MC Hammer

It’s a given that the chart-toppers of one era will almost certainly seem ridiculous to future listeners, but it’s still hard to imagine a time when MC Hammer was the norm. So if you can, put the wacky dancing, the goofy parachute pants, and thatAddams Family song out of your mind, and concentrate on this: With over 50 million albums sold worldwide, MC Hammer singlehandedly demonstrated hip-hop’s potential for commercial success. A little more than 20 years removed from the still-inescapable “U Can’t Touch This,” Hammer has had his share of ups and downs—including a snit with Jay-Z in 2010—but he still remains a game performer.

Updated 07/27/2011