The Funky Headhunter

The Funky Headhunter
Studio album by Hammer
Released March 1, 1994 (1994-03-01)
Recorded 1993
Genre
Label
Producer
Hammer chronology
Too Legit to Quit
(1991)		 The Funky Headhunter
(1994)		 Inside Out
(1995)
Singles from The Funky Headhunter
  1. "Pumps and a Bump"
    Released: February 28, 1994 (1994-02-28)
  2. "It's All Good"
    Released: April 19, 1994 (1994-04-19)
  3. "Don't Stop"
    Released: July 4, 1994 (1994-07-04)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[2]

The Funky Headhunter is the fourth studio album and fifth overall official release by Hammer. The album was recorded in 1993, it was released in early 1994.

The album at the time was hailed as Hammer's comeback album. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em),[3] the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans.[4] Nonetheless, this harder-edged, more aggressive record went platinum, but failed to win him a new audience among hardcore hip-hop fans.[5]

Production

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 swearing. Yet, on this album as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out other rappers who had dissed him.

It was produced by innovative musicians and writers such as Teddy Riley (who had previously produced records for Guy, Blackstreet and Michael Jackson), The Whole 9, The Hines Brothers (Andra Hines & Dunkin Hines) and G-Bomb. It also featured Death Row Records head Suge Knight, and Death Row recording artists Tha Dogg Pound.

Release and reception

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" (which refers to the fact that Hammer was nicknamed after Aaron). [6]

"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.[7] This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks.

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", produced by The Whole 9, was the second single released on this album, and peaked on the record charts as follows: US #46; US R&B #14; US Rap #3; UK #52.

This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year.[6] The album eventually reached #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart [8] The album managed to become certified platinum.

Track listing

Source:[9]

  1. "Intro"
  2. "Oaktown"
  3. "It's All Good" (Response Diss to Black Sheep & Redman)
  4. "Somethin' for the O.G's" (Contains Diss Towards Run-D.M.C.)
  5. "Don't Stop"
  6. "Pumps and a Bump"
  7. "One Mo' Time"
  8. "Clap Yo' Hands"
  9. "Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper" [feat. 2 Bigg MC & Suge Knight] (Response Diss to Q-Tip, Rodney-O, MC Serch, Black Sheep, Run-D.M.C. & Redman)
  10. "Don't Fight the Feelin'"
  11. "Somethin' Bout the Goldie In Me"
  12. "Sleepin' on a Master Plan" [featuring Tha Dogg Pound]
  13. "It's All That"
  14. "Funky Headhunter" (Response Diss to MC Serch, Q-Tip & Redman)
  15. "Pumps and a Bump (Reprise: Bump Teddy Bump)"
  16. "Help Lord (Won't You Come)"
  17. "Do It Like This (Extended Version)" [bonus track]
  18. "Heartbreaka (Is What They Call Me)" [Japanese Edition bonus track]

Samples

Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper

Don't Fight the Feelin'

Don't Stop

It's All Good

Oaktown

Pumps and a Bump

Somethin' for the O.G.'s

References

  1. ↑ "The Funky Headhunter - MC Hammer | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. 1994-03-01. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  2. ↑ "The Funky Headhunter Review | Music Reviews and News". EW.com. 1994-03-18. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  3. ↑ Greg Sandow (1990-02-16). "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em | Music". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  4. ↑ "MC Hammer - Crime Story Lyrics". MetroLyrics. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  5. ↑ "MC Hammer - Upcoming Shows & Performances". Zvents. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  6. 1 2 "The Funky Headhunter: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  7. ↑ "Bang Thy Head Carefully". San Francisco - News.
  8. ↑ "MC Hammer Chart History". Billboard Magazine. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Funky Headhunter: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
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