MC Hammer: "U Can't Touch This" (1989)

"U Can't Touch This" is M.C. Hammer's 1989 super hit signature song, from his album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. The album sold more than 10 million copies, due primarily to this single, and gaining multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA, and other Recording Industries.

Rick James sued Hammer for infringement of copyright, as the song basically consists of the prominent opening riff of "Super Freak", which is constantly repeated throughout. The suit was settled out of court when Hammer agreed to credit James as co-composer, effectively cutting James in on the millions of dollars the record was earning. James was accordingly credited as a co-author.

The song received its debut live performance on a late 1989 episode of The Arsenio Hall Show. The lyrics describe the rapper as having "toured around the world, from London to the Bay" and as being "magic on the mic", which Hammer says combines with Rick James' "beat that you can't touch". It secured the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Rap Solo Performance in 1991, a brand new category at the time. The song was a huge success chart wise: it reached #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was also a big success in other parts of the world, peaking at #1 in Australia, the Netherlands and Sweden, and #3 on the UK singles chart.

A 1990 compilation album of then-current chart hits was released in Australia by EMI under this title, which also featured the song as the first track. The German translation Halt! Hammerzeit is a known internet meme. "Weird Al" Yankovic's parody of the song, "I Can't Watch This", overlaid lyrics about bad TV-watching over the song's music track.

In 2003, Beam and Cyrus did a remix of "U Can't Touch This" featuring M.C. Hammer.

The song's lyrics and catchphrases became common pop culture references, making sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle appearances on TV, movies, and pop culture generally. "You can't touch this" and "Stop... Hammer time!" in particular, were widely used. Hammertime, from a lyric in the song, became the title of a reality show, featuring M.C. Hammer, on the A&E Network in the summer of 2009.

During 2008, the song ranked as number 26 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and number 16 on their list of 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s.

Most recently, in 2010, the song ranked as #6 on AOL Radio's list of the 100 Worst Songs Ever, with Matthew Wilkening telling the late Rick James in spirit: "If someone did this to your wonderful work of music, you might choose crack, too."


- Lyrics:

You can't touch this (Repeat 5x)

My, my, my, my music hits me so hard
Makes me say "Oh my Lord"
Thank you for blessing me
With a mind to rhyme and two hyped feet
It feels good, when you know you're down
A super dope homeboy from the Oaktown
And I'm known as such
And this is a beat, uh, you can't touch

I told you homeboy (You can't touch this)
Yeah, that's how we're living and you know (You can't touch this)
Look in my eyes, man (You can't touch this)
Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics (You can't touch this)

Fresh new kicks, and pants
You got it like that, now you know you wanna dance
So move, outta your seat
And get a fly girl and catch this beat
While it's rolling, hold on
Pump a little bit and let 'em know it's going on
Like that, like that
Cold on a mission so pull on back
Let 'em know, that you're too much
And this is a beat, uh, you can't touch

Yo, I told you (You can't touch this)
Why you standing there, man? (You can't touch this)
Yo, sound the bell, school is in, sucka (You can't touch this)

Give me a song, or rhythm
Make 'em sweat, that's what I'm giving 'em
Now, they know
When you talk about the Hammer you talk about a show
That's hyped, and tight
Singers are sweating so pass them a mic
Or a tape, to learn
What it's gonna take in the 90's to burn
The charts? Legit
Either work hard or you might as well quit

That's the word because you know...

You can't touch this (Repeat 2x)

Break it down! (Music breaks down) Stop, Hammer time!

Go with the flow, it is said
That if you can't groove to this then you probably are dead
So wave your hands in the air
Bust a few moves, run your fingers through your hair
This is it, for a winner
Dance to this and you're gonna get thinner
Move, slide your rump
Just for a minute let's all do the bump, bump, bump, bump


Yeah... (You can't touch this)
Look, man (You can't touch this)
You better get hyped, boy, because you know (You can't touch this)
Ring the bell, school's back in

Break it down! (Music breaks down) Stop, Hammer time!

You can't touch this (Repeat 3x)

Break it down! (Music breaks down) Stop, Hammer time!

Every time you see me
The Hammer's disco hype
I'm dope on the floor and I'm magic on the mic
Now why would I ever stop doing this?
With others making records that just don't hit
I've toured around the world, from London to the Bay
It's "Hammer, go Hammer, MC Hammer, yo Hammer"
And the rest can go and play

You can't touch this (Repeat 7x)