Feel My Power
Encyclopedia
Feel My Power is an EP
by M.C. Hammer, produced by Felton Pilate
(of Con Funk Shun
) and released in 1987. This album sold over 60,000 copies, which led to several offers from major labels.
went sour, Hammer borrowed $20,000 each from former Oakland A's
players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy
to start a record label business called Bust It Productions.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v46/ai_9177118/ He kept the company going by selling records from his basement and car. Bust It spawned Bustin' Records, the independent label
of which Hammer was CEO
. Together, the companies had more than 100 employees. Recording singles and selling them out of the trunk of his car, he marketed himself relentlessly. Coupled with his dance abilities, Hammer's style was unique at the time.
Now billing himself as "M.C. Hammer", he recorded this debut album, which was produced between 1986-1987 and released independently in 1987 on his Oaktown Records label (Bustin'). In the spring of 1988, a DJ
played the track "Let's Get It Started" — a song in which he declared he was "...second to none, from Doug E. Fresh
, LL Cool J
, or DJ Run
" — after which the track began to gain popularity in clubs
. (He would continue to call out other East Coast rappers in future projects as well.)
Hammer also released a single called "Ring 'Em", and largely on the strength of tireless street marketing
by Hammer and his wife, it achieved considerable popularity at dance clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area
. Heartened by his rising prospects, Hammer launched into seven-day-a-week rehearsals with the growing troupe of dancers, musicians, and backup vocalists he had hired. It was Hammer's stage show, and his infectious stage presence, that led to his big break in 1988 while performing in an Oakland club. There he impressed a record executive
who "didn't know who he was, but knew he was somebody", as was quoted as saying in the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.
M.C. had received several offers from major record labels before (which he initially declined due to his personal success), but after the successful release of this independent album and elaborate live dance show amazed the Capitol Records
executive, Hammer agreed to sign a record deal soon after. Hammer took home a $750,000 advance and a multi-album contract, which did not take long for Capitol to recoup its investment.http://www.answers.com/topic/mc-hammer-1 After signed to Capitol Records, Hammer re-issued a revised version of this album with additional tracks added on his next album
and sold over 2 million copies with Let's Get It Started
.
"That's What I Said" and "Feel My Power" were later used for the Rocky V
film and soundtrack
.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by M.C. Hammer, produced by Felton Pilate
Felton Pilate
Felton C. Pilate II is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer known as a member of the 1970s and 1980s funk/R&B band Con Funk Shun, and as a collaborator with rapper MC Hammer...
(of Con Funk Shun
Con Funk Shun
Con Funk Shun is an American R&B and funk band popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Influences include James Brown and Sly & the Family Stone.-History:...
) and released in 1987. This album sold over 60,000 copies, which led to several offers from major labels.
Album history
In the mid-80s while rapping in small venues and after a record dealRecording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
went sour, Hammer borrowed $20,000 each from former Oakland A's
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy
Dwayne Murphy
Dwayne Keith Murphy is a former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career playing for the Oakland Athletics as an outfielder. He is currently the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 1973 and made his Major League debut in 1978...
to start a record label business called Bust It Productions.http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v46/ai_9177118/ He kept the company going by selling records from his basement and car. Bust It spawned Bustin' Records, the independent label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
of which Hammer was CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. Together, the companies had more than 100 employees. Recording singles and selling them out of the trunk of his car, he marketed himself relentlessly. Coupled with his dance abilities, Hammer's style was unique at the time.
Now billing himself as "M.C. Hammer", he recorded this debut album, which was produced between 1986-1987 and released independently in 1987 on his Oaktown Records label (Bustin'). In the spring of 1988, a DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
played the track "Let's Get It Started" — a song in which he declared he was "...second to none, from Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
, LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, or DJ Run
Joseph Simmons
Joseph Ward Simmons , known by the stage name Rev. Run or DJ Run, is one of the founding members of the influential hip hop group Run–D.M.C., and a practicing minister, known as Reverend Run. Simmons was born in Hollis, Queens, New York. He is the younger brother of Daniel "Danny" Simmons, Jr...
" — after which the track began to gain popularity in clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. (He would continue to call out other East Coast rappers in future projects as well.)
Hammer also released a single called "Ring 'Em", and largely on the strength of tireless street marketing
Street marketing
Street marketing is a term used to refer to certain marketing techniques used to promote products and/or services in an unconventional way in public places. The main point of street marketing is that the activities are done exclusively on the streets or other public places, such as shopping centers...
by Hammer and his wife, it achieved considerable popularity at dance clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Heartened by his rising prospects, Hammer launched into seven-day-a-week rehearsals with the growing troupe of dancers, musicians, and backup vocalists he had hired. It was Hammer's stage show, and his infectious stage presence, that led to his big break in 1988 while performing in an Oakland club. There he impressed a record executive
Music executive
A music executive or record executive is person within a record label who works in senior management, making executive decisions over the label's artists...
who "didn't know who he was, but knew he was somebody", as was quoted as saying in the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.
M.C. had received several offers from major record labels before (which he initially declined due to his personal success), but after the successful release of this independent album and elaborate live dance show amazed the Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
executive, Hammer agreed to sign a record deal soon after. Hammer took home a $750,000 advance and a multi-album contract, which did not take long for Capitol to recoup its investment.http://www.answers.com/topic/mc-hammer-1 After signed to Capitol Records, Hammer re-issued a revised version of this album with additional tracks added on his next album
MC Hammer discography
This is the discography of Oakland, California rapper, M.C. Hammer. Hammer has sold about 30 million albums in the U.S. alone. He 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...
and sold over 2 million copies with Let's Get It Started
Let's Get It Started (album)
Let's Get It Started is the second album released by pop rap emcee M.C. Hammer. The album went double platinum with "Pump It Up", "Let's Get It Started", "Turn This Mutha Out" and "They Put Me in the Mix" as the most popular tracks from this album. Music videos were also produced for all of these...
.
Track listing
- "That's What I Said"
- "Ring 'Em"
- "Get It Started"
- "Feel My Power"
- "The Thrill Is Gone"
- "Mix It Toss It & Bust It"
- "Son of the King"
- "Brother Versus Brother"
- "I Can Make It Better"
"That's What I Said" and "Feel My Power" were later used for the Rocky V
Rocky V
Rocky V is an American film released as the fifth film in the Rocky series in 1990. It stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Stallone's real life son Sage, and real life boxer Tommy Morrison as boxer Tommy Gunn, a talented yet raw boxer...
film and soundtrack
Rocky V (album)
The Rocky V Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 1990 movie, Rocky V. This soundtrack is a complete departure from the previous film's soundtracks, because it doesn't consist of mainly classic Bill Conti tunes, or rock music, but rather the soundtrack is dominated by rap music...
.