As a prominent figure in the hip-hop genre, MC Hammer started off his journey in 1973 and is still active after so many years, giving fans hit songs as they like. He gained worldwide fame in the early 1990s when tracks like Pumps and a Bump, U Can’t Touch This, and 2 Legit 2 Quit topped the charts.
With his unique rapping style and energetic vibes, Hammer wasn’t just a performer but a trendsetter who changed how people enjoyed rap music. In this post, we will share details about his life, career, and financial status, so make sure to read it through.
Contents
Early Life
Though the world recognises him as MC Hammer, his birth name is Stanley Kirk Burrell. He was born on 30th March 1962, in Oakland, California, where he grew up in a poor neighbourhood with his eight siblings, living in a three-bedroom apartment, a part of the East Oakland Housing project.
His father was a poker player and sold stray baseballs while his mother managed the household and looked after the kids. MC was just 11 years old when he was hired as a batboy and clubhouse assistant after Charles Finley, owner of the Oakland Athletics Team, saw him doing dancing and splits in the parking lot.
MC Hammer attended McClymonds High School before joining the U.S. Navy and serving as a Petty Officer for a few years.
Beginning of Career
Hammer’s music career began after he released his debut album Feel My Power in 1987. He managed the production and distribution all by himself, selling out over 60,000 copies, an impressive achievement considering he did any record label’s help.
The album caught the attention of major record labels, including Capitol Records, which signed him as one of their artists. His album Let’s Get It Started, released in 1988, made him famous nationwide.
Shot to Fame
Hammer rose to fame in the 1990s after dropping his third album, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, which featured hit songs like “U Can’t Touch This.”
The album sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. alone, making it one of the best-selling hip-hop albums of all time, with Hammer becoming famous globally. He followed it up with Too Legit 2 Quit in 1991, another commercial success that established him in the rap industry.
Relationship
MC Hammer is married to Stephanie Fuller. The couple tied the knot in 1985 and have remained together ever since. They have five kids together and are happily settled in Tracy, California, where they live in a ranch-style house.
Major Source of Income and Net Worth
During the prime of his career in the early 1990s, MC Hammer earned millions through music sales, live shows, royalties, touring, album launches, and brand deals, but his lavish lifestyle created financial problems that he had to file for bankruptcy, claiming millions of dollars in debt. As a result, his current net worth is not more than $2 million as he is still recovering from the setback, slowly and steadily.