The Funky Headhunter
| The Funky Headhunter | ||||
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| Studio album by Hammer | ||||
| Released | March 1, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993 | |||
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| Singles from The Funky Headhunter | ||||
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− |
The Funky Headhunter is the fourth studio album and fifth overall official release by Hammer. The album was recorded in 1993, it was released in early 1994.
The album at the time was hailed as Hammer's album. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em), the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans. Nonetheless, this harder-edged, more aggressive record went platinum, but failed to win him a new audience among hardcore hip-hop fans.
In 1993, Hammer began recording this album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, the album was a more aggressive sounding album. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek. While Hammer's appearance changed to keep up with the gangsta rap audience, his lyrics still remained honest and somewhat clean with minor swearing. Yet, on this album as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out other rappers who had dissed him.
It was produced by innovative musicians and writers such as Teddy Riley (who had previously produced records for Guy, Blackstreet and Michael Jackson), The Whole 9, The Hines Brothers (Andra Hines & Dunkin Hines) and G-Bomb. It also featured Death Row Records head Suge Knight, and Death Row recording artists Tha Dogg Pound.
Hammer debuted the album and video for "Pumps and a Bump" two months before its release on The Arsenio Hall Show and finally released it in March. Talk show host Arsenio Hall said to M.C. Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer, but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron" (which refers to the fact that Hammer was nicknamed after Aaron).
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Wikipedia