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/
Keep On
MC Hammer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He has done great things for me,
Great things, great things;
He has done great things for me.
Verse 2
He has made a way for me,
Made a way, made a way;
Verse 3
He will give you victory,
Victory, victory;
He will give you victory.
Verse 4
I'm gonna be a witness for Him,
Witness, witness;
I'm gonna be a witness for Him.
Verse 5
I'm gonna let my little light shine,
Shine, shine;
I'm gonna let my little light shine.
MC Hammer's song "He Keeps Doing Great Things For Me" is a song that celebrates all the things that God has done for the singer, and how they will testify to God's greatness. The lyrics of the song are simple and repetitive, using the phrases "great things", "made a way", "victory", "witness", and "little light shine" to convey the different ways in which God has impacted the singer's life.
In the first verse, the singer proclaims that God has done great things for them. The phrase "great things" is repeated multiple times, reinforcing the singer's belief that God has truly been a source of blessings in their life. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that God has made a way for them. This could be interpreted as a recognition that they have experienced obstacles in their life, but that God has navigated them through these challenges and provided a path forward.
In the third verse, the singer declares that God will give the listener victory. This is a powerful statement and suggests that the singer believes that God is capable of helping the listener overcome any obstacle they might be facing. In the fourth verse, the singer states that they will be a witness for God - this could be interpreted as a statement of faith, a promise to spread the good news of God's love and grace.
Finally, in the fifth verse, the singer declares that they will let their little light shine. This could be interpreted as a statement of humility - acknowledging that they are only a small part of a much larger movement that is working to spread the good news of God's love.
Line by Line Meaning
He has done great things for me, Great things, great things;
I have experienced many incredible things in my life, blessings beyond measure.
He has made a way for me, Made a way, made a way;
In times of difficulty and hardship, He has always provided a solution and a path forward.
He will give you victory, Victory, victory;
No matter the challenge or obstacle you face, trust in Him and He will deliver you triumphantly.
I'm gonna be a witness for Him, Witness, witness;
I am committed to sharing the love and goodness of God with others and being a living example of His grace and mercy.
I'm gonna let my little light shine, Shine, shine;
I will not hide my faith or be ashamed of my beliefs, but rather let my actions and words reflect the light and truth of His teachings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE ROBINSON, STANLEY KIRK BURRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Brown
Hammer ain't alone, a lot of us can relate, positive message, so to all, stay up !
Anthony Hamler
You said it.. Stay Up
Jessica Jones
Hammer is and always be one the greatest innovators of our time. Please believe!!!!
Orlanzo
Man...you can hear the pain and sadness in his voice in this one. His story is a pretty sad one, made his dream come true, made millions of dollars,and rose to the top of rap but got dragged down by trying to help people he thought were his "friends" and ended up losing everything over fake people who were just using him.
Anton Brooks
@Mermaid Flying places p
Mermaid Flying
the legend ~ He REALLY DIDN’T LOSE ANYTHING!!! For every reasontheres a season! The next harvest will be HAMMER TIMELESS! Forever a real #HERO
Stan Guy
Hammer will always be my boy!! I relate to this song cause people I was there for,coldly turned their backs on me trying to impress others who dont give a shit about anything..Some people dont know how to appreciate anything until they see someone else with what they had,but by then it's too late!! That's how I get motivated to make it and KEEP ON!!! Love you like a brother Hammer!! Stan the man from Brooklyn,NY.
Mermaid Flying
Stan Guy That’s real talk!!! God Bless you Always!!!! ❤️#FACTS #Staywoke
Sandra Stokes
Stan Guy u better Preach! I've been there too.
Fantasy Bout Hour
It’s beyond me how any Hammer album could flop. I loved his music, it always made me feel good and got me through hard times.