When you think of Oakland-based rapper and Popstar MC Hammer, you can’t help but think about baggy pants and high-octane dance routines. And, if you know a bit more about Hammer’s life, you’ll know he lost the vast fortune that he made from the music industry on big-time spending. Also, he’s not someone you want to mess with, regardless of his appearance. Just ask Redman.
The top 32 MC Hammer songs won’t win any songwriting prizes, but they might very well get you moving your butt on the dancefloor. Some people assume that he’s just a one-hit-wonder. But he was much more than that. So, let’s take a look at some of MC Hammer’s biggest hit songs to get a fuller perception of his work and career.
Top 32 MC Hammer Songs
1 U Can’t Touch This
“U Can’t Touch This” doesn’t need any introduction. It might well be the most famous Pop song from the late 1980s and early 1990s. To this day, it never fails to get people excited. The video itself is the stuff of legends. This track sampled the hilariously great “Super Freak” by Rick James, who single-handedly proved that cocaine is “one hell of a drug.”
Everything about this track screams legendary. And, if you’ve never heard it before, you must have been living in an Alabaman death cult for the past few decades. It might’ve only reached #8 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts, but that doesn’t do this track justice. This was a single from Hammer’s third album, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em.
The single did amazingly right across the world. As a result, it made Hammer a household name and helped the album to achieve 18 million sales worldwide. The only thing left to say about this song is… STOP! HAMMER TIME!
2 Pray
“You’ve got to pray just to make it today.” Inspirational words there from the Hammer. “Pray” also had that special and charismatic infectious quality that made “U Can’t Touch This” such a big hit. It only makes sense to place it in the second spot on this list of the best MC Hammer songs.
“Pray” was the third single from his third album, Please Hammer Don’t Hurt Em, and it was another massive commercial success. It also sampled another famous track, “When Doves Cry” by Price.
The song made second place on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and did well right across Europe and the Western world. It might not have had the same notoriety as his previous single, but it still sold great and charted well. The positive message also showed another side to the Hammer that we hadn’t seen before.
3 2 Legit 2 Quit
“2 Legit 2 Quit” is one of his most catchy and up-tempo tracks. It was the lead single from his fourth studio album, Too Legit To Quit, which came out in 1991. By this time, Hammer had become a worldwide megastar because of his music, dancing, and pants. And this track just cemented his spot on top of the industry.
It made the Top 5 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts in the US. And, although it didn’t do as well commercially in Europe, it’s still one of his biggest hits today. Even going as far as reaching Platinum status in the US.
If you ever get a chance to check out the music video on YouTube, make sure you watch it. But be warned, the video is 15 minutes long. I would say that after this album, his popularity began to slide, but you can only stay at the top for so long.
4 Have You Seen Her
Rappers very seldom do cover versions of another artist’s music because it kind of goes against the whole Hip-Hop ethos. “Have You Seen Her” was a cover version of the Chi-Lites’ classic soul track of the same name. Hammer souped up the track and gave it some modern R&B and Hip-Hop flavors. That gave it a different vibe from the original while still staying true to its essence.
It was another Top hit for Hammer in the US, UK, and across numerous European countries. “Have You Seen Her” came out in March 1990 from his third studio album and is seen as one of the most successful MC Hammer songs ever. The song doesn’t have the same classic credibility as the original, but it’s a very good cover that did very well.
5 Help The Children
“Help The Children” is a song that shows he always had a positive and inspirational message. It was another 1990 single from his third studio album. True, it might seem a bit dated or even crony as hell if you play it in 2024. But it was still one of his biggest hits at the time.
The instrumental is very much from the back end of the 1980s with its stripped-down beat. Indeed, it hasn’t stood the test of time so well. But it still has its place on this top 32 MC Hammer songs list, so it can’t have been too bad.
6 Do Not Pass Me By
“Do Not Pass Me By” has amazingly uplifting Gospel/Hip-Hop vibes that are positive and infectious. In m view, the chorus is sung by the most soulful female vocalists. The chorus is broken up by Hammer’s rap verses that touch on some very positive subjects and give praise to a higher force.
It was a single release from his 1991 album, Too Legit To Quit. Although it did not chart as high as some of his earlier stuff, it is still a very memorable MC Hammer song. It’s a song about hope and is perfect for those who feel down but need a boost.
7 Addam’s Groove
By the time Hammer’s fourth studio album came out in 1991, he was already a household name. “Addam’s Groove” was also the theme song to the 1991 motion picture, The Addams Family. The film was an ode to the original black-and-white TV series of the same name. When you are making songs for big movie releases, you are at the top of your game. And that’s where Hammer was at this time.
It made the top 10 of the Hot 100 Billboard Charts in the US and also in the UK charts. The track is all about fun and having a good time and should never be taken too seriously. Kids loved it, and so did grandma, and that’s what being a mainstream artist is all about.
8 It’s All Good
“It’s All Good” was released in 1994 from his fifth studio album, The Funky Headhunter, and represents some of his later stuff. If you listen to the instrumental, Hammer was trying to align himself with the new Boom-Bap style Rap sound that was coming out of New York at the time. Although his fans loved it, some of the harder Hip-Hop heads thought he was jumping on this new style just to get credibility.
It didn’t chart or sell like some of his earlier commercial stuff. But he was trying to move with the times. For me, it sounds better today than it did when first released. Maybe because, at the time, he was changing his sound, so it seemed a bit out of left field. It sounds better now than it ever did.
9 Turn This Mutha Out
Most of the tracks on this best MC Hammer songs list are from after 1990, so I had to take it back to the start. “Turn This Mutha Out” was released in 1988 from his second studio album, Let’s Get It Started. It might not have had the same crossover appeal as some of his later tracks, but you could see that the young Hammer had something.
The lyrics are very positive and talk about trying to rise to the top and the hard work it takes to get there and stay there. It sampled “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof Off this Sucker)” by George Clinton.
10 Pumps and a Bump
“Pumps and a Bump” is a song about women with big butts, and what’s not to like about that? It was released in February 1994 as a single to his fifth studio album, The Funky Headhunter. His mainstream career was coming to an end at the time. And although it still charted at #26 on the Hot 100 Billboard Charts, it represented a significant drop in sales and chart positions.
It was still a great track. But, the record industry was changing, and unfortunately, Hammer was getting left behind by some of the newer artists with a fresher sound. That’s just how life is.
11Here Comes The Hammer
12On Your Face
13Let’s Get It Started
14Yo!! Sweetness
15They Put Me In The Mix
16This Is The Way We Roll
17That’s What I Said
18She’s Soft And Wet
19Crime Story
20Have You Any Wool?
21Gaining Momentum
22Keep On
23Sleepin’ On A Master Plan
24Good To Go
25Feel My Power
26Dancin’ Machine
27Black Is Black
28On The Dance Floor
29Let’s Go Deeper
30Cold Go M.C. Hammer
31Ring ‘Em
32On The Line
Searching for More Great Rap and Hip-Hop Tunes?
If so, check out our thoughts on the Best Hip Hop Songs Of All Time, the Best 90s Hip Hop Songs, the Best 2000s Rap Songs, the Best Rap Songs About Money of All Time, and the Best Sad Rap Songs for more head-bopping song selections.
Top 32 MC Hammer Songs – Final Thoughts
What many people don’t realize about MC Hammer is that he sold over 30 million albums in his day and around 50 million records in total. It’s a gargantuan number, and for sure, “U Can’t Touch This” was a major part of that success. Let’s be honest here, MC Hammer pioneered Rap Music in the Pop charts, and although many rap fans saw him as a novelty act, he paved the way for many that came afterward.
The top MC Hammer songs are largely from his albums at the turn of 1990 when he was at the peak of his prowess. He released 11 studio albums from 1986 to 2009. And, although he doesn’t make music today, he still tours from time to time. He is one of the biggest-selling and most famous rappers of all time, and you just can’t touch that.
Until next time, happy listening.
