцию, но 17 декабря 2015 года Апелляционный суд девятого округа США отклонил довод Хаммера о том, что, поскольку правительство не включило эти налоги в доказательство иска, поданное в Суд по делам о банкротстве, правительство должно быть остановлено. от сбора налогов. Согласно эпизоду сериала 2017 Reelz года Broke & Famous , ситуация в конечном итоге разрешилась. На момент создания вышеупомянутого эпизода Broke & Famous собственный капитал Хаммера составлял 1,5 миллиона долларов.

Плата за препятствование

MC Hammer был арестован в 2013 году в Дублине, штат Калифорния , по обвинению в препятствовании офицеру при выполнении его обязанностей и сопротивлении офицеру (согласно закону «остановить и идентифицировать» ). Хаммер утверждает, что стал жертвой расового профилирования со стороны полиции, заявив, что офицер вытащил пистолет и случайно спросил его: «Вы условно-досрочно освобождены или на испытательном сроке?» Хаммер заявил, что, когда он отдавал свое удостоверение личности , полицейский залез в машину и попытался вытащить его. Полиция Дублина, к востоку от Окленда , заявила, что Хаммер «включал музыку» в автомобиле с просроченной регистрацией , зарегистрированным владельцем которого он не был. "После того, как Хаммер спросил, кто зарегистрированный владелец, он стал очень спорным и отказался отвечать на вопросы офицера", - написал представитель полиции Херб Уолтерс в электронном письме CNN . Хаммер был арестован и освобожден из тюрьмы Санта-Рита в Дублине. Была назначена дата суда; однако в начале марта все обвинения были сняты. Хаммер написал в Твиттере, что он не огорчился и считает произошедшее «поучительным моментом».

Христианские верования и служение

В 1984 году Баррелл начал посещать библейские занятия , присоединился к уличному служению и сформировал госпел- вместе с Джоном Гибсоном (или JG) рэп-группу, известную как «Мальчики Святого Духа» . В 1986 году Баррелл и Трамейн Хокинс выступали с группой Гибсона на концертах в различных площадках, таких как Beverly Theater в Беверли-Хиллз . Несколько песен были записаны вместе. работа над песней "The Wall" из альбома Гибсона Change of Heart (1988), до массового успеха Hammer. Это был CCM первый рэп-хит , исполненный голубоглазым соул- певцом и/или дуэтом. В то время Баррелл также продюсировал "Son of the King", выпустив его на своем дебютном альбоме Feel My Power (1986).

Выросший пятидесятником , Хаммер отошел от своей христианской веры во время своего успеха, прежде чем вернуться к служению. Его осознание этого можно найти в фильме, который он написал и в котором снялся, под названием « Пожалуйста, забейте, не причиняйте им вреда: фильм» (1990), в котором он также играет харизматичного персонажа-проповедника по имени «Преподобный Давление». Тем не менее, как дань уважения своей вере, Хаммер поклялся /пообещал посвятить Богу хотя бы одну песню на каждом альбоме.

В 1991 году Хаммер записал сингл «The Blood» с BeBe и CeCe Winans альбома « Different Lifestyles » . В 1992 году песня достигла 8-го места в христианских чартах .

Позже Хаммер подтвердил свои убеждения в октябре 1997 года: и начал телевизионное служение под названием MC Hammer and Friends на Trinity Broadcasting Network , а также появлялся в программах «Слава Господу» , где он публично заявил о своей преданности служению в качестве рукоположенного служителя . Хаммер присутствовал на свадьбе знаменитостей актера Кори Фельдмана и Сьюзи Спрэг 30 октября 2002 года. (как показано в программе VH1 » канала «Сюрреалистическая жизнь ), а также на Mötley Crüe в январе 2005 года. из свадьбе Винса Нила и Лии Джерардини

Во время интервью на канале TBN (между 1997 и 1998 годами) Хаммер заявил, что снова включил букву «MC» в свое имя, которое теперь означает «Человек Христа». Хаммер продолжал проповедовать, одновременно занимаясь музыкой, ведя бизнес в социальных сетях и телешоу , а также посвящает время тюремному и молодежному служению.

С 2009 по 2010 год Хаммер присоединился к Джейсону Ма в кампании в Азии. Министр и наставник Ма на протяжении более десяти лет, Хаммер помогал и снимался в его документальном фильме «1040» . который исследует распространение христианства по всей Азии .

Наследие и слава поп-культуры

Из-за его коммерческого успеха на ранних этапах развития хип-хопа , BET назвал Хаммера первым «мейнстримным» рэпером. Хаммер стал неотъемлемой частью телевизионного эфира и большого экрана, а его музыка и по сей день используется во многих популярных шоу, фильмах и рекламных роликах. Хаммер участвовал в крупных маркетинговых кампаниях компаний до такой степени, что его критиковали как « распродажу ». включая рекламу British Knights в разгар своей карьеры. Обувная компания подписала с ним сделку на 138 миллионов долларов.

Впечатление Хаммера на музыкальную индустрию появилось почти так же мгновенно, как Digital Underground рэп " The Humpty Dance ", который был выпущен, когда Хаммер был еще в начале своей карьеры, и включал слова: "Люди говорят, что ты выглядишь как MC Hammer на крэке , Humpty! Хаммера ", хвастаясь зрелищностью по сравнению с неспособностью Шалтая Горба ( Shock G ) сравниться с ним в танце. Кроме того, у Hammer было несколько дорогостоящих видеороликов , в частности, два из них были «Too Legit to Quit» или « 2 Legit 2 Quit » (в которых снялись многие знаменитости) и « Here Comes the Hammer ».

Хаммер хорошо известен своим модным стилем конца 80-х и начала 90-х годов . Хаммер гастролировал, выступал и записывался со своим хайповым человеком 2 Bigg MC или Too Big (выпустив песню, в которой он заявил: «Он король хайпа»). Этот дуэт представил «блестящий костюм» и популяризировал штаны Hammer среди широкой публики Америки, как видно из таких видеороликов, как «(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me In A Mix», в котором Хаммер также утверждал, что Too Big был «королем хайпа» и в негласном соревновании с Флэйвором Флавом (пропагандистом Public Enemy ) в разгар своей карьеры.

Хаммер также основал детский фонд, который впервые был основан в собственном сообществе Хаммера, под названием Help The Children (HTC был назван в честь его одноименной песни и основан на ней, в которую входил музыкальный видеоклип со сюжетной линией из его фильма « Пожалуйста, молоток, не больно»). 'Эм: Фильм ).

В «Улицы Сезам» сегменте Элмо принимает образ MC Hammer; назвав себя «MC Elmo», и вместе с двумя бэк-вокалистами они читают песню о номере пять под названием «Five Jive».

В 1994 году британский телеведущий Марк Ламарр неоднократно прерывал Хаммера крылатой фразой Хаммера («Стоп! Время молота!») в интервью, снятом для The Word , которое он воспринял с хорошим юмором. Он утверждал, что Хаммер был «живой легендой». Также в этом интервью Хаммер объяснил правду о своих отношениях с «гангста-рэпом» и о том, что он просто менялся со временем, не держась за свой старый имидж и не становясь «хардкор-гангста». По некоторым сведениям, это изменение способствовало снижению его популярности.

Даже в 2008 году люди продолжали использовать крылатую фразу Хаммера.

Яркая фраза MC Hammer, использованная в Хельсинки , Финляндия, в 2012 году.

В 2005 году Хаммер появился в рекламе Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company , в которой с юмором упоминалась его карьера. Сначала он показан в своей характерной одежде со своей танцевальной труппой, исполняющей « U Can't Touch This » перед особняком, представляющим его бывший дом, с монограммой H на фронтоне. Затем наступает тишина, и появляется экранная карточка с надписью «Пятнадцать минут спустя», на которой изображен Хаммер, грустно сидящий на обочине перед тем же домом, в то время как кран снимает монограмму H, а эвакуаторы увозят припаркованные впереди спортивные автомобили. . После появления большого знака «Запрет на выкуп» голос за кадром произнес: «Жизнь наступает быстро. Будьте готовы с Nationwide!»

В 2006 году музыкальный каталог MC Hammer был продан музыкальной компании Evergreen/BMG почти за 3 миллиона долларов. Эвергрин объяснил, что этот сборник «одни из самых продаваемых и популярных рэп-песен всех времен». Выступая от имени Evergreen Copyrights , Дэвид Шульхоф заявил, что песни «идеально подходят для лицензирования в фильмах, телешоу и корпоративной рекламе». Согласно VH1 , «Hammer был на высоте. Хиты-синглы и видео, такие как «U Can't Touch This» и «Too Legit To Quit», создали образец щедрых ценностей исполнения, которому многие рэп-исполнители следуют до сих пор».

В марте 2009 года Эллен ДеДженерес планировала, что Хаммер будет присутствовать на ее шоу ( Шоу Эллен ДеДженерес ) после того, как он связался с ней через Твиттер.

Хаммер продолжал давать интервью средствам массовой информации, например, был гостем на Chelsea Lately 16 июня 2009 года. Там он обсуждал свои отношения с Vanilla Ice , свое участие в The Surreal Life , свое шоу Hammertime , свою семью, свой особняк, о том, что он в форме, его положительном финансовом статусе и других «красочных темах» ( подсознательных шутках ) относительно его мешковатых штанов.

В 2010 году Рик Росс выпустил «MC Hammer» из альбома Teflon Don , в который входит сэмпл « 2 Legit 2 Quit » группы Hammer.

Чтобы отпраздновать 50-летие Хаммера, из Сан-Франциско производитель игр Zynga представил несколько недавних рисунков игрока Draw Something от своих поклонников. Другие источники/сервисы предлагали «реквизит» по случаю его особого случая и чтобы выразить признательность за его запоминающийся образ/уловки, использованные на пике его карьеры.

В 2012 году Slaughterhouse выпустили сингл «Hammer Dance» вместе с видео . «Hammer Dance» — сингл с альбома «Welcome to: Our House» .

В сезоне 2013 года в Окленде по легкой атлетике музыкальное видео «2 Legit 2 Quit» воспроизводилось на Diamond Vision между иннингами, обычно в середине 8-го иннинга. В видео были показаны выдающиеся игроки спортивных чемпионатов района залива Сан-Франциско , такие как бывшие «А» игроки Хосе Кансеко и член Зала славы Рики Хендерсон .

Хаммер появился в рекламе Cheetos во время Суперкубка в 2020 году, в 30-летие песни «U Can't Touch This».

В январе 2024 года бывшее складское помещение MC Hammer было продано на аукционе. Сообщается, что покупатель хранилища обнаружил 30 мастер-кассет, содержащих как минимум 14 неизданных треков, записанных во время его пребывания на Death Row Records. Бывший продюсер этих записей Death Row Records Крейг Уильямс заявил, что считает эти записи подлинными. Неясно, что станет с этими песнями и кому на законных основаниях принадлежат эти записи.

Влияния и эффект

Карьера MC Hammer в сфере рэпа и развлечений находилась под влиянием таких артистов, как: Kool Moe Dee ; Большой Дэдди Кейн ; Джеймс Браун ; Принц ; Майкл Джексон ; Куртис Блоу ; Земля, Ветер и Огонь ; Рик Джеймс ; Дуг Э. Фреш , который присоединился к лейблу Hammer's Bust It Records в 1992 году и выпустил альбом Doin' What I Gotta Do с треком "Bustin' Out (On Funk)", сэмплом сингла Рика Джеймса "Bustin' Out"; Запустить-DMC ; и Грандмастер Флэш и Неистовая пятерка .

За Хаммером последовали родственные музыканты, такие как Уилл Смит , dc Talk , BB Jay , Diddy (он же «Puffy» или «Puff Daddy»), Young MC , B Angie B , MC Brains , MC Breed , Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch , C+C Music Factory , Mystikal , Bell Biv DeVoe , Крис Кросс , Ho Frat Hoo!, и 357 Октауна .

Хаммер также повлиял на музыкальную индустрию своими поп-культуры . крылатыми фразами и сленгом

Некоторые критики жаловались на отсутствие оригинальности в ранних постановках Хаммера. Entertainment Weekly охарактеризовал " U Can't Touch This " как "бесстыдное копирование энергичного риффа Рика Джеймса ("Super Freak"). Хаммер признается: «Когда я смотрю на Паффи с хором, я говорю: «Конечно, это отличный вариант того, что я делаю».

Среди известных распрей и разногласий Хаммера с другими рэперами были: LL Cool J , Ванильный лед , Слишком короткий , Редман , третий бас , Джей-Зи , Эминем , Племя под названием Квест , и Run-DMC. Несколько дисс-треков вошли в его альбомы, в том числе «Let's Get It Started» и «The Funky Headhunter» .

Лауреат премии, выступления и признание

См. Также: Дискография MC Hammer § Награды

Встреча с Chamillionaire и Mistah FAB на TechCrunch 24 июля 2008 г.

На протяжении многих лет Хаммер был награжден за свою музыку, видео и хореографию . Он продал более 50 миллионов пластинок по всему миру. . Он выиграл три премии «Грэмми» (одну с Риком Джеймсом и Алонзо Миллером) за лучшую ритм-н-блюзовую песню (1990), лучшее рэп-соло (1990) и лучшее музыкальное видео: длинная форма (1990), взятое из фильма «Please Hammer Don't Hurt». Эм: Фильм . Он также получил восемь наград American Music Awards , премию «Выбор народа» , премию NAACP Image Awards и премию Billboard Diamond Award (первую для хип-хоп исполнителя).

Международный альбом года подтвердил талант Хаммера как артиста мирового уровня. Кроме того, Хаммер также был удостоен музыкальной премии Soul Train ( премия Сэмми Дэвиса-младшего как «Артист года») в 1991 году. Он также несколько раз был ведущим / исполнителем музыкальных премий Soul Train, включая 5-й ежегодный Soul Train. Music Awards (1991), 9-я ежегодная музыкальная премия Soul Train (1995) и 25-летие Soul Train (1995).

посвященной госпел-музыке, Хаммер появился на церемонии вручения наград Stellar Awards, в 1997 году и рассказал о своей обновленной приверженности Богу. В том же интервью он пообещал рассказать о «втором этапе» своей карьеры.

Во время церемонии вручения наград MTV Video Music Awards 2005 года Хаммер неожиданно появился в середине шоу вместе с лучшим другом Джермейном Джексоном .

Хаммер поддержал Уоррена Битти , посетив 36-ю церемонию вручения наград AFI Life Achievement Awards 12 июня 2008 года. В августе 2008 года на чемпионате мира по хип-хоп танцам Хаммер выиграл премию «Живые легенды хип-хопа» от Hip Hop International в Лас-Вегасе .

Хаммер, Гэри Вайнерчук , Шакил О'Нил и Рик Санчес (ведущий) отметили «Лучшее в Твиттере» в Бруклине на первой церемонии вручения наград Shorty Awards 11 февраля 2009 года, в рамках которой были отмечены лучшие создатели короткометражного контента в Твиттере. В сентябре 2009 года Хаммер «появился как достижение» в Zombie Apocalypse для загружаемого Smash TV / Left 4 Dead гибрида для Xbox 360 . Хаммер присутствовал на церемонии вручения наград Soul Train Music Awards 2009, которая транслировалась на канале BET 29 ноября 2009 года.

Хаммер (вместе с Алиссой Милано и другими) был членом судейской коллегии Академии искусств и наук короткой формы в реальном времени на второй ежегодной премии Shorty Awards 5 января 2010 года. Хаммер открыл церемонию вручения наград BET Hip Hop Awards 2010, исполнив « 2». Legit 2 Quit » в Атланте вместе с Риком Россом , Diddy и DJ Khaled выступали вместе во время «MC Hammer» из альбома Teflon Don ) 2 октября (трансляция по телевидению 12 октября). (все они также

Имея более 2,6 миллиона подписчиков в Твиттере в 2010 году, свой вклад в социальные сети и будучи соучредителем собственного интернет-бизнеса (например, DanceJam.com ), Хаммер был объявлен лауреатом первой награды Gravity Summit «Маркетолог года в социальных сетях». Премия. Награда была вручена ему на 3-м ежегодном саммите по гравитации 22 февраля 2011 года в UCLA Covel Commons.

На 40-й церемонии вручения наград American Music Awards в ноябре 2012 года Хаммер танцевал под смесь « Gangnam Style » и «2 Legit 2 Quit» вместе с южнокорейской поп-звездой Psy , оба были в своих фирменных брюках Hammer . Коллаборация на была выпущена iTunes . Идея выступления с Хаммером пришла от менеджмента Psy. Они оба снова исполнили ее вместе во время новогоднего выступления Дика Кларка Rockin' Eve 31 декабря 2012 года.

Хаммер получил Премию Джорджа и Иры Гершвинов за выдающиеся музыкальные достижения (не путать с Премией Гершвина ), врученную во время весеннего пения Калифорнийского университета в Лос-Анджелесе в павильоне Поли 17 мая 2013 года.

Гастроли и концерты

Известные туры и концерты включают: A Spring Affair Tour (1989), Summer Jam '89 (1989), Мировой тур Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990 и 1991), Lawlor Events Center в Университете Невады, Рино (1990–1990). 2017), Too Legit to Quit World Tour (1992), Red, White and Boom (2003), The Bamboozle Festival (2007), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (2008–2013), McKay Events Center с Vanilla Ice (2009), Ярмарка штата Иллинойс с Boyz II Men (2011), MusicFest (2012), Седьмое шоу Джека в амфитеатре Verizon Wireless (2012 г.), Kool & the Gang Superjam at Outside Lands (2014 г.) и турне Hammer's All-star House Party Tour (2019 г.).

Дискография

Основная статья: Дискография MC Hammer

• Почувствуй мою силу (1986)
• Давайте начнем (1988)
• Пожалуйста, забейте, не обижайте их (1990)
• Слишком законно, чтобы бросить (1991)
• Фанки-охотник за головами (1994)
• Наизнанку (1995)
• Действующая служба (2001)
• Полный взрыв (2004)
• Смотри, смотри, смотри (2006)
• ТанецJamtheMusic (2009)

См. также

• Список танцоров

Дальнейшее чтение

• Э. Крулик, Нэнси (1991). MC Hammer и Vanilla Ice: Хип-хоп никогда не останавливается . Нью-Йорк: Scholastic Inc. ISBN   0-590-44980-X .

Внешние ссылки

• Блог MC Hammer
• MC Hammer на IMDb