His debut album Feel My Power was produced between 1986 and 1987 to be released independently in 1987. It was produced by VEH (of Con Funk Shun), and sold over 60,000 copies. In the spring of 1988, a DJ played the track "Let's Get it Started"—a song in which he declared he was "...second to none, from Doug E. Fresh, Cool LL, or DJ Run"—after which the track began to gain popularity in clubs. Hammer received several offers from major record labels after the successful release of the independent album.
Hammer initially refused to sign a contract with Capitol Records, but after a substantial signing bonus was added to his contract, he did. His debut album was then re-released as Let's Get It Started. A new video was shot for "Let's Get it Started," and another video was produced in fall of 1988 called "Pump It Up" (a new track added to Let's Get It Started). The "Pump It Up" video was added to the roster of "new wave" hip-hop videos that premiered or re-aired on the premiere season of Yo! MTV Raps. It depicted hip-hop legends Run-DMC getting disrespected by Hammer. The album eventually went triple-platinum (more than 3 million units sold). "Turn This Mutha Out" (the album's biggest hit), "Feel My Power", and "They Put Me in the Mix" saw heavy rotation on R&B/Hip-Hop radio stations throughout late 1988 into 1989.
His second album, 1990's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, included the smash single "U Can't Touch This", which sampled Rick James' 1981 hit "Super Freak". Interestingly, despite heavy airplay, "U Can't Touch This" stopped at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart due to the fact that it was released only as a twelve-inch single. Follow-up hits included "Have You Seen Her" (cover of the Chi-Lites); and "Pray", which had a beat sampled from Prince's "When Doves Cry" and was his biggest hit in the US, peaking at #2. The album went on to become the first hip-hop album to reach diamond status, selling more than 10 million units.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, PepsiCo International CEO Christopher A. Sinclair went on tour with him in 1991. At the same time, he also appeared in The West Coast Rap All-Stars posse cut "We're All in the same Gang".
The Addams Groove Songfacts that in 1991 Hammer recorded the theme for the launch of the 1990s run of the Addams' Family film series, which introduced a whole new generation of fans to the Addams Family franchise. MC Hammer was still on the rise, and having a rap artist do the theme song added a contemporary feel to the movie, which was based on a '60s TV series about a very creepy family.
Hammer's relationship with Suge Knight dates back to 1988. Hammer next signed with Death Row Records, then home to Snoop Dogg and his close friend, Tupac Shakur. The label did not release any of Hammer's music while he was with them. However, Burrell did record music with Shakur, most notebly the song "Too Late Playa", and the album (Too Late) he recorded leaked onto the internet some years later. Their collaborative efforts are yet to be released. After the death of Shakur in 1996, Burrell left the record company.
In 1996, Burrell and Oaktown signed with EMI, which saw the release of a compilation of Hammer's chart topping songs. The album, Greatest Hits, featured 12 former hits and was released in October, only six months after his bankruptcy.
In 1997, just prior to beginning his ministry, MC Hammer (who by that time had readopted the "MC") was the subject of an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and the VH1 series Behind the Music (music from his previous album was featured in this documentary). In these appearances, Burrell admitted that he had already used up most of his fortune of over $20 million, proving that money is nothing if it doesn't bring peace.
In 1998, MC 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 as they made their recording debut. This album was highly plugged on Trinity Broadcasting Network but featured no charting singles, and sold only 500,000 copies worldwide.
In 2001, MC Hammer released his 8th studio album, Active Duty, to pay homage to the ones lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The album followed that theme, it featured two singles, "No Stoppin' Us (USA)," and "Pop Yo Collar." The album, like its predecessor, failed to chart and would not sell as many copies as previous projects.
After leaving Capitol Records and EMI for the second time in his career, MC Hammer decided to move his Oaktown imprint to an independent distributor and released his ninth studio album, Full Blast, in 2003. The album would feature no charting singles and failed to certify in the RIAA. A video was produced for Full Blast, a song that attacks Eminem and Busta Rhymes.
After going independent, he decided to create a digital label to release his tenth studio album, Look Look Look. The album was released in 2006 and featured production from Scott Storch. The album featured the title-track single, and would sell much better than his previous release (300,000 copies worldwide).
Between 2006 and 2007, Hammer released a military-inspired rap song with a political message to President George W. Bush about sending the American troops back from war, called "Bring Our Brothers Home". The video was filmed at the Santa Monica Pier.
To see current information, check out his official blog: http://mchammer.blogspot.com/
Have You Seen Her
MC Hammer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm just gon' cruise down the road
Look at the stars in the sky
And drift off into the sweet memories that I have
Of a love that my heart has been searching for
For so long, and I know somewhere
If I keep searching, that love I'll find
The picture grows clearer and clearer
And like love, a love I know I'll have
The girl that I want, she'll be mine, she'll be fly, and it'll last
I see her face and I can't let go
She's in my dreams and my heart, so let me know
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
I'm looking for that love
She's a thought and a vision in my memory
I haven't met her, but tell me where could she be
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
I'm looking for that special love
(Love, oh love, love is a feeling that I need)
Love is a feeling that the Hammer definetly needs
(Please be mine)
Baby be mine
(I need your love to make it)
I need your love to make it
So why don't you be mine
The search is going on
From coast to coast
A women for the man, who's propping the most
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
My heart is beating strong
This love cannot be wrong
I need her and I want her, so come on to my home
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
I'm a keep looking
At the movies, in my car, on my stereo
At a game of Different World or the Cosby Show
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
Yo veo, tell me what's up
At the track, at the club, or out buying dub
If you've seen her, then I'll have her, cause I'm in love
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
My heart is hurting so bad
(Love, oh love, love is a feeling that I need)
Love is a feeling that I know I need
(Please be mine)
Be mine baby
(I need your love to make it)
I need your love to make it
Why don't you be mine
(Baby, be mine)
Where could she be?
At the store around the corner
Or wondering at night
Or chilling with another brother holding the mic
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
Hammer, you know I'm looking
Calling all my friends all around the place
Guy, Lavertte, or my homey Rob Base
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
If you've peeped her out, tell me
Yo, veo on the phone
Ted, Dre, or Ed Lover
Fab Five, homeys won't you help a young brother
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
I got a picture in my mind
The thought is so clear of the love I need here
Like D-B magic, and why don't you appear
(Have you seen her?)
Oh baby, why don't you appear
(Tell me have you seen her?)
I can see yo' face
I'm seeing her face, again and again
Come knocking at my door, and you know I'll let you in
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen her?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
Oh, my sweet love
Searching 'round the world, what more can I say?
The girl is hard to see like an unseen VJ
(Have you seen her? Tell me have you seen her? Have you seen her?)
In "Have You Seen Her," MC Hammer describes his search for a woman he's never met but has seen in his memories and in his dreams. He contemplates where this love could be - at a game, in the car, at the track, or even with another man holding the mic. He seeks help from his friends and uses music to help him search for this love he needs. Hammer's lyrics convey his longing for someone to share his feelings with and make him complete.
The repetition of the question "Have you seen her?" indicates that Hammer is constantly searching for this woman. He believes that somewhere out there is the one he's been looking for, and the longing for her is strong. He feels the need for her love to fill a void in his heart. Hammer believes that when he finds her, they'll last, and he'll love her endlessly.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah yeah, I'm glad I put this tape in
I'm happy I put this tape in, let me enjoy the ride
I'm just gon' cruise down the road
I'm just going to enjoy the drive
Look at the stars in the sky
I'm enjoying the night sky
And drift off into the sweet memories that I have
I'm enjoying memories of sweet love I had in the past
Of a love that my heart has been searching for
I'm searching for a love that my heart has been seeking for a long time
For so long, and I know somewhere
I've been searching for a long time, but I know that the love is out there somewhere
If I keep searching, that love I'll find
I believe that with continued searching, I will find that love
The picture grows clearer and clearer
The picture of that love becomes more vivid in my mind
From the back to the front of my mind
I'm constantly thinking about it
And like love, a love I know I'll have
I know that someday I'll have that love
The girl that I want, she'll be mine, she'll be fly, and it'll last
I want a girl who will be mine, who will be beautiful and long-lasting
I see her face and I can't let go
I can't stop thinking of her beautiful face
She's in my dreams and my heart, so let me know
I keep dreaming of her and I feel her in my heart, so please let me know
(Have you seen her?)
Have you seen the girl I'm talking about?
Have you seen her?
Do you know where she is?
(Tell me have you seen her?)
Can you tell me anything about her whereabouts?
I'm looking for that love
I'm actively searching for that love
She's a thought and a vision in my memory
I have a vision of her in my memory
I haven't met her, but tell me where could she be
I haven't met her yet, but where could she be?
(Love, oh love, love is a feeling that I need)
Love is something that I need in my life
Love is a feeling that the Hammer definetly needs
I definitely need love
(Please be mine)
Please be mine
Baby be mine
I want you to be mine
(I need your love to make it)
I need your love to keep going in life
I need your love to make it
I need your love to survive in this world
So why don't you be mine
So why don't you choose to be mine
The search is going on
My search for love continues
From coast to coast
I'm searching everywhere
A women for the man, who's propping the most
I want a woman by my side, as I'm striving my best
(My heart is beating strong)
My heart is beating strongly for this love
This love cannot be wrong
I know that this love is right for me
I need her and I want her, so come on to my home
I need and want this love, so come to my home
At the movies, in my car, on my stereo
I keep looking for her at places like the movies, in my car, on my stereo
At a game of Different World or the Cosby Show
I'm looking for her even at events like a Different World or Cosby Show game
(Yo veo, tell me what's up)
Hey, let me know what's up
At the track, at the club, or out buying dub
I'm searching for her at places like the racetrack, club, or while shopping
If you've seen her, then I'll have her, cause I'm in love
If you know where she is, I'll go get her, because I'm deeply in love with her
(My heart is hurting so bad)
My heart is aching so much for this love
Love is a feeling that I know I need
I definitely know that I need love to survive
Be mine baby
I really hope that you will agree to be mine
(Why don't you be mine)
Why don't you choose to be mine?
Where could she be?
I'm still wondering where she may be
At the store around the corner
Maybe she's at a store that's close by
Or wondering at night
Maybe she's out wandering at night
Or chilling with another brother holding the mic
Maybe she's hanging out with another guy who is a performer
(Hammer, you know I'm looking)
Hammer, you know I'm still searching
Calling all my friends all around the place
I'm reaching out to all of my friends for help in finding her
Guy, Lavertte, or my homey Rob Base
I'm asking Guy, Lavertte or my friend Rob Base to help me
(If you've peeped her out, tell me)
If you've seen her, then please let me know
(Yo, veo on the phone)
Hey, someone is calling me on the phone
Ted, Dre, or Ed Lover
I'm asking for help from Ted, Dre, and Ed Lover
Fab Five, homeys won't you help a young brother
I'm asking the Fab Five and all of my friends to help me find this love
(I got a picture in my mind)
I have a clear picture of her in my mind
The thought is so clear of the love I need here
The vision is so clear of the love I need in my life
Like D-B magic, and why don't you appear
Like D-B magic, why can't you magically appear in my life?
(Oh baby, why don't you appear)
Oh baby, why haven't you appeared in my life yet?
I can see yo' face
I keep seeing your face in my mind
I'm seeing her face, again and again
I'm continuously seeing her face in my mind
Come knocking at my door, and you know I'll let you in
If you come to my door, I'll definitely let you in
(Oh, my sweet love)
Oh, my love, where are you?
Searching 'round the world, what more can I say?
I'm searching all around the world, what else can I do?
The girl is hard to see like an unseen VJ
I can't find the girl I'm looking for, it's like she's an unseen VJ
(Have you seen her? Tell me have you seen her? Have you seen her?)
Have you seen this girl? Can you tell me if you've seen her?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind