If you’re a fan of rap music, it’s highly likely that, like me, you grew up listening to MC Hammer’s record-breaking ‘90s album, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing one of his songs or seeing people in wacky parachute pants back then!
The American rap icon is undoubtedly among the biggest hip-hop names, with his album selling over 10 million copies and topping the Billboard 200 after its release. It was a huge deal then, as it was the first rap album from a solo artist to dominate the pop charts.
MC Hammer’s commercial success in the ‘90s brought rap music to the world stage, with many considering him the first superstar of hip-hop culture. It won’t be farfetched to say that, in his time, no one was as popular.
But whatever happened to the King Hammer? Keep reading if you’re looking for some sneak peeks into the current life and successes of the now-62-year-old rapper. Here’s an MC Hammer net worth and life update.
MC Hammer’s Net Worth Today
At the peak of MC Hammer’s career, Forbes estimated his net worth at around $33 million. Some sources even calculated twice that amount at $70 million. This was in the ‘90s, when his albums were selling like hotcakes.
As the rapper credited for bringing rap music to the mainstream, MC Hammer has had quite the illustrious career.
Beloved for his extravagant choreography and Hammer pants, the rapper had his first breakthrough in 1990 with the album, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em. A fan favorite, it became one of the first hip-hop albums to be certified diamond, selling 10 million copies worldwide.
The notable album featured the cultural hit “U Can’t Touch This,” winning the MC Hammer a well-deserved Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and another for Best Rap Solo Performance. In 1992, he followed his first success with another hit album, Too Legit to Quit.
However, as is the case for many celebrities, managing his massive fortune wasn’t the rapper’s strongest suit. MC Hammer became trapped in a cycle of spending, from luxury cars to supporting his family and friends’ lavish lifestyles.
In his spending-spree, MC Hammer reportedly bought 17 cars and several racehorses. He also got a $33 million home, alongside 40 employees to cater to his and his family’s needs. The icon fell just as quickly as he rose to the top of the rap music industry.
By the tail end of the ‘90s, the rapper lost a huge chunk of his wealth and ended up with over $13 million in debt. In 1996, merely six years after his massive hit album, MC Hammer filed for bankruptcy.
700k … Don’t get too excited .. I paid them already and kept my receipt. Stamped by a US Federal Judge.
— MC HAMMER e/acc (@MCHammer) December 12, 2011
Unfortunately, MC Hammer’s money troubles would continue to haunt him, even after his rapid financial downfall. In 2011, 15 years after filing for bankruptcy, the IRS sued MC Hammer for $798,033 in unpaid taxes between 1996 and 1997.
After resolving the lawsuit, MC Hammer continued his passion for performing, appearing in music venues and television for paid advertisements. The legendary rapper currently has a reported net worth of $2 million, per celebrity net worth.
MC Hammer Before Fame
Before the glamour and the drama of the spotlight, MC Hammer, whose real name is Stanley Kirk Burrell, started as a boy who dreamed of becoming a baseball player.
Early Life
Burrell was born on March 30, 1962 in Oakland, California. His father, Lewis, was a casino manager who suffered from gambling addiction that nearly ruined their entire family. Burrell’s mother was a secretary.
The rap icon grew up poor with his mother and eight siblings in a dingy apartment. Struggling financially, their family was crammed into the three-bedroom apartment and had to share everything.
However, although poor, Burrell exhibited commendable industry at a young age. As a kid, he sold stray baseballs outside Oakland Coliseum for pocket money and performed on the streets, dancing to the tune of a beatboxer friend.
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His enthusiasm and flair wouldn’t go unnoticed, though. Charlie Finley, owner of the Oakland Athletics team, saw the 11-year-old Burrell and hired him as a clubhouse assistant and batboy. He was batboy for the team for seven years, from 1973 to 1980.
Around this time, Burrell acquired his nickname, MC, for being the team’s “master of ceremonies.” His uncanny resemblance to Hank Aaron (called the “The Hammer”) also earned him the moniker “Little Hammer.”
Burrell played second base during high school and began dreaming of going pro. Unfortunately, despite his talent on the field, he couldn’t make the cut for the San Francisco Giants tryout. He later graduated from McClymonds High School in 1980.
Heartbroken from his failure to join the league, all while struggling to keep up with his studies, Burrell decided to join the United States Navy and served for three years. After his honorable discharge, the rapper returned to Oakland and began performing.
MC Hammer’s Foray Into HipHop and Television
Before becoming a global phenomenon, Burrell was once a member of a Christian rap group called the Holy Ghost Boys, founded by the late singer Jon Gibson. They produced several songs and performed at various venues across the country.
However, by the late ‘80s, the Holy Ghost Boys broke up, and Burrell, who had now adopted the name “MC Hammer,” decided to launch his own record label, Bust It Productions.
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With the help of A’s players, Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy, Burrell successfully released his debut album, Feel My Power in 1987. Emboldened by his debut album’s warm reception (netting $2 million in sales), the rapper immediately followed with Let’s Get It Started (1988).
The success of both albums led Burrell to obtain a deal with Capitol Records. It was there that the King Hammer found phenomenal success and fame. Besides his music, he starred in films and was the undisputable mega star of rap music.
Following his financial setbacks, MC Hammer changed gears, shifted his tone and went clean-cut. He wrote and released the album, Family Affair, consisting of gospel-themed music. The entire album was blasted regularly on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).
“We are officially burying the old man,” the rapper announced on TBN in October 1997. “I want to walk sincerely in the newness of life with Christ,” he added, declaring playfully that his stage name, “MC,” now stood for “Man of Christ.”
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The Plunge From Stardom
Hip-hop music started to evolve at the opening of the new century. Revered as the “golden age” of hip-hop, rappers like Tupac, Dr. Dre, The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and 50 Cent, dominated the airwaves.
MC Hammer, trying to keep up with the ongoing shift in the industry, continued to write songs and produce music from the late ‘90s to the early 2000s. However, after releasing 10 studio albums to no avail, it became clear that he was already past his prime.
His music’s decline prompted MC Hammer to go into business. In recent years, he invested in various entrepreneurial ventures, including tech and fashion. The iconic rapper also appeared in several TV shows and commercials.
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Final Thoughts
MC Hammer’s story is a classic tale of many celebrities crushed under the weight of unfettered wealth and fame. But despite the ups-and-downs in the journey, the now-62-year-old rapper genuinely believes that he’s become “better because of the life” he has lived.
Now boasting a net worth of $2 million, Stanley Kirk Burrell has proven himself to have the grit to roll with life’s heavy punches, coming out the better person by the end of it.
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