MC Hammer (later Hammer), real name Stanley Kirk Burrell, (born March 30, 1962) was a mainstream American rapper during the 1980s and early 1990s, known for his baggy "parachute" pants and catchy hooks on songs like " U Can't Touch This".
MC Hammer was born in Oakland, California. In Hammer's early teens, Charlie O. Finley, owner of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, noticed the boy performing outside of the stadium. Finley named the boy his "executive vice president," and he served in that capacity until 1980. In reality, his job was to report to Finley on what was happening with the team, since Finley did not live in Oakland. A's players named him "Little Hammer" because of his resemblance to slugger "Hammerin'" Hank Aaron.
Even though Hammer wanted to be a professional baseball player, he did not catch on in any professional organization. He instead joined the Navy and upon his return began performing music in clubs and started his own record label, Bust It.
His debut album was Feel My Power (1987), produced by Felton Pilate (of Con Funk Shun). The album sold over 60,000 copies, which led to several offers from major labels.
Burrell initially refused to sign a contract from Capitol Records, but he eventually did after a substantial signing bonus was added to his contract. His debut album was then re-released as Let's Get It Started. The album eventually went triple-platinum (more than 3 million units sold). The title song, "Turn This Mutha Out", and "Feel My Power" saw heavy rotation on R&B/Hip-Hop radio stations.
His second album, 1990's Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em included the highly successful single " U Can't Touch This", which sampled " Super Freak" ( Rick James); "Have You Seen Her" ( cover of the Chi-Lites); and "Pray" (sampled from Prince's " When Doves Cry"). The album eventually went on to become the first hip-hop album to reach diamond status (more than 10 million units sold). During 1990 Hammer toured extensively in Europe which included a sell out concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
