Too Legit to Quit

This article is about the album. For the song, see 2 Legit 2 Quit.
Too Legit to Quit
Studio album by Hammer
Released October 29, 1991
Recorded 1991
Genre Pop rap, dance
Label Capitol/EMI Records
Hammer chronology

Please, Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em
(1990)		 Too Legit to Quit
(1991)		 The Funky Headhunter
(1994)
Singles from Too Legit to Quit
  1. "2 Legit 2 Quit"
    Released: November 5, 1991
  2. "Addams Groove"
    Released: December 17, 1991
  3. "Do Not Pass Me By"
    Released: 1992
  4. "This Is the Way We Roll"
    Released: 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Entertainment Weekly B+[2]

Too Legit To Quit is Hammer's fourth record and third official full-length studio album, released on October 29, 1991. While the album wasn't as successful as Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, it nevertheless proved successful, peaking in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200, as well as going triple platinum.

A video for the title song was also produced, featuring many celebrity appearances. It was ranked one of the most expensive videos ever produced.[3][4][5] Music videos were produced for all four tracks listed below with related articles. Each single released also charted.

A compilation of music videos from this album were released on VHS (1992) and DVD (2002) called M.C. Hammer: 2 Legit - The Videos (102 minutes).[6]

Promotion and reception

After dropping the "M.C." from his stage name, Hammer released this album (also produced by Felton Pilate), answering his critics within certain songs from the album. Sales were strong (over five million copies)[7] with the title track being the biggest hit. Another hit came soon after, with "Addams Groove" (which appeared on both The Addams Family motion picture soundtrack and the vinyl and cassette versions of 2 Legit 2 Quit), which reached No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the UK. His video for the song appeared after the movie.

Hammer set out on a tour for this album, but the stage show had become as lavish as his lifestyle; loaded with singers, dancers and backup musicians, the supporting concert tour was too expensive for the album's sales to finance, and it was canceled partway through.[8] In 1992, Boyz II Men joined Hammer's high-profile 2 Legit 2 Quit tour as an opening act. While traveling the country, their tour manager Khalil Roundtree was murdered in Chicago, and the group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. As a result of this unfortunate experience, the song would help advance their success.[9] Other opening acts for the tour included Jodeci, and a young Mary J. Blige.

The song proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 5. Despite the album's multi-platinum certification, the sales were one-third of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.

Prior to Hammer's next album, (The Funky Headhunter), rumors from critics and fans began claiming Hammer had quit the music/entertainment business and had suffered a financial downfall (since a couple of years had passed in between the two records), which Hammer denied at the time.[7] The introduction of the extended-play music video for "2 Legit 2 Quit" addressed the fact that Hammer must have quit (with Jim Belushi as a newscaster announcing it in a comical way) until Hammer shows up late to a concert dancing and rapping to the hit song.

Music video

The hand motions used within the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video became very popular as was the catchphrase itself.[10]

At the end of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video, after James Brown enlists Hammer to obtain the glove of Michael Jackson, a silver-white sequined glove is shown on the hand of a Jackson look-a-like doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. It was a reference to Hammer wanting to challenge Jackson to a dance-off for rights to the famous glove, which is also referenced on the album.[11]

M.C. Hammer appeared on The Wendy Williams Show (July 27, 2009) and went on to tell a story about a phone call he received from Michael Jackson, regarding the portion of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video that included a fake Jackson, giving his approval and inclusion of it. He explained how Jackson had seen the video and liked it, and both expressed they were a fan of each other.[12] Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.[13][14][15]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "This Is the Way We Roll"  Burrell, Pilate 5:53
2. "Brothers Hang On"  Burrell, Pilate, Whitfield 7:12
3. "2 Legit 2 Quit"  Burrell, Earley, Kelly, Pilate 5:36
4. "Living in a World Like This"  Burrell, Pilate 5:29
5. "Tell Me (Why Can't We Live Together)"  Burrell, Pilate, Thomas 6:38
6. "Releasing Some Pressure"  Burrell, Pilate 5:03
7. "Find Yourself a Friend"  Burrell, Pilate 3:56
8. "Count It Off"  Burrell, Pilate 5:05
9. "Good to Go"  Burrell, Pilate 4:53
10. "Lovehold"  Burrell, Pilate 4:55
11. "Street Soldiers"  Burrell, Pilate 5:00
12. "Do Not Pass Me By"  Burrell, Pilate 5:30
13. "Gaining Momentum"  Burrell, Buckholtz 5:40
14. "Addams Groove" (bonus track)Burrell, Pilate, Mizzy 3:58

The cassette tape version of this album is considerably longer, with the addition of four songs (two of which are remixes). After "Find Yourself a Friend" there follows "Rollin' On (Oaktown Style)" (5:50). After "Gaining Momentum" is "Burn It Up" (4:28). The last two songs on the album are then "Addams Groove" (3:54) and "Street Soldiers (Saxapella Reprise)" (4:56). The total run time is 1:29:00 (89 minutes).

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. ↑ Entertainment Weekly review
  3. ↑ December 09, 1991 (1991-12-09). "Superstars And Super Hype To The Rescue". Newsweek. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  4. ↑ "Hammer | View the Music Artists Biography Online". VH1.com. 1962-03-30. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  5. ↑ Farber, Jim (1991-03-08). "Flesh Forward | Music". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  6. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/MC-Hammer-Legit-The-Videos/dp/B00006G8FQ/ref=pd_sim_sbs_mov_2
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n6_v49/ai_14969852
  8. ↑ "MC Hammer - Upcoming Shows & Peformances [sic]". Zvents. 2010-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  9. ↑ http://www.vh1.com/shows/behind_the_music/episode.jhtml?episodeID=60634
  10. ↑ "The "Two Legit to Quit" Challenge". Spudart.org. 1999-02-22. Retrieved 2010-03-31.
  11. ↑ St. Petersburg Times, Tues, July 23, 1991, pp.4A
  12. ↑ "Video | The Wendy Williams Show". Wendyshow.com. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  13. ↑ Reid, Shaheem (2006-12-30). "James Brown Saluted By Michael Jackson At Public Funeral Service - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  14. ↑ "MC Hammer Interview w/ Wendy Williams Show". Global Grind. Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  15. ↑ "MC Hammer on Wendy Williams:Video". Global Grind. 2009-07-27. Retrieved 2010-08-09.