madtheory's Full Review: Let's Get It Started by MC Hammer
Looking back at the career of M.C. Hammer, it’s hard to imagine that he was once considered a legitimate rapper. From the door, his simplistic rhymes and elementary delivery always called into question his status as an emcee, but for most, his flamboyant stage shows and remarkable dancing ability overshadowed any deficiencies on the mic. Lack of skill, media over-saturation (anyone remember the Hammer cartoon?), and a rapidly evolving rap scene would quickly turn the Oakland rapper’s career into a punchline, but M.C. Hammer’s debut album Let’s Get It Started should not be dismissed quite so quickly.
Hammer is at his best on Lets Get It Started with the uptempo, high-energy dance joints. The album’s production serves M.C. Hammer’s rhyme style perfectly, shrouding his verses in glossy keyboards, rumbling bass, brash vocal samples, and glittery hooks. The first two singles exemplify this song-making methodology. As it began as just the introduction for the LP, “Turn This Mutha Out” is a shorter version of the single that hit the airwaves, Hammer barking the usual anti-sucka rap over energetic keys and funk samples. It’s more of the same on “Let's Get It Started,” with Hammer explaining his skill in livening parties. Despite the early Run-reminiscent, shouting delivery Hammer uses, his verse does betray a clever lines or two, “now your party wasn't jumping and your DJ was weak/ instead of dope beats, he was spinning them Z's/ all the fly girls who came with a beat in mind/ they all up against the wall like a welfare line.”
Another banger for Hammer, “Ring 'Em” can be considered an answer for LL Cool J’s “Rock the Bells,” with the artist upping the ante by including a lively musical break, filled with scratches, background vocals, and a brief but enjoyable keyboard solo. “Pump It Up (Here's The News)” ignited a bit of controversy as the video showed Hammer knocking over a cardboard cutout of Run DMC’s famous silhouette, while rapping “they’re outdated.” Despite the diss to the legends, the more stripped down production and less abrasive vocals make this a refreshing break from the dynamic dance anthems. Unfortunately, in order to break up the monotony of the onslaught of dance singles, the slower songs, “It's Gone” and “Son Of The King” illuminate just how out of place he was on the microphone. With no tinsel-draped hooks or sprinting beats to hide behind, Hammer’s quasi-introspective vocals fall completely flat.
Though its true that a good deal of M.C. Hammer’s overwhelming success was due to the fact that acts like N.W.A and Ice-T were scaring the hell out of white America at that time, nothing should take away from the solid effort put forth on Let’s Get It Started. Yes, the lyrics were lacking and the production redefined ‘pop-rap,’ but the end product was an infectious album overflowing with energy. Dust this off, dig out those harem pants, and do the running man ‘till you fall out. You know you want to.
Track Listing
01. Turn This Mutha Out (Intro)
02. Let's Get It Started
03. Ring 'Em
04. Cold Go M.C. Hammer
05. You're Being Served
06. It's Gone
07. They Put Me In The Mix
08. Son Of The King
09. That's What I Said
10. Feel My Power
11. Pump It Up (Here's The News)
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