Inside Out (MC Hammer album)
Encyclopedia
V Inside Out or Inside Out was the fifth studio album
commercially released by M.C. Hammer in 1995, but technically/officially his sixth album in total since his debut effort (Feel My Power
) was re-released with additional tracks as his second album (Let's Get It Started
).
After the decrease in popularity and sales of his previous album, The Funky Headhunter
, Hammer decided to maintain his clean pop
image
.
The album was a look within Hammer's deep artistic self and featured dance
, gospel
, and emotionally driven tracks which spawned two singles, "Sultry Funk" and the gospel single "Going Up Yonder" (both of which were performed by Hammer on the popular dance show Soul Train
and made countdowns on nationwide local radio stations
).
In contrast to his prior albums, the singles did not go as far as previous releases, only debuting at 119 on the Billboard
charts. Critics claimed it was unfocused, as it was unclear if the genre
was pop
or rap
. Although, some critics praised the fact it was perhaps intentionally eclectic
(combining elements of dance, pop, rap, hip hop
, alternative rock
and gospel).http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000025ZX0http://www.amazon.com/Mc-Hammer-V-Inside-Out/product-reviews/B000002L44?showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R7T2STLS8OSZY Nonetheless, the album sold poorly (peaking at 119 on the Billboard Charts
) and Giant Records dropped him and Oaktown Records from their roster
.
However, with his appearance on VH1
's Behind the Music
, which showcased songs from the album at that time, the album did get notable attention with "Going Up Yonder" and "Sultry Funk" getting moderate radio play.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0520956/ It is well liked by devout Hammer fans, even considered one of his best artistically
.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002L45
This album had not sold as well as its predecessors. Some claimed it was victim of the "crab mentality
".http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002L44 Hammer would go on to explain in this album that he felt many of his so-called friends he staffed used and betrayed him which contributed to a majority of his financial loss (best explained in the song "Keep On").http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000025ZX0 He would also hint about this again in past and recent interviews, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show
in 2009 (as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show
in 1997).http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2009/03/its_hammer_time.php
Hammer thanks Eazy-E
for introducing him every night they were on tour together in 1991 on the track "Nothin But Love (A Song for Eazy)", which was dedicated to him after his death.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
commercially released by M.C. Hammer in 1995, but technically/officially his sixth album in total since his debut effort (Feel My Power
Feel My Power
Feel My Power is an EP by M.C. Hammer, produced by Felton Pilate and released in 1987. This album sold over 60,000 copies, which led to several offers from major labels.-Album history:...
) was re-released with additional tracks as his second album (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...
).
After the decrease in popularity and sales of his previous album, The Funky Headhunter
The Funky Headhunter
The Funky Headhunter was the fifth official album by Hammer, released in 1994.In 1993, Hammer began recording this album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, the album was a more aggressive sounding album. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek...
, Hammer decided to maintain his clean pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
image
Persona
A persona, in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον...
.
The album was a look within Hammer's deep artistic self and featured dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, and emotionally driven tracks which spawned two singles, "Sultry Funk" and the gospel single "Going Up Yonder" (both of which were performed by Hammer on the popular dance show Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
and made countdowns on nationwide local radio stations
Music radio
Music radio is a radio format in which music is the main broadcast content. After television replaced old time radio's dramatic content, music formats became dominant in many countries...
).
In contrast to his prior albums, the singles did not go as far as previous releases, only debuting at 119 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts. Critics claimed it was unfocused, as it was unclear if the genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
was pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
or rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
. Although, some critics praised the fact it was perhaps intentionally eclectic
Eclecticism in music
Eclecticism is used to describe a composer's conscious use of styles alien to his nature, or from one or more historical styles. The term is also used pejoratively to describe music whose composer, thought to be lacking originality, appears to have freely drawn on other models .-Sources:* Kennedy,...
(combining elements of dance, pop, rap, hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
and gospel).http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000025ZX0http://www.amazon.com/Mc-Hammer-V-Inside-Out/product-reviews/B000002L44?showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R7T2STLS8OSZY Nonetheless, the album sold poorly (peaking at 119 on the Billboard Charts
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
) and Giant Records dropped him and Oaktown Records from their roster
Roster
A roster is a list of names of people involved with an organization of some kind.A roster can be a list of people and the times when they are required to work or a list of students in a classroom....
.
However, with his appearance on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
's Behind the Music
Behind the Music
Behind the Music is a television series on VH1. It originally ran from 1997 to 2006, before it was stopped and only aired new episodes sporadically. The series places its generality on documentation of musical artists or groups who are interviewed and profiled, and discuss how their careers became...
, which showcased songs from the album at that time, the album did get notable attention with "Going Up Yonder" and "Sultry Funk" getting moderate radio play.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0520956/ It is well liked by devout Hammer fans, even considered one of his best artistically
Artistic director (music)
An artistic director may refer to someone who directs a musical ensemble, and in this medium, is often abbreviated as simply Director. The typical jobs of a musical artistic director are to choose repertoire for the ensemble, come up with an artistic vision for the group and also a long-term...
.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002L45
This album had not sold as well as its predecessors. Some claimed it was victim of the "crab mentality
Crab mentality
Crab mentality, sometimes referred to as crabs in the bucket, describes a way of thinking best described by the phrase "if I can't have it, neither can you." The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs...
".http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002L44 Hammer would go on to explain in this album that he felt many of his so-called friends he staffed used and betrayed him which contributed to a majority of his financial loss (best explained in the song "Keep On").http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000025ZX0 He would also hint about this again in past and recent interviews, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
in 2009 (as well as The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
in 1997).http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2009/03/its_hammer_time.php
Hammer thanks Eazy-E
Eazy-E
Eric Lynn Wright , better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and in the hip hop group N.W.A. Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton, California...
for introducing him every night they were on tour together in 1991 on the track "Nothin But Love (A Song for Eazy)", which was dedicated to him after his death.
Track listing
- "Luv-N-Happiness"
- "Sultry Funk" (featuring VMF)
- "Anything Goes on the Dance Floor"
- "I Hope Things Change"
- "Keep On"
- "Everything Is Alright"
- "I Need That Number"
- "Bustin' Loose"
- "Nothin But Love (A Song for Eazy)"
- "Goin' Up Yonder"
- "He Keeps Doing Great Things for Me"
- "A Brighter Day"
- "Keep On" sampledSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
"Never Too MuchNever Too Much"Never Too Much" is a song by the late R&B singer/songwriter Luther Vandross. The song was released in 1981, as the title track of the album of the same name. The title track hit number one on the soul singles chart and peaked at number thirty-three on the Hot 100...
" by Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
.