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"โa song in which he declared he was "...second to none, from Doug E. Fresh, Cool LL, or DJ Run"โafter 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/
Work This
MC Hammer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't recall you mentionin' the boss is such a creep.
We still have the ingrdients to make this summer sweet.
(Well,) I got rags instead of riches,
And all these dirty dishes.
Just wish I had three wishes.
(Okay, guys, break it up.)
We've got to work, work to work this out.
We'll make things right; the sun will shine.
If we work, work,
there'll be no doubt.
We can still save the summer
if we work this out.
(Dude, what have you gotten us into?)
(Come on, we can totally turn this thing around.)
I'd rather face a seven footer straight up in the post.
That sure beats hangin' here
And burnin' someone's toast.
I needed Banjamins, but this ain't woth the stress
Maybe there's a better way to fix this greasy mess.
We're a champion team,
a well-oiled machine,
and we faced tougher problems than this.
I know it's a grind,
but I'm sure we can find
a way to have fun while we get this job done.
We've got to work, work to work this out.
We'll make things right; the sun will shine.
If we work, work,
there'll be no doubt.
We can still save the summer
if we work this out.
Let's work it
Tell me what you want.
Tell me what you need.
A little bit of sugar,
A little bit of butter.
It's the pefect recipe.
Pay day!
It'll taste so sweet.
Pay day!
good enough to eat.
Gonna make some motion pictures.
hit the mall with all my sisters.
Get tickets to the Knicks and Sixers.
Kick it with the music mixers.
Buy a ride that suits my style.
Lounge around the pool a while.
Make a date with my fa'rite girl.
We've got it made.
Whoa!
We've got to work, work to work this out.
We'll make things right; the sun will shine.
If we work, work,
there'll be no doubt.
We can still save the summer
if we work this out.
Work this
Gotta work this.
We can work this out!
The lyrics in MC Hammer's song "Work This Out" are about overcoming struggles and working together as a team to overcome obstacles. In the first verse, the singer questions how they went from being on top of the world to struggling and facing difficult situations. The singer mentions that they have the necessary tools and ingredients to make their situation better, but wishes they had some wishes to make things easier.
The second verse is about the struggles of working a low-paying job, as the singer mentions rags instead of riches and dirty dishes. They question if there is a better way to solve their problems than dealing with a stressful job. However, the chorus reinforces the idea of working together and persevering through difficult times. The lines "We can still save the summer if we work this out" show that while times may be tough, they are not hopeless.
The bridge emphasizes the importance of communication and working together as a team, comparing the group to a "well-oiled machine." The final verses, which include a list of things they hope to do once they receive their paycheck, emphasize that hard work can lead to rewards and that time will get better.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to work hard and stay motivated during tough times, as they will eventually overcome their struggles if they persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
How did we get from the top of the world to the bottom of the heap?
How did we fall from a place of success and prosperity to a state of deprivation and poverty?
I don't recall you mentionin' the boss is such a creep.
I can't remember you telling me that the boss is unpleasant.
We still have the ingrdients to make this summer sweet.
Despite the difficulties, we have all the elements required to create a happy and enjoyable summer.
Well, I got rags instead of riches,
I ended up with shabby clothes instead of wealth and opulence.
And all these dirty dishes.
And now I have to deal with a pile of dirty dishes.
Just wish I had three wishes.
I wish I had three magical wishes to change my predicament.
(Okay, guys, break it up.)
Alright, stop complaining and arguing.
We've got to work, work to work this out.
We need to put in effort to solve our problems.
We'll make things right; the sun will shine.
If we work hard, everything will be alright, and we will have a bright future.
If we work, work, there'll be no doubt.
If we put in the effort, we will succeed without question.
We can still save the summer if we work this out.
We can still have a great summer if we work together to solve our issues.
(Dude, what have you gotten us into?)
(Friend,) What kind of trouble did you get us into?
(Come on, we can totally turn this thing around.)
(Don't worry,) We can reverse this situation.
I'd rather face a seven footer straight up in the post.
I'd rather confront a basketball player who is seven feet tall head-on in the post.
That sure beats hangin' here and burnin' someone's toast.
That's preferable to staying here and ruining someone's meal.
I needed Banjamins, but this ain't woth the stress
I needed money, but this job isn't worth the hassle and strain.
Maybe there's a better way to fix this greasy mess.
Perhaps there's a better solution to this oil-splattered problem.
We're a champion team, a well-oiled machine, and we faced tougher problems than this.
We are a successful team, and we have overcome harder challenges than this one.
I know it's a grind, but I'm sure we can find a way to have fun while we get this job done.
I understand it's difficult, but we can figure out a way to enjoy ourselves and complete this task.
Tell me what you want.
Let me know what you desire.
Tell me what you need.
Inform me of what you require.
A little bit of sugar, a little bit of butter.
A small amount of sweetness and richness.
It's the perfect recipe.
It's the ideal combination of ingredients.
Pay day! It'll taste so sweet.
When payday comes, it will be very satisfying.
Pay day! good enough to eat.
The satisfaction of payday is akin to a delicious meal.
Gonna make some motion pictures.
I will produce some movies.
hit the mall with all my sisters.
I will go shopping with all my siblings.
Get tickets to the Knicks and Sixers.
I will buy tickets to see the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers play basketball.
Kick it with the music mixers.
I will hang out with music producers and mixers.
Buy a ride that suits my style.
I will purchase a vehicle that matches my preferences.
Lounge around the pool a while.
I will relax by the pool for a bit.
Make a date with my fa'rite girl.
I will schedule a meet-up with my favorite girl.
We've got it made. Whoa!
We have all we need to succeed.
Let's work it Gotta work this. We can work this out!
Let's put in the effort. We are capable of solving this problem.
Contributed by Jason G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.