The discography of American rapper MC Hammer includes the hit records "U Can't Touch This", "Pray" and "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer is known for his flashy dance movements, choreography and Hammer pants. His superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. Hammer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, breaking down numerous doors for rap music and demonstrating that hip-hop had the potential for blockbuster success. A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop rap (incorporating elements of freestyle music), and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album. Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business and created independent record labels such as Bust It Records, Oaktown Records, Full Blast Digital Music Group and World Hit Records. He has introduced, signed and produced new talent (his own acts collaborating with him and producing music of their own during his career) including: Oaktown's 3.5.7, Common Unity, DRS, the vocal quintet Special Generation, Analise, James Greer, One Cause One Effect, DASIT (as seen on Ego Trip's The (White) Rapper Show), Teabag, Dom Kimberley, Geeman, Pleasure Ellis, B Angie B, The Stooge Playaz, Ho Frat Hoo! and Wee Wee, among others. A part of additional record labels, he has associated/collaborated/recorded with: VMF, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, Whole 9, Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson (or J.G.), among others. Before Hammer's successful career (and his "rags-to-riches-to-rags-and-back saga"), Burrell formed a Christian rap group known as the Holy Ghost Boy(s) with Gibson, producing songs such as "Word", "B-Boy Chill" and "Stupid Def Yal" (1987). Additionally, "The Wall" featured Hammer (it was originally within this song that he first identified himself as K.B. and then M.C. Hammer before its release), which was later released on Gibson's album Change of Heart (1988). This was CCM's first rap hit by a blue-eyed soul singer and/or duo. "Son of the King" showed up on Hammer's debut album Feel My Power (1986), as well as the re-released version Let's Get It Started (1988). Burrell and Tramaine Hawkins previously performed with Gibson's band in several concerts at various venues, such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills. At about the age of 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and sought career advice from him. In 1992, Doug E. Fresh was signed to Hammer's Bust It Records label. Hammer signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records in 1995. In late 2012, Hammer appeared with Psy at the 40th American Music Awards and during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve performing a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" together, which was released on iTunes. Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and "All in My Mind" (which samples "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers) in early 2014, with his newly formed group Oakland Fight Club (featuring Mistah F.A.B.).

Albums

Studio albums

Note: While with Death Row Records, an unreleased album called Too Tight was produced in 1996. A digital release was produced between 2008 and 2009 called DanceJamtheMusic.

Independent albums

Compilation albums

Note: Back 2 Back Hits was originally released in 1998 for CEMA and was re-released in 2006 for Capitol Records.

Singles

Note: Music videos were produced for "Let's Get It Started", "Pump It Up (Here's the News)", "Turn This Mutha Out", "(Hammer, Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix", "You've Got Me Dancing" (with Glen Goldsmith), "U Can't Touch This", "Have You Seen Her", "Pray" (including remixes), "Help the Children", "Too Legit to Quit", "Addams Groove", "Do Not Pass Me By" (with Tramaine Hawkins), "This Is the Way We Roll", "Pumps and a Bump", "It's All Good", "Too Late Playa", "Sultry Funk", "Keep On", "Going Up Yonder", "No Stoppin' Us (USA)", "Pop Yo Collar" and "Full Blast", among others.

Additional tracks

Other songs with or without music videos released (charting and non-charting) were: Some singles have also appeared on other compilation albums, such as "Pump It Up (Here's the News)" and "U Can't Touch This". With exception to later remixes of early releases, Hammer produced and recorded many rap songs that were originally not made public, yet are now available on the Internet.

Roll Wit It Entertainment

A sports fan, Hammer launched a new enterprise called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, between albums Too Legit to Quit (1991) and The Funky Headhunter (1994). Clients included Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks. In 1993, Hammer's production company released Gangsta Lean by DRS. The hit single from this album, "Gangsta Lean", spent six weeks at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single sold over 2.5 million copies.

Accolades

M.C. Hammer's chronological summary of accolades/awards and recognitions/nominations are as follows:

Tours and concerts

Notable tours and concerts include: A Spring Affair Tour (1989), Summer Jam '89 (1989), Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour (1990 & 1991), Lawlor Events Center at University of Nevada, Reno (1990–2017), Too Legit World Tour (1992), Red, White and Boom (2003), The Bamboozle Festival (2007), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (2008–2013), McKay Events Center with Vanilla Ice (2009), Illinois State Fair with Boyz II Men (2011), MusicFest (2012), Jack's Seventh Show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2012), Kool & the Gang Superjam at Outside Lands (2014) and Hammer's All-star House Party Tour (2019).