MC Hammer

Born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California in 1962, this immensely popular recording artist synthesized the street sounds of African-American and pop culture earning the respect of his community and creating a global phenomenon with tours in Asia, Europe, Australia and Russia. MC Hammer made his first break on the 1987 album Feel My Power. This album gained the attention of recording moguls at Capitol Records which contracted Hammer for a reported record-breaking advance for a rap artist at that time. In 1987 Let’s Get It Started was released and sold over three million records. Hammer’s follow-up, 1990’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em, solidified Hammers appeal with more than 20 million copies sold worldwide. Massive exposure and sponsorship deals followed with Mattel, Toshiba, Taco Bell, KFC and Pepsi-Cola, turning Hammer into an international household name. Hammer’s single “U Can’t Touch This” remained in the US/UK Top 5 and the album held the number one spot on the Billboard charts for a record breaking 23 weeks and was in constant rotation on MTV. In 1993, Too Legit to Quit was released (5x Platinum), featuring the triple platinum single and soundtrack hit “Addams Groove” and the explosive selling title track. “Too Legit To Quit”. Media Exposure blossomed with a U.S. television adventure cartoon hero named “Hammerman” and a Mattel Hammer doll. Hammer pants, dance moves, glasses and haircut became pop culture staples.

Hammer has won a multitude of awards including three Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, The Peoples Choice Award, Image Award and the prestigious BillBoard “Diamond Award”. While commercially an enormous success, Hammer stayed close to his roots and was praised as a role model for youth for his community commitment and his, “Help The Children Foundation”. Hammer was honored with “MC Hammer Days” in Oakland, Los Angeles, Fremont, and March 30, 2012 was proclaimed MC Hammer Day by the city of San Francisco.

In addition to 25 years in film, music, and production, MC Hammer has spent the last 12 years researching Social Behavior broadband and wireless platforms, mobile technology, applications, rich media and Social Communities. Hammer brings both traditional and Social Media expertise into the public forum. Hammer was the keynote speaker for the Intel CEO conference in 2008 (600CEO’s), spoke on Social Media at Harvard and Stanfords MIT/VLab in 2009 and the Wharton School of Business and at Oxford University in 2010. Hammer is a co-founder of Social Media Destination Dancejam and currently co-founder/CEO of AlchemistMMA and Co-Founder of WireDoo a semantic deep search engine. Hammer is a lifelong serial entrepreneur and humanitarian.