Vault: Interview With MC Hammer

Summary

The Bert Show – Vault: Interview With MC Hammer

Date: October 27, 2025
Host: The Bert Show Cast (Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy & others)
Guest: MC Hammer

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Overview of the Episode

This vault episode of The Bert Show features a candid and charismatic interview with hip-hop icon MC Hammer. The hosts—overtly starstruck—invite Hammer to reflect on his legendary career, the highs and lows of fame, his financial choices, philanthropic motivations, the mark he left on music and fashion, and his perspective on legacy. Hammer’s responses are energetic, witty, and demonstrate deep self-awareness, making for an engaging listen that blends nostalgia with insight.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nostalgia & Introductions

• The hosts’ excitement is palpable, immediately harkening back to their childhood fandom.
  • "When we had MC Hammer on the show, I was like a 12 year old all over again. Hammer." (Interviewer 1, 01:46)
• MC Hammer greets the team warmly, setting a friendly tone.
  • "Good morning. How you doing?" (MC Hammer, 01:54)

2. Addressing the Highs and Lows: Life Story & Movie

• The conversation starts with a question about reflecting on both the ‘highs and lows’ of Hammer’s life.
  • Question: “Is it painful to sit back and write about your life because there were so many highs and so many lows?” (Interviewer 1, 02:12)
• MC Hammer reframes the narrative:
  • Quote: "As a matter of fact, it's the opposite. There's so many highs and only one low... Life is not one moment. Your life is made up of many moments put together that equals life." (MC Hammer, 02:20)
• He briefly recounts his journey from East Oakland to international stardom and numerous awards.
  • Quote: "I was born many years ago and began my life in East Oakland in humble beginnings. And from there have gone on to see the world... been around the world nine or 10 times, played in front of millions... collected numerous awards... absolutely, it's been a great life now." (MC Hammer, 02:20)

3. The Money Question: Spending, Payroll, and Choices

• Bert asks directly how Hammer 'spent the money', addressing his infamous financial woes.
  • Quote: "I had a payroll of $800,000 a month, over 200 employees... very simple math... puts a big dent on anybody's fortune. But it was a conscious decision that I made." (MC Hammer, 03:07)
  • Hammer emphasizes that it was his choice to employ people in his community and take care of others.
  • Quote: "I always said if I make it that I would help others out. Money... I didn't start this, you know, this business or being an artist to make money. I became an artist because I knew I had a talent." (MC Hammer, 03:42)
• Hammer clarifies his intent was philanthropy, not just extravagance.

4. Legacy: Will It Be About Triumph or Loss?

• The hosts probe what Hammer believes his ultimate legacy will be, considering the media's focus on his financial downfall.
  • Question: "Is the legacy that you're leaving... gonna be that you were so big or that you lost all that money?" (Interviewer 1, 04:07)
• Hammer responds assertively:
  • Quote: "It depends on who you're talking to... If you're talking to people who are unaccomplished... then they'll focus on... 'If I had one Hammerhead, I would have done it this way.'... One moment will never take away my talent." (MC Hammer, 04:19)

5. Philanthropy: Would Hammer Make the Same Choices Again?

• The team asks if Hammer would repeat the same approach if he became wealthy again.
  • Hammer answers thoughtfully—he’s learned there are many ways to help your community, not just through direct employment.
  • Quote: "You can utilize parts of your own [wealth] and then you have... non-profits... corporations... government programs... Certainly if it's not direct employment, I will still be doing things to help my community. That is my calling." (MC Hammer, 04:47)

6. Influence & Innovator Status in Hip Hop and Fashion

• The hosts bring up Hammer’s influence on acts like Puffy (Sean Combs/Diddy) and discussions about big-budget performances in hip-hop.

  • Quote: "I definitely can... see the influence... that I have on Puffy and others, and that's always flattering. But at the end of the day, I'm me... MC Hammer is MC Hammer at the end of the day." (MC Hammer, 05:47)

• They discuss the upcoming ‘J Slick’ clothing line, tying into his history of influencing fashion.

  • Quote: "I've been affecting fashion for quite a while... from the very first time with the baggy pants... And so to diversify into fashion is a natural thing." (MC Hammer, 06:20)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There's so many highs and only one low. Life is not one moment. Your life is made up of many moments put together that equals life.” (MC Hammer, 02:20)
• "I had a payroll of $800,000 a month, over 200 employees... it was a conscious decision... I always said if I make it that I would help others out." (MC Hammer, 03:07–03:42)
• “If you're talking to people who are unaccomplished... then they'll focus on... 'If I had one Hammerhead, I would have done it this way.'... One moment will never take away my talent." (MC Hammer, 04:19)
• “Certainly if it's not direct employment, I will still be doing things to help my community. That is my calling.” (MC Hammer, 04:47)
• “When you see me do my thing, you'll see... it's flatter to have others who do parts of my act. But MC Hammer is MC Hammer at the end of the day.” (MC Hammer, 05:47)
• "To diversify into fashion is a natural thing. Most performers are creative... It's just again, another byproduct of what we do." (MC Hammer, 06:20)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:46: Interviewers express excitement and introduce MC Hammer.
• 02:20: MC Hammer philosophizes on life’s highs and lows.
• 03:07: Transparency about finances—$800,000/month payroll and philanthropic intent.
• 03:42: Discussion about helping his community and personal motivations.
• 04:19: Hammer addresses perceptions of his legacy.
• 04:47: Would Hammer do it all again? Exploring philanthropy in new forms.
• 05:42–06:13: His influence on modern performers and thoughts on fashion.

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Tone Reflection

The tone is fun, casual, and nostalgic, with Hammer striking a balance between humility and pride in his achievements. He’s direct but jovial in addressing the legends and rumors, and he leaves no doubt about the impact he’s had or the thoughtful purpose behind his decisions. The hosts maintain their energetic, irreverent “best morning radio” vibe, making the chat fast-paced and relatable.

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Summary

This episode offers more than a celebrity check-in—it’s a meaningful reflection on success, purpose, and resilience from MC Hammer, told with humor, wisdom, and enduring confidence. Fans and newcomers alike will walk away with a deeper appreciation for the man behind the parachute pants.

Transcript

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[MC Hammer]

The Birch Show.

[Interviewer 1]

I'm a huge dork. Listen to this. When we had MC Hammer on the show, I was like a 12 year old all over again. Hammer.

[MC Hammer]

Hey, good morning. How you doing?

[Interviewer 1]

This is the coolest thing ever. We're talking to Hammer.

[MC Hammer]

All right. Good morning. Good morning, Good morning.

[Interviewer 1]

Now, are you referred to now as MC Hammer? Are we back to Hammer? What are we at now?

[MC Hammer]

MC Hammer.

[Interviewer 1]

MC Hammer.

[Interviewer 2]

MC Hammer. Cougar Mellencamp.

[Interviewer 1]

Man, it is good to talk to you.

[MC Hammer]

Well, it's my pleasure.

[Interviewer 1]

Wow.

[Hers Weight Loss Advertiser]

This.

[Interviewer 1]

I mean, there are so many questions. I guess we can start with is it painful to sit back and write about your life because there were so many highs and so many lows?

[MC Hammer]

As a matter of fact, it's the opposite. There's so many highs and only one low. It's the opposite. That's what's great about the movie. The movie allows the reality of what life is. Life is not one moment. Your life is made up of many moments put together that equals life. But probably from a sensationalism standpoint, it's easier to focus on one point because again, it sells better. But life. I was born many years ago and began my life in East Oakland in humble beginnings. And from there have gone on to see the world, been around the world nine or 10 times, played in front of millions of people, collected numerous awards from Grammys to American Music Awards to Moon Men to, you name it. So, absolutely, it's been a great life now.

[Interviewer 2]

Hey, Hammer. Bert has been asking. He's like, I gotta ask MC Hammer how he spent the money.

[MC Hammer]

The reality is, in actuality, I had a payroll of $800,000 a month, over 200 employees. And the real fact of the matter is, if very simple math, $800,000 a month for over 36 months puts a big dent on anybody's fortune. But it was a conscious decision that I made. By nobody stretch of anybody's imagination, do I not have the ability to calculate my math? It was a conscious decision. I had many employees from my community and I wanted to get them to work. And I made that decision. I Biden, here I am, no problem at all.

[Interviewer 1]

Were these people that were really helping MC Hammer out though? Or were these people you were just taking care of?

[MC Hammer]

Well, you know, I was taking care of them, but it was, at the end of the day, it was, you know, it was my dream. So I wanted to see middle class African Americans from our community, and I was making a whole lot of money and I wanted to be a part of facilitating that dream. I always said if I make it that I would help others out. Money I didn't make money. I didn't start this, you know, this business or being an artist to make money. I became an artist because I knew I had a talent.

[Interviewer 1]

Do you think the legacy that you're gonna leave, and this is a hard question to ask, and don't get mad at me, but let me ask you a hard question. Is the legacy that you're leaving, is it gonna be that you were so big or that you lost all that money?

[MC Hammer]

Well, it depends on who you're talking to. If you're talking to people who are unaccomplished in their own lives and never reach certain goals that they have for themselves. Then they'll focus on. Man, if I had one Hammerhead, I would have done it this way. So I'm excited about the legacy that will be left behind. And nothing that, you know, one moment will never take away my talent.

[Interviewer 3]

So I'm curious if, okay, let's just.

[MC Hammer]

Say that you get successful again monetarily.

[Interviewer 3]

Like you did before, will you hire.

[MC Hammer]

As many people as you did before? Will you make. Will you do that again in another fashion today? We understand, and I'll say I, and again shoulder that responsibility today. I understand that there are other ways to be a philanthropist. You can utilize parts of your own and then you have, you know, non profits and you have corporations that will participate. And then you have actually government, government programs that are set up if you know how to access them to help your community. So certainly if it's not direct employment, I will still be doing things to help my community. That is my calling. And again, one bump in the road does not change that.

[Interviewer 2]

You know, obviously you're a pioneer, you know, and you help bring rap mainstream and you were part of all that. But does it like when you're watching TV now and you see like, I'm trying to think of a rap artist before MC Hammer, who was up on stage with like a huge church choir, you know, backing him up, and now you see Puffy's doing that.

[Interviewer 1]

Puffy is MC Hammer from the year 2000. I mean, what's your act? Isn't it?

[MC Hammer]

Well, I mean, I definitely can, you know, see the influence, you know, that I have on Puffy and others, and that's always flattering. But at the end of the day, I'm me, you know, and again, I'm walking around with a 31 inch waist and 4% body fat. So when you see me do my thing, you'll see that it's flatter to have others who do parts of my act. But MC Hammer is MC Hammer at the end of the day.

[Verizon Advertiser]

So like Sean Puffy, though, and like J. Lo, you know, they started clothing lines and you're coming out with J Slick, that's your new clothing line.

[MC Hammer]

Well, you know, again, I've been affecting fashion for quite a while from, you know, from the very first time with the baggy pants and all that. It actually end up affecting all fashion. And they end up wearing, you know, as the kids wear today, nothing but baggy clothing. And so to diversify into fashion is a natural thing. Most performers are creative. They like to, you know, they like to create their own wardrobe. So it's just again, another byproduct of what we do.

[Interviewer 2]

Oh, nice mc.

[Interviewer 1]

Hammer. Hammer, this was so great talking to you. Thanks for joining us, man.

[MC Hammer]

Well, thank you. God bless you guys. Take care.

[Interviewer 1]

Take care. Bye now.

[MC Hammer]

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[Verizon Advertiser]

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