MC Hammer

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

MC Hammer

Role / Field:

Pioneering pop rap artist known for 'U Can't Touch This' and extravagant choreography.

Born:

1962-03-30

Century / Era:

1962s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), better known by his stage name MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and dancer. He is known for hit songs such as "U Can't Touch This", "Pray", "2 Legit 2 Quit" and "Pumps and a Bump", as well as flashy dance movements, extravagant choreography and his namesake Hammer pants. Remembered for a rapid rise to fame, Hammer has also become an entrepreneur and celebrity spokesperson. A multi-award winner, he is considered a "forefather" and pioneering innovator of pop rap (incorporating elements of freestyle music).

Key Developments & Impact

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Hammer served three years in the United States Navy before independently releasing his debut album Feel My Power in 1986. After signing a contract with Capitol Records, Hammer released his second album Let's Get It Started in 1988, which became his first multi-platinum hit. Hammer became the first hip-hop artist to achieve diamond status with his next album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), helping him become one of the most prominent media celebrities of the early 1990s. After being labeled a sell out by the changing landscape of hip-hop music which...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1962 (1962-03-30): Birth of MC Hammer — Pioneering pop rap artist known for 'U Can't Touch This' and extravagant choreography.
2. 1986: 1986 Milestone — Born and raised in Oakland, California, Hammer served three years in the United States Navy before independently releasing his debut album Feel My Power in 1986.
3. 1988: 1988 Milestone — After signing a contract with Capitol Records, Hammer released his second album Let's Get It Started in 1988, which became his first multi-platinum hit.
4. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Hammer became the first hip-hop artist to achieve diamond status with his next album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), helping him become one of the most prominent media celebrities of the early 1990s.

Notable Quotes by MC Hammer

“I'm the one who's gonna make it, I'm the one who's gonna make it.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: MC Hammer

True or False: “MC Hammer's early success was solely based on the evolving sound of underground hip-hop.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While rooted in hip-hop, Hammer was a pioneering innovator of pop rap, incorporating elements of freestyle music to achieve mainstream success.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. K. Fazlul Huq — Contemporary (Died in 1962) (1962): Pakistani statesman and jurist, known as Sher-e-Bangla, a founding father of Pakistan.
• Ada Cohen — Contemporary (Born in 1962) (1962): American art historian specializing in ancient Greek art, especially Alexander the Great.
• Adolf Eichmann — Contemporary (Died in 1962) (1962): Nazi SS officer and key organizer of the Holocaust's logistics.
• Abdel Halim Hafez — Shared historical date (03-30 · Died) (1977): Iconic Egyptian singer and actor, known as 'The Brown-Skinned Nightingale'.
• Albert Pierrepoint — Shared historical date (03-30 · Born) (1905): Prominent English hangman who executed hundreds of people in a 25-year career.
• Alain Robert — Historical peer (Born in 1962) (1962): French rock and urban climber, nicknamed 'the French Spider-Man' for his daring ascents.
• Aleksandr Dugin — Historical peer (Born in 1962) (1962): Leading theorist of Russian neo-Eurasianism, advocating for a 'conservative revolution'.
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Born in 1986) (1986): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• Adolph Caesar — Historical peer (Died in 1986) (1986): Acclaimed American actor known for his deep voice and Off-Broadway staple status.
• Abdul Basit 'Abd us-Samad — Historical peer (Died in 1988) (1988): Renowned Egyptian Quran reciter, celebrated for his melodious and emotionally engaging style.
• 1962 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1962
• March 30 (03-30) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 30

Frequently Asked Questions about MC Hammer