Rapper-turned-reverend MC Hammer was born Stanley Kirk Burrell on March 30, 1962, in Oakland, California. Hammer graduated from McClymonds High School, and served as a batboy with the Oakland Athletics during his teens. Baseball legend Reggie Jackson takes credit for giving young Stanley the nickname "Hammer," whom he claimed looked like Hank Aaron. He also earned the nickname "Pipeline," serving as the eyes and ears of the team’s coach.

Hammer initially aspired to become a professional baseball player, but instead joined the military, serving as a Petty Officer Third Class Aviation Store Keeper. After his honorable discharge, Hammer was on the lookout for a new career. At age twenty-five, he released his debut album, Feel My Power. Selling over 60,000 copies, the successful debut led to other offers from major record labels, and in 1990, Hammer released his sophomore album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em. Including the catchy single "U Can't Touch This," sampled off of Rick James's Super Freak, the song received heavy radio play. Selling more than 10 million copies, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em went on to become the first hip-hop album to reach diamond status, and propelled Hammer to mainstream stardom previously unreached by other rappers.

With a clean-cut image that appealed to kids and positive lyrics in songs such as "Pray," Hammer received a backlash of criticism from hardcore rappers at the time, such as Ice Cube. However, he was also defended by other rappers such as Ice-T. At the height of MC Hammer-hype, his likeness was branded on dolls, lunch boxes, clothing, and even his own Saturday morning cartoon, Hammerman. He toured to sold-out audiences in Europe, appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and popularized "Hammer Pants," pantaloon-styled pants which billowed at the legs and tapered at the bottom.

By 1991, Hammer had dropped the "MC" prefix from his name and released Too Legit to Quit. The album sold successfully, and featured the track "Addams Groove," which also appeared on The Addams Family film soundtrack in 1991. Hammer’s next album, The Funky Headhunter had a harder sound and more sexually-explicit lyrics, and marked the beginning of the decline of Hammer-mania.

By 1996, Hammer had been dropped by his record label, was $13 million in debt, and filed for bankruptcy. His exorbitant expenditures since he hit stardom had included seventeen automobiles, two helicopters, and nineteen thoroughbred racehorses. He also had a penchant for decorating things in gold, including the gates to his home and his four dogs, who all sported gold chains.

Hammer next joined gangsta rappers such as Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur on the Death Row Records label. The label did not release any of Hammer's music during his contract, and he switched to EMI shortly after, on which he released his Greatest Hits compilation.

Hammer continued to release albums during the late 90s and early millennium, however it was his appearance on the first season of The Surreal Life in 2002 which launched him back into the spotlight. Hammer appeared on the show alongside Gabrielle Carteris, Emmanuel Lewis, Jerri Manthey, Vince Neil, Brande Roderick, and Corey Feldman. Hammer later officiated the respective weddings for two of his former housemates, Feldman and Neil.

In February 2006, Hammer released the first single from his latest album Look 3X , produced by Scott Storch. He frequently updates his blog with news on his latest music, family, and renewed outlook on life.

YUDDY