The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales. [1] In 1990, 8 albums occupied the peak position on the chart.
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em , the third and most popular album (and second major-label release) by MC Hammer, had the longest run among the releases that reached peak position in 1990, spending 21 non-consecutive weeks in the top position (18 of these weeks were consecutive). Its popularity was due primarily to the runaway single, "U Can't Touch This". However, it was criticized for its sampling of other artists' songs. [2] "U Can't Touch This" sampled "Super Freak" by Rick James; "Dancin' Machine" sampled the Jackson 5; "Have You Seen Her" is a semi-cover of The Chi-Lites song; "Help the Children" interpolates Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"; "Pray" and "She's Soft and Wet" sample the Prince hits "When Doves Cry" and "Soft and Wet" respectively.
The album raised rap music to a new level of popularity. It was the first hip-hop album certified diamond by the RIAA for sales of over ten million. [3] It remains one of the genre's all-time best-selling albums. [4] To date, the album has sold over 18 million copies worldwide. [5] [6] [7] [8]
According to Guinness World Records, the album cost just $10,000 to produce.
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 was the best performing and best-selling album of 1990 despite not reaching number-one at any point during the year. The album achieved 4 weeks atop the chart during 1989. [9]
Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
January 6 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | Atlantic | [10] |
January 13 | Girl You Know It's True | Milli Vanilli | Arista | [11] |
January 20 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | Atlantic | [12] |
January 27 | [13] | |||
February 3 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin | [14] |
February 10 | [15] | |||
February 17 | [16] | |||
February 24 | [17] | |||
March 3 | [18] | |||
March 10 | [19] | |||
March 17 | [20] | |||
March 24 | [21] | |||
March 31 | [22] | |||
April 7 | Nick of Time | Bonnie Raitt | Capitol | [23] |
April 14 | [24] | |||
April 21 | [25] | |||
April 28 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis | [26] |
May 5 | [27] | |||
May 12 | [28] | |||
May 19 | [29] | |||
May 26 | [30] | |||
June 2 | [31] | |||
June 9 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol | [32] |
June 16 | [33] | |||
June 23 | [34] | |||
June 30 | Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | Columbia | [35] |
July 7 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol | [36] |
July 14 | [37] | |||
July 21 | [38] | |||
July 28 | [39] | |||
August 4 | [40] | |||
August 11 | [41] | |||
August 18 | [42] | |||
August 25 | [43] | |||
September 1 | [44] | |||
September 8 | [45] | |||
September 15 | [46] | |||
September 22 | [47] | |||
September 29 | [48] | |||
October 6 | [49] | |||
October 13 | [50] | |||
October 20 | [51] | |||
October 27 | [52] | |||
November 3 | [53] | |||
November 10 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK | [54] |
November 17 | [55] | |||
November 24 | [56] | |||
December 1 | [57] | |||
December 8 | [58] | |||
December 15 | [59] | |||
December 22 | [60] | |||
December 29 | [61] | |||
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.
To the Extreme is the major label debut studio album of American rapper Vanilla Ice released on September 10, 1990 by SBK and EMI. Recorded between 1989–90, it contains Vanilla Ice's most successful single, "Ice Ice Baby". It primarily contains hip hop and pop rap tracks produced by Earthquake, Kim Sharp, Khayree, and Darryl Williams.
Metalcore is a fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming, more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However, the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.
The Funky Headhunter is the fifth studio album by American rapper Hammer, released on March 1, 1994, via Giant Records and Reprise Records.
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.
No Limit Top Dogg is the fourth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg. It was released May 11, 1999, by No Limit and Priority Records. Following the mixed reception of his previous album, Snoop began to work again with Dr. Dre and returned to the west coast sound of his earlier career while on Death Row Records. The album was generally met with positive reception with many critics citing it as a return to form and his best album since Doggystyle (1993). Many praised the production work for the album with the tracks made by Dr. Dre being highlighted as well as Snoop's delivery while criticism was mainly aimed at the length of the album, the No Limit features, and the lack of new lyrical content. The Source placed the album on their list of the "Top 10 Best Albums of the Year" for 1999.
"U Can't Touch This" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by American rapper MC Hammer. It was released as the third single from his third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990), and has been considered his signature song. Along with Hammer, Rick James shares songwriting credits with Alonzo Miller, as the song samples the prominent opening riff of James' 1981 single "Super Freak". The song has been used and referred to in many television shows, films, commercials, and other forms of media. It has also received multiple awards and recognition.
"Soft and Wet" is a song performed by American musician Prince. It was his first solo single, released on June 7, 1978, his 20th birthday, from his debut album, For You. The track contains drums, synthesized and vocalized bass, and synthesizers. The lyrics were co-written by Chris Moon, the producer-songwriter-engineer who discovered Prince in Minneapolis. The song was released in Barbados, South Africa, and the United States by Warner Bros. Records. There also exists a promotional, not-for-sale version of the 7" vinyl single that contains both a mono version and stereo version of the song. The song peaked at 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 25, 1978, after two weeks on the chart.
MercyMe is an American contemporary Christian music band founded in Edmond, Oklahoma. The band consists of lead vocalist Bart Millard, percussionist Robby Shaffer, bassist Nathan Cochran and guitarists Michael Scheuchzer and Barry Graul.
American rock band Bon Jovi has released 15 studio albums, three live albums, five compilation albums, five EPs, 66 singles, 14 video albums, and 71 music videos. Bon Jovi has sold over 130 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. As of 2018, the band has sold 21.8 million albums in the US Nielsen SoundScan era. Billboard ranked Bon Jovi as the 45th Greatest Artist of all time, achieving 6 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 & 4 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Bon Jovi has sold 34.5 million albums in the United States.
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.
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.
Souljaboytellem.com is the debut studio album and major label debut by American rapper and producer Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. It was released on October 2, 2007, by his Stacks on Deck (SOD) label, Collipark Music and Interscope Records. The album only features guest appearances from fellow rapper Arab and R&B group i15. The album was supported by four singles: "Crank That ", "Soulja Girl" featuring i15, "Yahhh!" featuring Arab, and "Donk".
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.
"Pray" is a song released in August 1990 by Capitol as the third single from American rapper and dancer MC Hammer's third album, Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990). Produced by Hammer, the song heavily samples Prince's 1984 song "When Doves Cry", the first of just a few times that Prince allowed samples of his compositions. The track also interpolates Faith No More's "We Care a Lot". The word "pray" is mentioned 147 times during the song, setting the record for the number of times a song title is repeated in an American Top 40 hit.
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