You are viewing the article MC Hammer at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.
MC Hammer, born Stanley Kirk Burrell, emerged as a prominent figure in the music industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Known for his infectious energy, flashy dance moves, and signature parachute pants, Hammer captivated audiences with his unique blend of rap and dance-pop music. His pioneering style, characterized by catchy hooks, infectious beats, and memorable choreography, quickly made him a household name and propelled him to international superstardom. Despite his meteoric rise to fame, MC Hammer’s career also faced significant challenges and controversies that ultimately shaped his journey in the entertainment industry. In this essay, we will delve deeper into the life and career of MC Hammer, exploring the significant milestones, the impact of his music, his rise to fame, and the subsequent challenges he encountered.
(1962-)
Who Is MC Hammer?
MC Hammer began his performing career as a young boy dancing outside the Oakland Coliseum during Oakland A’s games. He launched himself into full-fledged stardom with the 1990 release Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, the first recording credited with bringing rap to the mainstream. After a rapid financial downfall, Hammer has rebounded as a musician and businessman.
Early Years
Rap artist MC Hammer was born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California, on March 30, 1962. His father, Lewis Burrell, worked as a warehouse supervisor for several years before gambling took over his life and nearly drove the family to ruin.
Fortunately for his son, Hammer never inherited his father’s gambling gene. Instead, his passions lay with music, baseball and dancing. By the age of 11, young Hammer was regularly earning money performing dance routines outside Oakland Coliseum during A’s home games.
By chance, he caught the attention of the team’s owner, Chuck Finley, and was invited to watch a game from his luxury box. Finley grew fond of Hammer and eventually hired him as the team’s batboy.
Hammer, who played second base in high school, was a talented baseball player as well and later earned himself a tryout with the San Francisco Giants. However, he failed to make the final cut, ending the young ballplayer’s hopes of playing in the majors.
Commercial Success
Even as he dreamed of playing professional baseball, Hammer never turned his back on music. While working for the A’s, he adopted the moniker “MC,” for “Master of Ceremonies,” and performed at various clubs when the A’s traveled out of town. It was also during this time that he acquired the nickname “Hammer,” for his resemblance to home-run king Hank “The Hammer” Aaron.
After a short stint at a local college and three years in the Navy, during which he worked as an aviation storekeeper, Hammer returned to Oakland and performing.
With money borrowed from two former A’s players, Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy, Hammer launched his own record label, Bust It Productions. Through it, he released two albums of his own, Feel My Power (1987) and Let’s Get It Started (1988), both of which sold well enough to earn the musician a deal with Capitol Records.
After a releasing a revised version of his first album, Hammer took to the studio for his third release, 1990’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em. While he was certainly a known quantity on the charts by this time (Hammer’s second release, Feel My Power, netted more than $2 million in sales), nobody could have predicted the success his third record would produce.
The numbers were staggering, with the record selling more than 10 million copies and becoming the most successful rap record of all time. Anchored by the wildly popular single “U Can’t Touch This,” which sampled Rick James’ “Super Freak,” as well as a pair of other Top 10 singles, “Have You Seen Her” and “Pray,” the record made Hammer an international star. Clad in his trademark parachute pants, Hammer appeared everywhere, and his record was played nonstop on the radio.
For Hammer, the success translated into unimaginable wealth. In 1990, Forbes estimated the young musician to be worth $33 million. Tapping into the success of the album, Hammer produced and starred in a film of the same name. The movie tells the fictional story of a rapper who returns home and defeats the city’s biggest drug kingpin.
Returning quickly to the studio, Hammer released his fourth album, Too Legit to Quit, in 1991. In an effort to promote the record, the musician accompanied its release with a lavish tour and expensive music videos. Despite all the glitz and PR muscle, the record failed to capture the magic or the sales numbers his previous effort had.
Downfall
As quickly as Hammer rose to the top of the music world, he just as rapidly fell from its pinnacle. Just six years after the success of his landmark album, Hammer filed for bankruptcy. In court he claimed assets of $9.6 million against debts that neared $14 million.
At the height of his spending, Hammer employed 40 people, bought a $30 million home (later sold), and owned at least 17 cars as well as several racehorses. His list of creditors included football star Deion Sanders, who had loaned him $500,000.
Recent Years
As hip-hop evolved as a music form, Hammer tried to keep up. Throughout the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s, Hammer continued to write and record music. In all, he has released more than 10 albums during his long career, but nothing has ever matched the celebrity and sales that greeted his records in the early 1990s.
In recent years, the businessman in Hammer has put him in the middle of a number of different business opportunities, from fashion to tech to mixed martial arts. In addition, he’s appeared in several different commercials and television shows.
In February 2013, Hammer was arrested at a shopping center in northern California. The arrest followed a verbal altercation with a police officer who had pulled him over in a car that wasn’t registered in his name. A few weeks later, the charges against Hammer were dropped.
Personal Life
Hammer has been married to Stephanie Fuller since 1985. The couple has five children together and the family lives in Tracy, California.
QUICK FACTS
- Name: MC Hammer
- Birth Year: 1962
- Birth date: March 30, 1962
- Birth State: California
- Birth City: Oakland
- Birth Country: United States
- Gender: Male
- Best Known For: MC Hammer brought rap music to the mainstream audience with his album ‘Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em,’ the biggest-selling rap album of all time.
- Astrological Sign: Aries
Fact Check
We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn’t look right,contact us!
CITATION INFORMATION
- Article Title: MC Hammer Biography
- Author: Biography.com Editors
- Website Name: The Biography.com website
- Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/mc-hammer
- Access Date:
- Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
- Last Updated: October 9, 2019
- Original Published Date: April 2, 2014
QUOTES
- I’m comfortable with where I am today. I think I’m better because of the life that I have lived.
In conclusion, MC Hammer emerged as a trailblazing figure in the music industry during the late 1980s and early 1990s. With his unique blend of rap and pop, he garnered immense popularity and broke barriers for African-American artists in mainstream music. Despite facing criticism and financial setbacks, Hammer’s influence on the genre and entertainment as a whole cannot be denied. His catchy hooks, flamboyant style, and energetic performances continue to be celebrated today. MC Hammer remains a symbol of success, resilience, and creativity, leaving behind a lasting legacy that transcends generations.
Thank you for reading this post MC Hammer at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.
Related Search:
1. MC Hammer biography
2. MC Hammer hits and discography
3. MC Hammer pants fashion trend
4. MC Hammer’s biggest song
5. MC Hammer’s net worth
6. MC Hammer’s career after the 90s
7. MC Hammer’s influence on hip hop culture
8. MC Hammer’s reality TV show
9. MC Hammer’s comeback attempts
10. MC Hammer’s current projects or activities