The song samples the prominent opening riff of the Rick James song "Super Freak", which is repeated throughout the recording. The lyrics describe Hammer as having "toured around the world, from London to the Bay" and as being "magic on the mic", which he says coincides with James' "beat that you can't touch". Additionally, the lyrics "You can't touch this" and "Stop! Hammer time!" became pop culture catchphrases. Hammertime was later used as the title of a reality show starring Hammer on the A&E Network in the summer of 2009. The sample of "Super Freak" that forms the basis of the song led Rick James and other performers on the original record to file a lawsuit for infringement of copyright. The suit was settled out of court when Hammer agreed to credit James as a songwriter, effectively granting him millions of dollars in royalties. The song was first performed publicly on a late 1989 episode of The Arsenio Hall Show.
Impact on album sales
Because the song was not initially released as a single, listeners had to purchase the album, which as a result, went on to sell more than 18 million copies, gaining multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA, as well as in other countries.
Music video
Directed by Rupert Wainwright, a music video was produced to promote the single, showing Hammer doing some of his signature dances, such as "The Running Man" and the "Hammer Dance".
Reception and legacy
In April 1990 the song hit the Top 40. It also secured a Best R&B Song and a Best Rap Solo Performance in 1991, a new category at the time and the first rap song to be nominated for Record of the Year. The single was a major success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and no. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track also performed successfully in other parts of the world, peaking at no. 1 in Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden, and no. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. In September 1990, the music video for the song won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video and Best Dance Video and was nominated for Best Male Video, Best Editing, and Best Choreography. In 1991, Kids Incorporated covered the song in the Season 7 episode "Pipe Dreams". In 1999, MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made included the song at No. 71. In October 2000, VH1's "100 Greatest Dance Songs" included it at No. 88. In May 2001, VH1's 100 Greatest Videos included it at No. 59. In August2005, the song was certified gold. Blender ranked the song at number 196 in their list of Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. In December 2007, VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s included it at No. 16. During 2008, it ranked as No. 26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. The song is used comically in various films of the 2000s and 2010s such as Bubble Boy, ', The Master of Disguise, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, Shark Tale, White Chicks, Racing Stripes, ' and , among others.
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
Parodies
In 1991, a parody entitled "I Can't Watch This" was released by "Weird Al" Yankovic for his album Off the Deep End, with lyrics complaining about bad TV shows overlaid on the song's music track and featuring samples of various commercials during the breakdowns. A groove metal cover of the song was performed by the Austrian NDH band Stahlhammer, infused with death growls and heavy guitar riffs. Before the NFL season started, the Miami Dolphins parodied the song as "U Can't Touch Us".
