Patrick L. Randall | Silver Spring, MD | 02/03/2003
(1 out of 5 stars)
""The Funky Headhunter" was one of the worst ideas that Hammer (nee' MC Hammer) could have come up with. It proved that he was not completely committed to dance-drive, entertaining brand of rap, and was influenced by the criticisms of others of his earlier efforts. While it is true that his two mega-hit albums "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em" and "Too Legit 2 Quit" don't quite qualify as 'hardcore' rap (Heck they aren't even in the same zip code), they did earn Hammer a legion of fans who loved his style of music. Unfortunately, he caved to the criticism and came out with this 'hardcore' album. His reputation with the tougher elements of the hip-hop industry was already cemented. So, there was no way this album could change their views. The effect it did have was that it alienated all of fans who enjoyed his earlier work. Raunchy bump-and-grind tracks like "pumps and a bump" and lackluster anthems like "It's all good" are just embarrassing attempts to obtain some sort of 'credibility'. Hammer should never had made this album. It is hardly surprising that his career imploded after this."
Did He Say 'ULTIMATE O.G.'? HaHaHa...
Decatur Redd | Decatur,GA | 01/12/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Mayne,mayne,mayne...by the time this album dropped, Death Row was rakin' in millions with Dre,Snoop, and the Dogg Pound, dance/pop-rap had become a thing of the past, Hammer was goin' broke and perplexed cause his peeps had flipped on him and his sells were droppin' dramatically behind Too Legit,Hammer started kickin' it with Suge & Tha Row, and on top o' that, other lyricists had jokes. So Funky Headhunter was pretty much Hammer's war declaration to all the critics from inside and outside his circle. The production was, of course, tight, bein' that some of the tracks were laid by Daz & Kurupt(DPG)...as a matter of fact, some joints were remindin' me of Too Short when they weren't soundin' like Snoop should've come thru with some cameos. Vintage Hammer music, danceable hits, only with a lot more edge, darkness, and intensity. The only problem that I had with this release,however, was the fact that my boi tried to take his image from Church hop to Crip hop...how you gonna go from 'Do Not Pass Me By' to claimin' to be an Oaktown Mack and the Ultimate O.G., bustin' on Q-Tip, Redman, Blacksheep(weak disses I might add), and thus crucifyin' your credibility? Lookin' back, Hammer was keepin' it reallest when he was dance-rappin', sellin'/makin' millions, and turnin' a deaf ear to the 'gangsta' critics who later popped out themselves. But musically, Funky Headhunters a keeper."
YES, I'M STILL DOWN WIT MC HAMMER!
MICHAEL TAYLOR | RICHMOND, VA USA | 01/13/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"OUT OF ALL OF HAMMER'S ALBUMS, THIS ONE IS THE BEST. THIS ALBUM FLOPPED DUE TO THE FACT THAT HAMMER HAD TRYED TO GO GANGSTA. ACTUALLY, HAMMER SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT MORE LYRICS ON THIS ALBUM, HE USES BETTER BEATS, AND HE EVEN SOUNDS BETTER ON THIS ALBUM. SURE, HAMMER WAS SERIOUSLY GOING UNDER AT THE TIME THIS ALBUM HIT THE STORES, BUT IT WAS A GREAT ALBUM. THE BEST SONGS ARE ''HELP LORD [WON'T YOU COME]?'', ''IT'S ALL GOOD'', ''ONE MORE TIME'', ''SLEEPIN ON A MASTER PLAN'', ''BREAK EM OFF SOMETHIN PROPER'', AND ''SOMETHIN BOUT THE GOLDIE IN ME''. EVEN THOUGH HAMMER WAS TRYIN TO BE GANGSTA ON THIS ALBUM, HE STILL MANAGED TO KEEP HIS LYRICS CLEAN. THIS CD IS A KICK-A** CD. IT HAS SOME SUPRISINGLY GOOD FLOWS AND IT HAS SOME GOOD SONGS THAT'RE GREAT FOR PARTYING. IF YOU LISTEN TO THE LYRICS, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT HAMMER DISSED MC SERCH FROM 3RD BASS, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, RUN DMC, REDMAN, KRISS KROSS, AND RODNEY O. THA DOGG POUND LAY DOWN A FEW LINES ON ''SLEEPIN ON A MASTER PLAN''."
Hammer is less than funky
Jeff Harris | Cleveland, Ohio | 02/12/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"In listening to this CD, the desperate struggle of Hammer to avoid himself is apparent. Hammer, after dropping 2 successful dance albums, decided to change with the times and become more "hardcore". Unfortunately, Hammer is not hardcore. By attempting to fool listeners by dropping the MC, he also tried to stress his true "OG" nature. Hammer, listen up, I know you are broke right now and are pawning platinum albums for 40 ouncers, your mistake was a lack of sticking to what brought you to the dance. This cd is not bad for dance fans like myself, however for its hardcore imitation, it is weak at best. Even NAS is harder than this. If you like dance songs like "Pumps and a Bump" you would enjoy this cd. If you lived and died with such classics as "Have You Seen Her", well, listen to Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em more. LATE®"
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! The Pumps and a Bump!!!
g-g-gunit | oregon,tigard,U.S.a | 12/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Pumps and a Bump is the tightest song i've ever heard. That song is total gangsta. If this album didn't have this song and One Mo' Time, this album would be a 1 star album. With those two songs I think it deserves 5 Stars."