Happy Birthday, MC Hammer!

Today, March 30, is the 56th birthday of record-setting rapper MC Hammer!

Hailing from Oakland, Calif., MC Hammer grew up dancing to beat boxers and honing his natural showmanship. Hammer first got into the rap game when he formed a Christian rap group in the early 1980's but the rapper broke out on his own and dropped his debut solo debut, Feel My Power, in 1986. With a successful, independently-released debut, Hammer got record deal offers from major labels.

After signing with Capitol Records in 1987, Hammer began to make a lane for himself in "pop rap" for pushing an image of dancey, fun and commercial safe songs. His next two albums, Let's Get It Started (1988) and Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em (1990) were huge successes and the later spawned Hammer's most memorable hit single to date, "U Can't Touch This." King Hammer was the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album thanks to the success of Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em.

At the peak of his career, Hammer set fashion trends, coined new dance moves and entertained the mainstream masses to no end. After Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em, the Oakland MC would go on to release nine more albums, bringing his total discography to twelve albums to date. Along the way, Hammer has made cameos in movies and started overseas ministries.

Happy Birthday, Hammer!

9 Rappers Who Served in the Military