Let's Get It Started is the second studio album, and first major-label debut, by hip hop artist MC Hammer. It was released via Capitol Records and EMI Records on September 28, 1988. The album was produced by Hammer and Felton Pilate.[5]
Let's Get It Started | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 28, 1988 (1988-09-28) | |||
Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 42:33 | |||
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Producer | M.C. Hammer, Felton Pilate[1] | |||
M.C. Hammer chronology | ||||
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Singles from Let's Get It Started | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
RapReviews | (3/10)[3] |
Robert Christgau | C+[4] |
Let's Get It Started went double platinum. "Pump It Up", "Let's Get It Started", "Turn This Mutha Out" and "They Put Me in the Mix" were the most popular tracks from the album. Music videos were also produced for all of these songs. The album topped the Hot R&B chart, and peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200. It was No. 1 on the Top R&B chart in the U.S.
The album produced several Top 5 hits.[6] "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.[7]
Once signed to Capitol Records, 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.
Not quite satisfied with the multi-platinum success, Hammer's music underwent a metamorphosis, shifting from the standard rap format in his upcoming album. According to Hammer: "I decided the next album would be more musical." Purists chastised him for being more dancer than rapper. Sitting in a leopard-print bodysuit before a concert, he defended his style: "People were ready for something different from the traditional rap style. The fact that the record has reached this level indicates the genre is growing."[8]
"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".
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.[9] 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.[10] "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.[11]
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)".[12][13]
Length: 42:33
"Let's Get It Started"
"Pump It Up"
"Turn This Mutha Out"
"They Put Me in the Mix"
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Japan (RIAJ)[24] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[25] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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.
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Studio albums |
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Compilations |
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Singles |
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Television |
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Related articles |
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