Updated Friday, Sept. 14, 2023, to include info about GRAMMY.com's coverage of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop.
Today, MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" is known as one of the defining rap classics of the early '90s. Of course, the song was a massive hit upon its release, too — and it scored Hammer two golden gramophones at the 1991 GRAMMYs, in both rap and R&B categories.
In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, turn back the clock to 1991 and revisit Hammer's heartfelt, off-the-cuff acceptance speech for Best Rap Solo Performance. As he stood at the podium, the rapper admitted he didn't have the complete list of names of people he wanted to thank — so instead, he spoke from the heart.
"First of all, I would like to thank God for this honor," Hammer said. "Without Him, I know it's not possible."
He went on to thank the people at his record label who supported him throughout the creation of the song, and concluded with a mention of something that was weighing heavy on the hearts of many in early 1991: the Gulf War.
"Once again, I would like to send this one out to the family and the men and women who are putting their lives on the line for us in the Persian Gulf," Hammer concluded before he left the stage, receiving a rousing round of applause.
The early-'90s Middle East conflict was a hot topic in the U.S. at the time of the 33rd GRAMMY Awards. Just before the 1991 GRAMMYs took place, Hammer was part of a star-studded, all-genre cast of singers who recorded a new group version of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" in light of the war.
Press play on the video above to watch Hammer's full acceptance speech for Best Rap Solo Performance. Keep checking back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind, and check out GRAMMY.com’s content for the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop, from a Guide To Bay Area Hip-Hop (which includes MC Hammer, an Oakland native) and 50 Artists Who Changed Rap.
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