M.C. Hammer/Vanilla Ice
b. Stanley Kirk Burrell, 30 March 1963, Oakland, California, USA. This immensely popular rap artist synthesized the street sounds of black cultural alienation, or his interpretation thereof, to great commercial gain. After failing in professional baseball and attending a college course in communications, Hammer (named after his likeness to Atlanta Braves' big hitter Henry "Hammerin' Hank' Aaron) joined the US Navy for three years. Indeed, his first forays into music were financed by baseball players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy, allowing him to form Bustin" Records and release the solo single, "Ring 'Em'. He had previously been part of religious rap group the Holy Ghost Boys. Together with a backing band comprising two DJs and singers Tabatha King, Djuana Johnican and Phyllis Charles, he cut a 1987 debut set, Feel My Power. A minor hit, it did enough to bring Hammer to the attention of Capitol Records. After contracts were completed, including a reported advance of $750,000 (unheard of for a rap artist), the album was reissued under the title Let's Get It Started. Such success was overshadowed, however, by that of the follow-up, 1990"s Please Hammer Don't Hurt "Em.
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Albums
- (1997) Back 2 Back Hits
Top Tracks
- Ice Ice Baby
- U Can't Touch This
- 2 Legit 2 Quit
- Play That Funky Music (Live)
- Cool As Ice (Everybody Get Loose)
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