M.C. Hammer

Rap
Oakland, California, USA

Including M.C. Hammer (Stanley Kirk Burrell) in this website might be a controversial choice, but he did start out in what would have been the Christian Underground. Raised Pentecostal, Hammer strayed from his Christian faith during his success, before returning to ministry. Nonetheless, as a tribute to his faith, Hammer vowed/promised to dedicate at least one song on each album to God. Hammer reaffirmed his beliefs in October 1997, and began a television ministry called MC Hammer and Friends on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, as well as appearing on Praise the Lord programs where he went public about his devotion to ministry as an ordained minister.

But back in 1984, Burrell began attending Bible studies, joined a street ministry, and formed a gospel rap group with Jon Gibson known as The Holy Ghost Boys. In 1986, Burrell and Tramaine Hawkins performed with Gibson's band in concerts at various venues, such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills. After Burrell started going by M.C. Hammer, Gibson and Hammer recorded several songs together, collaborating on “The Wall” from Gibson's album Change of Heart (in 1988, prior to Hammer's mainstream success). Hammer also recorded “Son of the King” in 1986, releasing it on his debut album Feel My Power (and re-releasing in 1988 on Let's Get It Started).

The author of CCM's 500 Best Albums of All Time recalls:

“I first saw him in concert in the mid-18\980’s opening up for Jon Gibson at the famed Christian nightclub in Orange County called The Lighthouse. He was part of a small group called 'The Holy Ghost Boys' and was later named the Holy Ghost Boy himself after the group disbanded. The next time I saw him was at a Church I was working with as a Youth Group leader in Whittier, CA…. Burrell was introduced that night for the first time as 'MC Hammer.'”

The author also notes that he carried Hammer's first demo and first independent release at a Christian bookstore called Maranatha Village. Other bookstores were also reported as carrying his first albums. For the sake of this site, the focus is more on the songs on each album dedicated to God, such as:

• “Son of the King” from Feel My Power (1986)
• “Son of the King” from Let's Get It Started (1988)
• “Pray” from Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)