The Funky Headhunter
Encyclopedia
The Funky Headhunter was the fifth official album by Hammer, released in 1994.
In 1993, Hammer began recording this album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, the album was a more aggressive sounding album. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek. While Hammer's appearance changed to keep up with the gangsta rap
audience, his lyrics still remained honest and somewhat clean with minor cursing. Yet, on this album as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out other rappers who had dissed him. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em), the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans.http://www.metrolyrics.com/crime-story-lyrics-mc-hammer.htmlhttp://s0.ilike.com/play#MC+Hammer:Crime+Story:151705:s34476796.9633136.2874371.0.2.139%2Cstd_44913c0a6757452cbd8c0571d39c9b5f Nonetheless, this harder-edged, more aggressive record went gold
, but failed to win him a new audience among hardcore hip-hop fans.http://www.zvents.com/performers/show/7070-mc-hammer#
The album at the time was hailed as Hammer's comeback
album and was produced by innovative musicians and writers such as Teddy Riley
(who had previously produced records for Guy, Blackstreet
, and Michael Jackson
), The Hines Brothers, and G-Bomb. It also featured Death Row Records
head Suge Knight
, Whole 9 and Death Row recording artists Tha Dogg Pound
.
Hammer debuted the album and video for "Pumps and a Bump" two months before its release on The Arsenio Hall Show
and finally released it in March. Talk show host Arsenio Hall
said to M.C. Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer, but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron."http://www.answers.com/topic/the-funky-headhunter
"Pumps and a Bump" proved to be a controversial
track on this album, somewhat affecting Hammer's image. However, the single peaked at #3 on the US Rap
charts. It was banned from heavy rotation on MTV
with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in Speedos (and with what appeared to be an erection) was too graphic. This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks, who also helmed the video of rap group DRS
' only hit single "Gangsta Lean
".
On December 26, 1994, Deion Sanders
released Prime Time, a rap album on Bust It Records (Hammer's label) that featured the minor hit "Must Be The Money". "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'" was also released as a single. Sanders, a friend of Hammer's, had previously appeared in his "Too Legit to Quit" music video, and his alter-ego "Prime Time" is also used in Hammer's "Pumps and a Bump" video.
"It's All Good" was the second single released on this album, which would become a pop culture phrase as a result. http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/11/08/slam.dunks/index.html It was also the most successful song by this title, peaking on the record charts as follows: US
#46; US R&B
#14; US Rap #3; UK
#52.
Within this album, such as during the rap "Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper", Hammer disses
A Tribe Called Quest
(Q-Tip
), Redman, MC Serch
, Rodney O
and Run–D.M.C. for previous attacks
some of them made against him on wax
. This also quite possibly led to a decrease in his popularity after this follow-up record responded to the music
critics.
"Help Lord (Won't You Come)" appeared in Kingdom Come (2001 film)
.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246002/soundtrack
This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts
and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year.http://www.answers.com/topic/the-funky-headhunter The album eventually reached #12 on the Billboard
200 album chart The album managed to become certified platinum.
In 1993, Hammer began recording this album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, the album was a more aggressive sounding album. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek. While Hammer's appearance changed to keep up with the gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
audience, his lyrics still remained honest and somewhat clean with minor cursing. Yet, on this album as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out other rappers who had dissed him. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em), the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans.http://www.metrolyrics.com/crime-story-lyrics-mc-hammer.htmlhttp://s0.ilike.com/play#MC+Hammer:Crime+Story:151705:s34476796.9633136.2874371.0.2.139%2Cstd_44913c0a6757452cbd8c0571d39c9b5f Nonetheless, this harder-edged, more aggressive record went gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, but failed to win him a new audience among hardcore hip-hop fans.http://www.zvents.com/performers/show/7070-mc-hammer#
The album at the time was hailed as Hammer's comeback
Comeback
A comeback is the return of a person of public interest, a style or fashion in the mid-point of media interest. The term is predominantly used in politics, sports and pop music. In the case of a band, the term reunion is used...
album and was produced by innovative musicians and writers such as Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley (new jack swing)
Edward Theodore Riley , professionally known as Teddy Riley, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, keyboardist, and record producer credited with the creation of New Jack Swing. Through his production work with Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Doug E. Fresh, Today, Keith Sweat, Heavy D., Jane...
(who had previously produced records for Guy, Blackstreet
Blackstreet
Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by Thomas Taliaferro and Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of Guy. Chauncey Hannibal and Levi Little were signed under production and management contracts with Thomas Taliaferro and were merged into what...
, and Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
), The Hines Brothers, and G-Bomb. It also featured Death Row Records
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
head Suge Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, Whole 9 and Death Row recording artists Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Dogg Pound
Tha Dogg Pound is a rap group made up of Daz Dillinger and Kurupt. They were signed to Death Row Records in their early careers and were key to the label's success. The group made their 1992 rap debut on Dr. Dre's The Chronic, on various songs. They also appeared on Snoop Dogg's debut album...
.
Hammer debuted the album and video for "Pumps and a Bump" two months before its release on The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
and finally released it in March. Talk show host Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
said to M.C. Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer, but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron."http://www.answers.com/topic/the-funky-headhunter
"Pumps and a Bump" proved to be a controversial
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
track on this album, somewhat affecting Hammer's image. However, the single peaked at #3 on the US Rap
Hot Rap Songs
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
charts. It was banned from heavy rotation on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in Speedos (and with what appeared to be an erection) was too graphic. This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks, who also helmed the video of rap group DRS
DRS (band)
DRS was an Rhythm and blues band from Sacramento, California. Their biggest success was through the 1993 Capitol Records album Gangsta Lean , which peaked at #34 on the Billboard Top 200 and #6 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Charts in the U.S. on the strength of the hit single, "Gangsta Lean"...
' only hit single "Gangsta Lean
Gangsta Lean
"Gangsta Lean" is an urban slang phrase denoting a style of automobile driving in which the driver sits slung low and tilted toward the passenger seat...
".
On December 26, 1994, Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
released Prime Time, a rap album on Bust It Records (Hammer's label) that featured the minor hit "Must Be The Money". "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'" was also released as a single. Sanders, a friend of Hammer's, had previously appeared in his "Too Legit to Quit" music video, and his alter-ego "Prime Time" is also used in Hammer's "Pumps and a Bump" video.
"It's All Good" was the second single released on this album, which would become a pop culture phrase as a result. http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/books/11/08/slam.dunks/index.html It was also the most successful song by this title, peaking on the record charts as follows: US
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#46; US R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
#14; US Rap #3; UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#52.
Within this album, such as during the rap "Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper", Hammer disses
Diss track
A diss track or diss song is a song primarily intended to disparage or insult another person or group. While musical parodies and attacks have always existed, the trend became increasingly common in the hip hop genre as part of the hip hop rivalry phenomenon...
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
(Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
), Redman, MC Serch
MC Serch
MC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
, Rodney O
Rodney O & Joe Cooley
Rodney O & Joe Cooley are noted west coast hip hop pioneers from Los Angeles, California, best known for tracks such as "Everlasting Bass" and "This is for the Homies." DJ Cooley was highly influential in Miami Bass music; Latin emcees Jonny Z and SPM did their own version of it, which they called...
and Run–D.M.C. for previous attacks
Hip-hop feud
A hip hop feud, also known as a beef or a rivalry, is a controversy in which two or more rappers create a rivalry that is manifested by each slandering and confronting the other in a number of ways.- Background :...
some of them made against him on wax
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. This also quite possibly led to a decrease in his popularity after this follow-up record responded to the music
Music journalism
Music journalism is criticism and reportage about music. It began in the eighteenth century as comment on what is now thought of as 'classical music'. This aspect of music journalism, today often referred to as music criticism , comprises the study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of...
critics.
"Help Lord (Won't You Come)" appeared in Kingdom Come (2001 film)
Kingdom Come (2001 film)
Kingdom Come is a 2001 comedy-drama film, written by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, and directed by Doug McHenry. This film stars LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A...
.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246002/soundtrack
This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year.http://www.answers.com/topic/the-funky-headhunter The album eventually reached #12 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
200 album chart The album managed to become certified platinum.
Track listing
Source:- "Intro"
- "Oaktown"
- "It's All Good"
- "Somethin' for the O.G's"
- "Don't Stop"
- "Pumps and a Bump"
- "One Mo' Time"
- "Clap Yo' Hands"
- "Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper"
- "Don't Fight the Feelin'"
- "Somethin' Bout the Goldie In Me"
- "Sleepin' on a Master Plan"
- "It's All That"
- "Funky Headhunter"
- "Pumps and a Bump (Reprise: Bump Teddy Bump)"
- "Help Lord (Won't You Come)"
- "Do It Like This" [Extended Version]
- "Heartbreaka (Is What They Call Me)" [Japanese Edition]