Let's Get It Started (album)

Last updated
Let's Get It Started
Let's Get It Started.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1988 (1988-09-28)
Genre
Length42:33
Label
Producer M.C. Hammer, Felton Pilate [1]
M.C. Hammer chronology
Feel My Power
(1986)
Let's Get It Started
(1988)
Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em
(1990)
Singles from Let's Get It Started
  1. "Let's Get It Started"
    Released: 1988
  2. "Pump It Up"
    Released: 1988
  3. "Turn This Mutha Out"
    Released: 1989
  4. "They Put Me In The Mix"
    Released: 1989
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Robert Christgau C+ [3]
RapReviews3/10 [4]
Record Mirror 5/10 [5]

Let's Get It Started is the second studio album, and first major-label debut, by American rapper MC Hammer. It was released via Capitol Records and EMI Records on September 28, 1988. The album was produced by Hammer and Felton Pilate. [6]

Contents

Recorded between 1987 and 1988, Let's Get It Started received mixed to negative reviews. The album was supported by the released of four official singles: "Pump It Up", "Let's Get It Started", "Turn This Mutha Out" and "They Put Me in the Mix" which all charted. Music videos were also produced for all of these songs. Also, it won two American Music Awards for Let's Get It Started: Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album. It was also nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album.

Let's Get It Started peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 went double platinum by RIAA for selling over two million of copies. It was No. 1 on the Top R&B chart in the U.S. The album produced several Top 5 hits. [7] "Turn This Mutha Out" peaked the highest at No. 3 on the US Rap charts, and also cracked the Top 15 at No. 12 on both the Dance and R&B charts. However, none of the singles made much of a dent in the pop charts. [8]

Background

In 1986, M.C. Hammer single was "Ring 'Em," recorded in his basement, privately pressed and distributed from the trunk of his car. The funding came in two parts. Former A's player Mike Davis was looking to make an investment and backed the initial pressing with a $20,000 loan; when Hammer experienced the cash-flow problems endemic to independent entrepreneurs, he got a $20,000 boost from Dwayne Murphy, who had already heard the song on Oakland radio. Hammer's self-produced "Feel My Power" album sold 50,000 copies before Capitol Records brought him into the majors and recycled seven of its songs for his next studio album. [9]

Following the success of the album, Capitol offered him a $10 million distribution deal to Hammer. Following that, Hammer re-issued his first record (a revised version of Feel My Power ) with additional tracks added and sold over 2 million copies. Recorded between 1987 and 1988, it was released on September 28, 1988. "Pump It Up", "Turn This Mutha Out", "Let's Get It Started" and "They Put Me in the Mix" were released as singles from the album, which all charted. [9]

"Turn This Mutha Out" samples George Clinton's "Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)", as well as the Incredible Bongo Band's "Apache".

Commercial reception

Let's Get It Started peaked at number 30 of US Billboard 200. It was certified two times platinum by the RIAA for selling over two million of copies in the United States. Also, it topped at the US Top R&B albums chart and was the third best performance album of 1989. Also, it reached the Top 50 Australia, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Also, the album was certified Gold in Japan for selling over 100,000 copies.

The popular "Turn This Mutha Out" peaked at No. 3 on the US Rap charts, and cracked the Top 15 at No. 12 on both the Dance Club and R&B/Hip-Hop charts. In 1989, the song was nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video. M.C. Hammer was good friends with Arsenio Hall, and therefore was invited to perform on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989, prior to the release of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em . [10] With the success of that album, Feel My Power and Let's Get It Started received more attention.

Music videos were produced for "Ring 'Em/Pump It Up (Here's the News)", "Let's Get It Started", "They Put Me in the Mix" (later remixed) and "Turn This Mutha Out". Hammer used some of the proceeds from this album to install a rolling recording studio in the back of his tour bus, where he recorded much of his second album. [11] "Turn This Mutha Out" is also featured on the MTV Party to Go 1 album. Hammer performed "Pump it Up" during Showtime at the Apollo on September 16, 1989. [12]

In January 1990, Hammer won two American Music Awards for Let's Get It Started: Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album. It was also nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album.

The single "Let's Get it Started" became the record that began the now-legendary rivalry between Hammer and LL Cool J. In the song's lyrics, Hammer braggadociously stated that he is second to none, in comparison to other rappers: "And when it comes to straight up rockin’ / I’m second to none / from Doug E. Fresh to LL or DJ Run." LL Cool J would later respond with "To da Break of Dawn", and revisit the rivalry years later with "I Shot Ya (remix)". [13] [14]

Track listing

  1. "Intro: Turn This Mutha Out" (Explicit) 2:38
  2. "Let's Get It Started (Radio Edit)" 4:08
  3. "Ring 'Em" 4:20
  4. "Cold Go MC Hammer" 4:05
  5. "You're Being Served" 4:45
  6. "It's Gone (Edit)" 3:56
  7. "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me in the Mix (Edit)" 3:28
  8. "Son of the King" 3:53
  9. "That's What I Said" 3:38
  10. "Feel My Power" 3:07
  11. "Pump It Up (Here's the News) (Radio Edit)" 4:35

Length: 42:33

Samples used

"Let's Get It Started"

"Pump It Up"

"Turn This Mutha Out"

"They Put Me in the Mix"

See also

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [25] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [26] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Hammer</span> American rapper (born 1962)

Stanley Kirk Burrell, better known by his stage name MC Hammer, is an American rapper, dancer, record producer and entrepreneur. Known for hit songs such as "U Can't Touch This", "2 Legit 2 Quit" and "Pumps and a Bump", flashy dance movements, extravagant choreography and his eponymous Hammer pants. Remembered for a rapid rise to fame, Hammer has also been an entrepreneur and celebrity spokesperson.

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre was heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It was represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).

<i>Please Hammer Dont Hurt Em</i> 1990 studio album by MC Hammer

Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em is the third studio album by American rapper MC Hammer, released on February 12, 1990 by Capitol Records and EMI Records. Produced, recorded and mixed by Felton Pilate and James Earley, it was made on a small budget of around $10,000 and recorded on a modified tour bus between May 1988 and November 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)</span> 1976 single by Parliament

"Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)" is a funk song by Parliament. It was released as a single under the name "Tear the Roof off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)". It was the second single to be released from Parliament's 1975 album Mothership Connection (following "P. Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up)"). With its anthemic sing-along chorus, it is one of the most famous P-Funk songs. It also became Parliament's first certified million-selling single, going Gold in 1976.

<i>King of Rock</i> 1985 studio album by Run-D.M.C.

King of Rock is the second studio album by American hip hop group Run-D.M.C., released on January 21, 1985, by Profile Records. The album was produced by Russell Simmons and Larry Smith. King of Rock became the first rap album to be released on a CD, and was the third rap album to become a platinum album. The album saw the group adopting a more rock-influenced sound, with several tracks prominently featuring heavy guitar riffs. The song "Roots, Rap, Reggae" features Yellowman, and was one of the first hybrids of rap and dancehall.

<i>Mama Said Knock You Out</i> 1990 studio album by LL Cool J

Mama Said Knock You Out is the fourth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was produced mostly by Marley Marl and recorded at his "House of Hits" home studio in Chestnut Ridge and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. After the disappointing reception of LL Cool's 1989 album Walking with a Panther, Mama Said Knock You Out was released by Def Jam Recordings on September 14, 1990 to commercial and critical success.

<i>Money, Power & Respect</i> 1998 studio album by The Lox

Money, Power & Respect is the debut album by hip hop group The Lox. It was released on January 13, 1998, through Bad Boy Records and featured production from the Hitmen, Dame Grease and Swizz Beatz. The album found huge success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and spawned two charting singles, "Money, Power & Respect" and "If You Think I'm Jiggy". In 2008, the title track was ranked number 53 on Vh1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

<i>Urban Legend</i> (album) 2004 studio album by T.I.

Urban Legend is the third studio album by American rapper T.I., released on November 30, 2004, through Grand Hustle Records and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 195,000 copies in its first week of release. It also debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Top Rap Albums charts.

<i>Knowledge Is King</i> 1989 studio album by Kool Moe Dee

Knowledge Is King is the third solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee, released on May 30, 1989, via Jive Records.

<i>Aint Nothin Like Me</i> 2007 studio album by Joe

Ain't Nothin' Like Me is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Joe, released by Jive Records after several delays on April 24, 2007 in the United States. A breakaway from previous projects, Joe co-wrote five songs on the album but left most of the writing and producing to his collaborators, including Bryan Michael Cox and Tank as well as production teams Tim & Bob, Cool & Dre, Stargate, and The Underdogs. Rappers Papoose, Nas, Fabolous, Young Buck, and Tony Yayo appear as guest vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tupac Shakur discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Tupac Shakur consists of 11 studio albums. Throughout his career and posthumously, Shakur sold more than 75 million records worldwide. He has scored 5 No. 1 albums on Billboard 200 and 8 No. 1 albums on Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums. In 2001, Guinness World Records hailed him as the then Best-selling artist of rap in the US. According to Recording Industry Association of America, he has sold 55.3 million albums and an additional 4 million under his alias Makaveli with "The Don Killuminati", making him the second best-selling hip-hop artist in history.

Angela Roxanna Boyd, known by the stage name B Angie B, is a rhythm and blues vocalist and dancer.

<i>Too Legit to Quit</i> 1991 studio album by Hammer

Too Legit to Quit is the fourth studio album by American rapper Hammer, released on October 29, 1991. Produced by Hammer and Felton Pilate, the album was released via Capitol Records and EMI Records. Considered the last album of a trilogy with Let's Get It Started (1988) and Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), it incorporates Hip Hop, pop rap and dance with elements of gospel and R&B with lyrical content ranging from positivity and love to social conscious.

<i>Joe Budden</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Joe Budden

Joe Budden is the debut studio album by American rapper Joe Budden. It was released on June 10, 2003, by On Top, distributed by Def Jam. Recording sessions took place from 2002 to 2003, with production by Dub B aka White Boy, along with the other high-profile producers such as Just Blaze and Lofey. The album features guest appearances from Lil' Mo, Busta Rhymes and 112. Upon the record's release, it was met with favorable reviews from music critics. Joe Budden debuted at number 8 on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 units in its first week, later the record sold 420,000+ copies in the United States. It also entered at number 55 on the UK Albums Chart.

"I Shot Ya" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J featuring Keith Murray, from his sixth album Mr. Smith. The remix version, which featured Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown, of the song was released as a B-side to "Hey Lover", but received a video directed by Hype Williams, leading some to believe the track was an actual single from the album. Produced by Trackmasters, the remix was released in 1995 for Def Jam Recordings, and peaked at number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the Billboard charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4, 3, 2, 1 (LL Cool J song)</span> 1997 single by LL Cool J featuring Method Man, Redman, Master P, DMX, and Canibus

"4, 3, 2, 1" is a song by Queens rapper LL Cool J featuring Method Man, Redman, Canibus and DMX from LL Cool J's seventh album Phenomenon as the second single. It was released on December 9, 1997, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by Erick Sermon. The single featured an extended version not featured on the album featuring an additional verse from Southern hip hop rapper Master P. Both the original song and the extended cut had accompanying music videos. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 10 on the Hot Rap Singles and number 24 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LL Cool J discography</span>

This is the discography of American rapper LL Cool J.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Hammer discography</span> Discography of American rapper M.C. Hammer

The discography of MC Hammer, or simply Hammer, an American rapper, includes hit records "U Can't Touch This", "Pray" and "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer is known for his flashy dance movements, choreography and Hammer pants. His superstar-status and entertaining showmanship made him a household name and hip hop icon. Hammer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, breaking down numerous doors for rap music and demonstrating that hip-hop had the potential for blockbuster success. A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop rap, and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Will Made It</span> American music producer (born 1989)

Michael Len Williams II, known professionally as Mike Will Made It or simply Mike Will, is an American record producer and rapper. He is best known for producing trap beats for several Southern hip hop and pop artists on various commercially successful singles, including "Black Beatles" and "Powerglide" by Rae Sremmurd, "Mercy" by Kanye West, "No Lie" by 2 Chainz, "Bandz a Make Her Dance" by Juicy J, "Pour It Up" by Rihanna, "Love Me" by Lil Wayne, "Body Party" by Ciara, "We Can't Stop" by Miley Cyrus, "Formation" by Beyoncé, and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar. He embarked on a career as a non-performing lead artist in 2013 with his debut single "23", which peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2017 follow-up single, "Rake It Up" peaked at number eight on the chart. He has released six mixtapes and one solo studio album, Ransom 2 (2017).

"Be Like Me" is a song by American rapper Lil Pump featuring fellow American rapper Lil Wayne from the former's second studio album, Harverd Dropout (2019). It was released for digital download and streaming as the album's seventh single on February 21, 2019 by Tha Lights Global and Warner Records. Written alongside producer CBMix, the song sees Lil Pump calling out the rappers copying his style while Lil Wayne looks at how he birthed a generation of them.

References

  1. "Felton C. Pilate II - Samples, Covers and Remixes". WhoSampled . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  2. AllMusic review
  3. Robert Christgau review
  4. RapReviews review
  5. Finney, James (30 March 1991). "Round Up". Record Mirror . p. 14.
  6. "Felton C. Pilate II - Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  7. "U Can't Touch This at 25: Remembering MC Hammer's Breakthrough Single". Billboard . January 13, 2015.
  8. "MC Hammer - Let's Get It Started Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  9. 1 2 Harrington, Richard (July 29, 1990). "SMOOTH MOVES;Top Pop Rapper M.C. Hammer's Got 'Em" . The Washington Post. ProQuest   307291486.
  10. "VideosHub | Popular Internet Videos".
  11. "Answers - the Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com .
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0612962 [ user-generated source ]
  13. "LL Cool J's Official Instagram". www.instagram.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. That's my man, and I love him. I think he just said my name [plus Run-DMC's and Doug E. Fresh's] in a record for attention. He did what he had to do. He came out and sold a lot of records and did his thing. But I never had any problems, personally, with Hammer. I lit him up 'cause that's what I was supposed to do. But I never had any problems with him at all. In terms of battles, I've had so many battles. So many artists have come at me from different directions and it just comes with the territory. That's the fun part.
  14. Camille Augustin (November 13, 2018). "Over Thirty Years Later, LL Cool J Speaks On Rift With MC Hammer". www.vibe.com.
  15. Let's Get It Started at AllMusic
  16. "Australiancharts.com – MC Hammer – Let's Get It Started". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – MC Hammer – Let's Get It Started" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  18. "Offiziellecharts.de – MC Hammer – Let's Get It Started" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  19. "Swisscharts.com – MC Hammer – Let's Get It Started". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  20. "MC Hammer | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  21. "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  22. "M.C. Hammer Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  23. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  24. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  25. "Japanese album certifications – Hammer – Let's Get It Started" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan . Retrieved October 22, 2019.Select 1991年7月 on the drop-down menu
  26. "American album certifications – Hammer – Let's Get It Started". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved October 22, 2019.