Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 12, 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1988–1989 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 59:04 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer |
| |||
MC Hammer chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em | ||||
|
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em is the third studio album by American rapper MC Hammer, released on February 12, 1990[1] by Capitol Records and EMI Records. Produced, recorded and mixed by Felton Pilate and James Earley, the album was made on a small budget of around $10,000 and recorded on a modified tour bus between May 1988 and November 1989.
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em received lukewarm reviews from critics, yet received five nominations at the 1991 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, becoming the first hip hop record to be nominated in this category, as well as winning five awards at the 1991 American Music Awards. The album is considered Hammer's mainstream breakthrough and a commercial juggernaut. It peaked at number one for twenty-one weeks on the US Billboard 200, becoming the first rap recording to top the pop chart, and was the best-selling album of 1990. It was the first hip hop album to be certified diamond in the US,[2][3] was certified platinum in several countries, and was one of the best-selling hip hop albums worldwide, selling more than 18 million units to date.[4][5][6][7]
Six official singles were released to promote the album, including the smash hit "U Can't Touch This" which reached the top 10 at the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number one in Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand and Sweden, and number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Following the album's success, Hammer embarked on the Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour, which stretched from 1990 to 1991 with 144 dates, grossing over $32 million.[8]
Background
[edit]Hammer's previous album, Let's Get It Started, had sold over 1.5 million units in the United States by the end of 1989.[9] Not satisfied with the platinum success, Hammer chose to deviate from the standard rap format in his next album. Though some purists[who?] criticized him for being more of a dancer than a rapper, Hammer defended his style: "People were ready for something different from the traditional rap style. The fact that the record has reached this level indicates the genre is growing."
While on tour in the summer of 1988, Hammer started to record his third studio album on a modified tour bus. After spending part of his advance from Capitol Records on $50,000 worth of equipment for the back of the tour bus, he used his free time on the road to record his next album.[10] It was produced, recorded and mixed by Felton Pilate and James Earley on the bus in 1989.[11] According to Guinness World Records, the album cost just $10,000 to produce, roughly the same budget as Hammer's independent debut.[12] Capitol marketed the album by sending free cassette singles and a personalized letter to 100,000 children, most of whom were Black or Hispanic. The letter, signed by Hammer, asked young people to phone MTV and request his video.[13]
Album overview and promotion
[edit]The album was supported by the single "U Can't Touch This"; follow-up singles included "Have You Seen Her" (a cover of the Chi-Lites) and "Pray" (a beat sampled from Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Faith No More's "We Care a Lot").[14] The album was notable for sampling other high-profile artists: "Dancin' Machine" sampled The Jackson 5, "Help the Children" (also the name of an outreach foundation Hammer started)[15] interpolates Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", and "She's Soft and Wet" sampled Prince's "Soft and Wet".
Following the album's success, Hammer toured extensively in Europe, including a sold-out concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. With the sponsorship of PepsiCo International, Pepsi CEO Christopher A. Sinclair went on tour with him in 1991.
Critical reception
[edit]This section needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022) |
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [4] |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[16] |
Los Angeles Times | [17] |
RapReviews | 5/10[18] |
Rolling Stone | [14] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [19] |
The Village Voice | C+[20] |
Hammer experienced critical backlash over the repetitive nature of his lyrics, his clean-cut image and his perceived over-reliance on hooks from other artists for the basis of his singles. Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em was also criticized for its sampling of songs by other musicians.[14] Hammer was dissed in music videos by The D.O.C. and Ice Cube. Oakland hip-hop group Digital Underground mocked him in the CD insert of their Sex Packets album by placing his picture with the other members and referring to him as an unknown derelict. He was also mentioned in the song "The Humpty Dance", with Shock G claiming: "People say 'Ya look like MC Hammer on crack, Humpty!'" On LL Cool J's track "To da Break of Dawn", Hammer is referenced as an "amateur, swinging a Hammer from a body bag [his pants]". Additional lyrics included "my old gym teacher ain't supposed to rap." He later referenced Hammer in "I Shot Ya (remix)", a track on his 1995 album Mr. Smith. However, LL Cool J would later compliment and commend Hammer's talents on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, which aired in 2008.[21]
The album received five nominations at the 1991 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, becoming the first hip hop record nominated in this category. Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em won Best Rap Solo Performance and Best R&B Song for "U Can't Touch This" and Best Music Video, Long Form for the film accompanying the album. The album also won five awards at the 1991 American Music Awards, including Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Album.
Commercial reception
[edit]Released on February 12, 1990, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em reached the number one position on the US Billboard 200 in the week ending June 9, 1990, becoming the first rap album to reach the top spot on the pop charts.[22] It remained a total of 21 weeks at the top of US Billboard 200,[23][24] the longest run by a male black artist since Michael Jackson's Thriller.[25] Likewise, the album saw longevity on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, peaking at No. 1 and staying atop the chart for twenty-eight weeks. Most of the singles released from the album proved to be successful on radio and television, with "U Can't Touch This", "Pray", "Have You Seen Her", "Here Comes the Hammer" and UK exclusive "Yo!! Sweetness" all charting. Despite heavy airplay and a No. 27 chart debut, "U Can't Touch This" peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart because it was released only as a twelve-inch vinyl single with no other format available.[26][clarification needed]
By August, the album was selling over 100,000 copies a day.[27] In fewer than six months, it sold more than four million copies, making it the best-selling rap album at the time, beating Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill.[28] By January 1991, the album reached 8 million units sold, becoming the first album to do so in one calendar year since Prince's Purple Rain in 1984.[29][30][31] By May 1991, the album was certified diamond with over ten million sales in the US.[2][32] It was the top-selling album of 1990 in the United States, and is one of the best-selling hip hop albums of all time.[3]
In Canada, the album was the sixth best-selling album of 1990, and the single "U Can't Touch This" was the sixth best-selling single of that year.[33] Eventually, the album was certified 8× platinum for selling over 800,000 units in the country, and won International Album of the Year at the 1991 Juno Awards.[34] The album was also certified triple platinum in New Zealand. In May 1991, Hammer received an award for sales of more than 1 million units of the album in EMI Music Worldwide's international territories of Japan, SE Asia, Australasia, Africa and Latin America.[35] As of July 1991, it had sold 17 million copies worldwide.[36]
Lawsuits
[edit]Rick James sued Hammer for copyright infringement on the song "U Can't Touch This", but the suit was settled out of court when Hammer agreed to credit James as co-composer, allowing him to earn royalties. Hammer was also sued by a former producer, Felton Pilate, and by several of his former backers. Additionally, he faced charges that performance troupe members endured an abusive, militaristic atmosphere.[37]
In 1992, Hammer admitted in depositions and court documents to getting the idea for the song "Here Comes the Hammer" from a Texas-based Christian recording artist named Kevin Abdullah. Abdullah had filed a US$16 million lawsuit against Hammer for copyright infringement for his song entitled "Oh-Oh, You Got the Shing".[38] Hammer settled with Abdullah for $250,000 in 1995.[39]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Here Comes the Hammer" | Stanley Burrell | 4:32 |
2. | "U Can't Touch This" | Stanley Burrell, Rick James, Alonzo Miller | 4:17 |
3. | "Have You Seen Her" (The Chi-Lites cover) | Stanley Burrell, Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record | 4:42 |
4. | "Yo!! Sweetness" | Stanley Burrell | 4:36 |
5. | "Help the Children" | Stanley Burrell, Marvin Gaye | 5:17 |
6. | "On Your Face" (Earth, Wind & Fire cover) | Charles Stepney, Maurice White, Philip Bailey | 4:32 |
7. | "Dancin' Machine" (The Jackson 5 cover) | Hal Davis, Don Fletcher, Dean Parks | 2:55 |
8. | "Pray" | Stanley Burrell, Prince | 5:13 |
9. | "Crime Story" | Stanley Burrell | 5:09 |
10. | "She's Soft and Wet" | Stanley Burrell, Prince, Chris Moon | 3:25 |
11. | "Black Is Black" | Stanley Burrell | 4:31 |
12. | "Let's Go Deeper" | Stanley Burrell | 5:16 |
13. | "Work This" | Stanley Burrell | 5:03 |
Samples
[edit]"Work This"
[edit]- "Let's Work" by Prince
"Help the Children"
[edit]"Here Comes the Hammer"
[edit]- "Super Bad" by James Brown
"Pray"
[edit]- "When Doves Cry" by Prince
- "We Care a Lot" by Faith No More
"U Can't Touch This"
[edit]- "Super Freak" by Rick James
"Yo!! Sweetness"
[edit]- "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James
- "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness" by Barry White
"She's Soft and Wet"
[edit]- "Soft and Wet" by Prince
"Black Is Black"
[edit]- "Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud" by James Brown
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[74] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[75] | Gold | 25,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[76] | 8× Platinum | 800,000^ |
France (SNEP)[77] | Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[78] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[79] | 2× Platinum | 400,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[80] | Gold | 50,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[81] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[82] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[83] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] | 2× Platinum | 600,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[86] | Diamond | 10,100,000[85] |
United States (RIAA)[87] Video longform |
2× Platinum | 200,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Film
[edit]The Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em album was accompanied by a direct-to-video film titled Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie.[88] It stars Hammer as a rapper who returns to his old neighborhood and defeats an illegal drug trade dealer who is using kids to traffic his product. Hammer plays the additional role of preacher Reverend Pressure. The film costarred Juice Sneed, Keyon White, Joe Mack and Davina H'Ollier.
The movie won Hammer, director Rupert Wainwright and producer John Oetjen a Grammy Award for Best Music Video, Long Form at the 33rd Grammy Awards.[89][90] Besides Hammer, music talent included Ho Frat Hoo! (1991 MTV Video Music Awards Best Choreography in a Video winner for "Pray" along with Hammer), Torture, Special Generation and One Cause One Effect.[91][92][93]
Additional releases included The Making of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em,[94] Hammer Time and Here Comes the Hammer. All projects were Capitol Records Productions.[95][96][97]
See also
[edit]- List of best-selling albums in the United States
- List of number-one albums of 1990 (U.S.)
- List of number-one R&B albums of 1990 (U.S.)
References
[edit]- ^ "MSN Music entry for Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em". Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ a b "article". community.allhiphop.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (1990-12-26). "The Pop Life (Published 1990)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
- ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em – MC Hammer". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ CHRISTOPHER JOHN FARLEY (2001-06-24). "Rap's Teen Idols Return". Time. Archived from the original on August 30, 2010. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ^ Cassidy, John. "The Talk of the Town: Under the Hammer". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ^ "MC Hammer Biography". sing365.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15.
- ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Worldradiohistory.com. 1991-11-09. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
- ^ "M.C. Hammer // Surge in popularity surprises rapper". Star Tribune. September 21, 1990. 418232632 – via Proquest.
- ^ Harris, Laurie Lanzen (February 1993). Biography Today, Annual Cumulation 1992: Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers. Omnigraphics, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-55888-139-6.
- ^ "MC Hammer: Biography from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
- ^ "Music Feats". Guinnessworldrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
- ^ Ressner, Jeffrey (1990-09-06). "Hammer Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- ^ a b c Corcoran, Michael (May 17, 1990). "MC Hammer: Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 21, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
- ^ [1] [dead link ]
- ^ Sandow, Greg (February 16, 1990). "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ Gold, Jonathan (February 25, 1990). "M.C. Hammer 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em' Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (June 24, 2008). "M.C. Hammer :: Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em :: Capitol Records". RapReviews. Retrieved March 31, 2010.
- ^ Considine, J. D.; Brackett, Nathan (2004). "Hammer". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 359. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (July 31, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "LL Cool J Finally Talks About Dissing MC Hammer 30 Years Ago In Infamous Beef". Atlanta Blackstar. November 14, 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ "M.C. Hammer, nailing down pop hits". USA TODAY. June 14, 1990. ProQuest 306323677 – via Proquest.
- ^ MC Hammer. "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: Information from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ^ "Chart Rewind: In 1990, MC Hammer Nailed Down the No. 1 Spot on the Billboard 200". Billboard.com. April 28, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ Chan, Alfonso (January 16, 1991). "Hammer zooms up to the top".
- ^ Billboard Hot 100 charts: 1990 Each week's chart has a key for a single's format availability (CD, cassette, etc.). Scroll down to any week where "U Can't Touch This" is on the Hot 100, and it will reflect that only a 12-inch single is available.
- ^ Dillard-Rosen, Sandra (August 10, 1990). "M.C. Hammer performance a lot more than 'rap light'". Denver Post. pp. 4B. ProQuest 291256295.
- ^ "M.C. Hammer a rapper with plenty of appeal: [". Chicago Tribune. p. 5. 282969117 – via Proquest.
- ^ "LED ZEPPELIN, CCR SCORE BIG IN DECEMBER CERTIFICATIONS" (PDF). Billboard. January 12, 1991. p. 86.
- ^ "Rappers Pile On The Metal; Zep, CCR Also Score In Dec" (PDF). Billboard. January 12, 1991. p. 9.
- ^ "Rapper M.C. Hammer adds new award". The Province. February 5, 1991. ProQuest 267397767.
- ^ "Hammer Hits 10-Times Platinum". Billboard. May 11, 1991. p. 8. ProQuest 226977790.
- ^ "Pop toppers range from vice to Ice". The Vancouver Sun. pp. F3. ProQuest 243502646.
- ^ Bernard, Michael (March 4, 1991). "Celine Dion a double winner at Junos; Dutoit, MSO claim classical-album prize". The Gazette. ProQuest 432097214.
- ^ "Hitmakers- EMI WELCOMES CAPITOL & CHRYSALIS TO AUSTRALIA" (PDF). Billboard. May 18, 1991.
- ^ "THE M.C. HAMMER INTERVIEW: A RAP ON RIVALRY". Seattle Post. July 26, 1991. ProQuest 386031881.
- ^ "MC Hammer: Biography from". Answers.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-29. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Songwriter claims Hammer stole his song: sues him. (Muhammad Bilal Abdullah)". Jet. February 1, 1993. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012.
- ^ Weitz, Matt (February 26, 1998). "Hammered". Dallas Observer.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em" (in German). Hung Medien.
- ^ "Billboard Magazine". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
- ^ "RPM 100 Albums". RPM. Vol. 52, no. 14. archived at Library and Archives Canada. 18 August 1990. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
- ^ source: Pennanen, Timo: Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava, 2006. ISBN 9789511210535. page: 280
- ^ "Tous les Albums de l'Artiste choisi". InfoDisc.fr. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ^ [2] [permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 27. 9 July 1991. p. 40. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ – Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége". Mahasz.hu. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ^ "Irish Charts". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970-2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
- ^ "Charts.nz – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em". Hung Medien.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em". Hung Medien.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em". Hung Medien.
- ^ "MC Hammer | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ "MC Hammer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "MC Hammer Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
- ^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: albums chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1990". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9145". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1702". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ "1991 The Year in Music" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. YE-17. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
- ^ Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade – The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1991 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – M.C. Hammer – Please Hammer" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em". Music Canada.
- ^ "French album certifications – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved November 12, 2021. Select MC HAMMER and click OK.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (M.C. Hammer; 'Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Japanese album certifications – M.C. Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved October 22, 2019. Select 1991年4月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – M.C. Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – M.C. Hammer – Please Hammer". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
- ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 930. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'em')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British album certifications – MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "The 10 Best Selling Rap Albums Of All Time In USA". Southpaw – Supporting Eminem. 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)[better source needed] - ^ "American album certifications – Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "American video certifications – Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "MC-Hammer-Please-Hammer-Don-t-Hurt-em-The-Movie - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Rupert Wainwright – Director". Rwainwright.com. Archived from the original on 2013-07-07. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "33rd Annual GRAMMY Awards (1990): Best Music Video - Long Form - Winner". GRAMMY.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- ^ "Ho Frat Hoo". Discogs.
- ^ "Kappa Alpha Psi Member Details His Journey from MC Hammer's Backup Dancer to Southern University-Educated Lawyer". 28 March 2017.
- ^ "U Can't Touch This". 9 September 2009.
- ^ "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990)". Moviesplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-10. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Movie Mashup". Movies.amctv.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ Beyer, Andrew (2007-05-20). "Hammer Time : When Big Money Comes Down From His Son, Lewis Burrell's Dream Sees the Light of Day". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Please Hammer don't hurt 'em [videorecording] / Bust It Productions presents a Fragile Films Production of a Rupert Wainwright film. – Item Details – Chicago Public Library". Chipublib.org. 2007-02-07. Archived from the original on 2013-04-14. Retrieved 2013-07-25.