The Funky Headhunter

{{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |Template:Short description|noreplace}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Too Legit to Quit1991Inside Out1995AlbumThe Funky HeadhunterMc_hammer_funky_headhunter.jpgA sepia tone image of a man squatting down with his hands clasped, wearing a black toque, sunglasses, tank top, pants and shoes.HammerTemplate:Start dateMarch – November 1993<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Flatlist68:08Template:FlatlistTemplate:Flatlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} The Funky Headhunter is the fifth studio album by American rapper Hammer, released on March 1, 1994, via Giant Records and Reprise Records.

The album at the time was hailed as Hammer's comeback album. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em),<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans.Template:Citation needed Nonetheless, the record was eventually certified platinum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Album history

Hammer debuted the album and video for "Pumps and a Bump" two months before its release on The Arsenio Hall Show and finally released it in March. Talk show host Arsenio Hall said to Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron" (which refers to the fact that Hammer was nicknamed after Aaron).<ref name="answers1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

"Pumps and a Bump" proved to be a controversial track on this album, somewhat affecting Hammer's image. However, the single peaked at number three on the US Rap charts. It was banned from heavy rotation on MTV with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in Speedos was too graphic. This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks.

"It's All Good", produced by The Whole 9, was the second single released on this album, and peaked on the record charts as follows: US number 46, US R&B number 14, US Rap number three and UK number 52.

This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year.<ref name="answers1"/> The album eventually reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album managed to become certified platinum.

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings AllMusic writer Ron Wynn said about the album overall: "Hammer's sound was leaner, his rapping tougher and more fluid, and his subject matter harder and less humorous."<ref name="AM"/> Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times felt that Hammer had "zero feel" for his choice in subgenre, but praised the record's "smashing beats" and highlighted "Don't Stop" for being "unbelievably funky".<ref name="LAT"/> Vibe contributor Charles Aaron called it "one of the most stunning curios of pop marketing hubris ever perpetrated", criticizing Hammer's half-hearted attempts at dissing other rappers, and the tracks for utilizing the overused G-funk sound and lacking lyrical substance or even "a nifty turn of phrase."<ref name="Vibe">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In a 2020 retrospective review, Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews was critical of Hammer's offbeat flow delivering bars with an overabundance of syllables, lack of curses and swear words despite the image change, and constant references to his previous pop success, but conceded that the overall production was actually good, calling it "a 1990's collision between Teddy Riley and Warren G and it works perfectly." He concluded that: "I can't deny the transformation is comical, but it's also not as terrible as first I thought."<ref name="RR"/>

Track listing

Information taken from Amazon.com, Apple Music and Spotify.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Track listing Template:Track listing

Samples

Break 'Em Off Somethin' Proper

• "So Ruff, So Tuff" by Roger Troutman
• "Stay" by Jodeci
• "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest

Don't Fight the Feelin'

• "Person to Person" by Average White Band

Don't Stop

• "Funkin' for Jamaica (N.Y.)" by Tom Browne
• "Der Kommissar" by Falco
• "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
• "La Di Da Di" by Doug E. Fresh

It's All Good

• "Dusic" by Brick
• "Hobo Scratch" by Malcolm McLaren

Oaktown

• "More Bounce to the Ounce" by Zapp
• "Get It Up" by The Time

Pumps and a Bump

• "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton

Somethin' for the O.G.'s

• "Dance Floor" by Zapp
• "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton

Personnel

Adapted from the liner notes of The Funky Headhunter.<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

• Wilton Rabb – guitar (tracks 8, 11–14)
• Ben Ross – bass (track 14)
• Eddy Schreyer – mastering (Future Disc, Los Angeles)
• Nancie Stern, Mary-Jo Braun – sample clearance assistance (Music Resources)
• Kevin Design Hosmann – art direction
• Michael Miller – photography
• Madame Mack Style – stylist

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA history albums pages">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref>	192