MC Hammer began his music career as a dancer and rapper with the rap group called the Oakland Raiders, which also included rappers like Antoine Carraby (later known as DJ Yella of N.W.A) and Ronnie Hudson in Oakland, California. The group had some success in the early 1980s, but ultimately disbanded without releasing an album. He rose to fame with his hit single "U Can't Touch This" in 1990, and became one of the most successful rappers of the early 1990s. However, his career was derailed by financial problems and legal troubles in the mid-1990s, and he has not had the same level of success since then. Nevertheless, he remains an influential figure in the rap world and has continued to release new music and perform live over the past two decades. Hammer was born Stanley Kirk Burrell in Oakland, California, on March 30, 1962. He grew up in a poor neighborhood and was raised by his mother, who worked as a secretary. He later said that she was "strict but loving," and that she encouraged him to stay out of trouble and pursue his dreams. In 1986, Hammer released his first solo single, "Ring My Bell," which was a minor hit. He followed it up with his debut album, Feel My Power, in 1987. The album was not a commercial success, but it did garner some attention for Hammer's energetic rapping style and flashy dance moves. In 1988, Hammer released his second album, Let's Get It Started. The album's title track was a moderate hit, but the album itself was not a commercial success. Hammer's breakthrough came in 1990 with his third album, "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em." The album's lead single, "U Can't Touch This," became a massive worldwide hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and selling more than two million copies in the United States. The album itself was also a huge success, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide and becoming the best-selling rap album of all time. However, Hammer's success was short-lived. In the mid-1990s, he ran into financial troubles after making some poor business decisions, including investing in a record label that went bankrupt and paying too much for his lavish lifestyle. He was also sued for copyright infringement by Rick James over the use of a sample from James' song "Super Freak" on Hammer's song "Too Legit to Quit." These legal and financial problems led to Hammer declaring bankruptcy in 1996. He has since made a comeback, releasing several new albums and performing live. However, he has not been able to achieve the same level of success that he did in the early 1990s. Despite his decline in popularity, MC Hammer remains an influential figure in the rap world. He is credited with helping to popularize the use of sampling in hip-hop music, and he has also been praised for his charitable work. In 2010, he was inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame.