MC Hammer was accused of taking the wholesome image that he started out with and hurling it into the sea. It happened in 1994 when he released his album “The Funky Headhunter” because he seemed to adopt a gangsta rapper image. On the album’s cover, the Oakland artist is sporting all black and a black skull cap, a look that might remind some of N.W.A. — the controversial rap group from Compton, California. Hammer also dropped the “MC” from his name, which seemed to be another sign he wanted the rap crowd to take him more seriously.
Years before “The Funky Headhunter” album, Hammer became an international superstar with his family-friendly style of rap music. He was famous for his clothing as well, usually performing in super baggy pants, now known as Hammer Pants. But along with that success, came backlash, especially from rap purists, who believed Hammer wasn’t making real hip-hop music but commercialized pop instead.
Read Related Also: In Defense of Taylor Doose
The “U Can’t Touch This” creator spoke about his new look with journalist Davey D in 1997 and denied that he’d changed his image. “Well, when we say image, we have to understand that clothing does not change a person’s character, so I’ve never done what they call gangsta rap that’s not my thing,” Hammer explained. … “No one is wearing what they wore in ’88 or ’89. … but the music remained the same.”
