2 Legit 2 Quit

"2 Legit 2 Quit"
Single by MC Hammer
from the album Too Legit to Quit
Released	September 5, 1991 (1991-09-05)
Format	7" 12" CD single cassette single
Recorded	1990–1991
Genre	Hip hop new jack swing
Length	7:12 5:10 (7" version) 5:36 (album version) 7:52 (legit remix) 10:16 (get bucked mix)
Label	Capitol
Writer(s)	Stanley Burrell James Earley Michael Kelly Louis K. Burrell Felton Pilate
Producer(s)	MC Hammer
Certification	Platinum (RIAA)
MC Hammer singles chronology
"Pray" (1990) "2 Legit 2 Quit" (1991) "Addams Groove" (1991)

"2 Legit 2 Quit" is a single by MC Hammer featuring Saja aka Sonia Moore, released on September 5, 1991 as both the title track and first single of his fourth studio album, Too Legit to Quit (1991). It proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #5. The single also peaked at #60 on the UK Singles Chart. Hit songs "This Is the Way We Roll" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" were performed by Hammer on Saturday Night Live. Along with "Addams Groove", and other songs, "2 Legit 2 Quit" was featured in the film, The Addams Family in 1991.

In March 2003, MC Hammer released a version of the song featuring Saja.^[1]

On October 2 (televised October 12), Hammer opened the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" in Atlanta along with Rick Ross, Diddy and DJ Khaled (performing "MC Hammer" from the Teflon Don album).^[2][3][4]

At the 40th American Music Awards in November 2012, Hammer danced to "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" alongside Psy, both wearing his signature Hammer pants.^[5][6] The performance idea for the collaboration with Hammer came from Psy's manager.^[7] The mashup was later released on iTunes.^[8] They both performed it together again on December 31, 2012 during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Music video

The music video was directed by Rupert Wainwright,^[9] and at almost 15 minutes in length, was one of the most expensive videos ever produced.^[10]

The uncut version of the video begins with a newscaster (played by Jim Belushi) reporting on Hammer's apparent decision to quit the music business, as well as responses from a number of celebrities. It then cuts to an impatient crowd waiting for Hammer to perform, while Hammer has a lengthy conversation with James Brown, who calls Hammer "Godson" and enlists him to get the glove of Michael Jackson. Brown endows Hammer with several blasts of energy, before sending Hammer off to perform. The performance is high budget and laden with impressive pyrotechnics. The video ends with a purported Jackson (seen only from behind) having seen the performance and conceding Hammer to be the superior dancer, while doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. Hammer personally spoke with Jackson on the phone about the video, with Jackson giving his approval of it.^[11]

The song's music video features several athletes making cameo appearances. These athletes can be seen in the following order: José Canseco, Isiah Thomas, Kirby Puckett, Jerry Rice, Rickey Henderson, Deion Sanders, Andre Rison, Wayne Gretzky, Chris Mullin, Roger Clemens, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, Lynette Woodard, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, David Robinson, and former Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville. The full-length version of the video also featured cameos from Danny Glover, Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Eazy-E, DJ Quik, 2nd II None, Tony Danza, Queen Latifah and Milli Vanilli among others commenting on Hammer's apparent decision to "quit".^[10]

The video was number 5 in MAX music's World's Worst Ever Video countdown, and number 1 in its Forgotten Video Clips countdown in 2008. It was also voted number 24 on MTV's all-time "25 Lame" countdown in 1999. However, it has been selected as a viewer's favorite by VH1.^[12][13]

A hand gesture became popular as a result of the title song and video which was also shown in the "Addams Groove" movie video and on MTV. It involved forming the number two for "Too", an L for "Legit", and a "cut" motion for "Quit" with the hand and fingers (as seen in the video).^[14]

Dance challenge

At the end of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video, after James Brown enlists Hammer to obtain the glove of Michael Jackson, a silver-white sequined glove is shown on the hand of a Jackson look-alike doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. It was a reference to Hammer wanting to challenge Jackson to a dance-off for rights to the famous glove, which is also referenced on the album.^[15]

M.C. Hammer appeared on The Wendy Williams Show (July 27, 2009) and went on to tell a story about a phone call he received from Michael Jackson, regarding the portion of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video that included a fake Jackson, giving his approval and inclusion of it. He explained how Jackson had seen the video and liked it, and both expressed they were a fan of each other.^[16] Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.^[17][18][19]

Track listing

1. "2 Legit 2 Quit" (7" edit remix)
2. "2 Legit 2 Quit" (Remix)
3. "2 Legit 2 Quit" (Instrumental)

Charts

Peak positions

Year-end chart

See also

• List of most expensive music videos

References