MC Hammer discography


MC Hammer or simply Hammer is known for hit records including "U Can't Touch This", "Pray" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" as well as his flashy dance movements, choreography and Hammer pants. His superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. Hammer has sold about 30 million albums in the US alone. He has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, breaking down numerous doors for rap music and demonstrating that hip-hop had the potential for blockbuster success. A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop-rap, and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album.
Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business and created record labels such as Bust It Records, Oaktown Records and Full Blast. He has introduced, signed and produced new talent including Oaktown's 3.5.7, Common Unity, DRS, the vocal quintet Special Generation, Analise, James Greer, One Cause One Effect, DASIT , Teabag, Dom Kimberley, Geeman, Pleasure Ellis, B Angie B, The Stooge Playaz, Ho Frat Hoo! and Wee Wee, among others. A part of additional record labels, he has associated/collaborated/recorded with VMF, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, Whole 9, Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson, as well as others. At about the age of 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and sought career advice from him. In 1992, Doug E. Fresh was signed to M.C. Hammer's Bust It Records label.
Before Hammer's successful career and his "rags-to-riches-to-rags-and-back saga", Burrell formed the Christian rap music group Holy Ghost Boys. Some songs produced were called "Word" and "B-Boy Chill". "The Wall", featuring Burrell, was later released by Jon Gibson. This was Contemporary Christian music's first rap hit ever, in particular by a Caucasian and/or from a duo. The track appeared on Gibson's album Change of Heart, and "Son of the King" showed up on Hammer's debut album Feel My Power as well as the re-released version Let's Get It Started. Burrell, along with Tramaine Hawkins, performed with Gibson's band doing several concerts in various venues such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills.
In late 2012, Hammer appeared with Psy at the 40th American Music Awards and during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest'' performing a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" together, which was released on iTunes. Hammer released "Raider Nation " along with a video in late 2013 and "All In My Mind" in early 2014 with his newly formed group called Oakland Fight Club featuring Mistah F.A.B.

Albums

Studio albums

Note: While with Death Row Records, an unreleased album called Too Tight was produced in 1996. A digital release was produced between 2008-2009 called DanceJamtheMusic.

Independent albums

Compilation albums

Note: Back 2 Back Hits was originally released in 1998 for CEMA and was re-released in 2006 for Capitol Records.

Singles

Note: Music videos were produced for "Let's Get It Started", "Pump It Up ", "Turn This Mutha Out", " They Put Me in the Mix", "You've Got Me Dancing", "U Can't Touch This", "Have You Seen Her", "Pray", "Help the Children", "Too Legit to Quit", "Addams Groove", "Do Not Pass Me By", "This Is the Way We Roll", "Pumps and a Bump", "It's All Good", "Too Late Playa", "Sultry Funk", "Keep On", "Going Up Yonder", "No Stoppin' Us ", "Pop Yo Collar" and "Full Blast", among others.

Additional tracks

Other songs with or without music videos released were:
Some singles have also appeared on other compilation albums, such as "Pump It Up " and "U Can't Touch This". With exception to later remixes of early releases, Hammer produced and recorded many rap songs that were originally not made public, yet are now available on the Internet.

Roll Wit It Entertainment

A sports fan, Hammer launched a new enterprise called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management between albums, Too Legit to Quit and The Funky Headhunter. Clients included Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks.
During this time, in 1993, Hammer's production company released Gangsta Lean by DRS. The hit rap song from this album, "Gangsta Lean", spent six weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Gangsta Lean" has sold over 2.5 million copies with over 12 million views on YouTube.

Accolades

M.C. Hammer's chronological summary of accolades/awards and recognitions/nominations are as follows:
Notable tours and concerts include: A Spring Affair Tour, Summer Jam '89, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour, Lawlor Events Center at University of Nevada, Reno, Too Legit World Tour, Red, White, and Boom, The Bamboozle Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, McKay Events Center with Vanilla Ice, Illinois State Fair with Boyz II Men, MusicFest, Jack's Seventh Show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Kool & the Gang Superjam at Outside Lands and Hammer's All-star House Party Tour.