| 2 Legit 2 Quit | |
| Cover: | TooLegitToQuit-MCHammersingle.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Hammer |
| Album: | Too Legit to Quit |
| Recorded: | 1989–1991 |
| Length: | 7:12 5:10 (7" version) 5:36 (album version) 7:52 (legit remix) 10:16 (get bucked mix) |
| Label: | Capitol |
| Producer: | MC Hammer |
| Prev Title: | Here Comes the Hammer |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | Addams Groove |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
"2 Legit 2 Quit" is a song by American rapper Hammer featuring Saja (a.k.a. Sonia Moore), released on September 5, 1991 as the first single from his fourth studio album. The song proved to be successful in the US, peaking in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 5. It also peaked at No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart.
Simon Dudfield from NME wrote, "Mediocre hip-hop beats coupled with a cockney chorus of 'So What?' (sampled from Alexei Sayle???) leaves you wondering if this is the last track off the album to become a single or what?"[1]
At almost 15 minutes in length, the accompanying music video for "2 Legit 2 Quit", directed by Rupert Wainwright,[2] was one of the most expensive videos ever produced.[3]
The uncut version of the video begins with a newscaster, played by Jim Belushi, reporting on Hammer's apparent decision to quit the music business, as well as responses from numerous celebrities including Danny Glover, Henry Winkler, Freedom Williams, David Faustino, Barry Sobel, Ralph Tresvant, Mark and Donnie Wahlberg, Eazy-E, DJ Quik, 2nd II None, Tony Danza, Queen Latifah and Milli Vanilli.[3] It then cuts to an impatient crowd waiting for Hammer to perform, while Hammer has a lengthy conversation with James Brown, who calls Hammer "Godson" and enlists him to get the glove of Michael Jackson. Brown endows Hammer with several blasts of energy before sending Hammer off to perform. After a high-budget performance laden with pyrotechnics, the video ends with a purported Jackson (seen only from behind) having seen the performance and conceding Hammer to be the superior dancer, while doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. Hammer spoke with Jackson on the phone about the video, with Jackson giving his approval.[4]
The video also features the following athletes making cameo appearances in the following order: José Canseco, Isiah Thomas, Kirby Puckett, Jerry Rice, Rickey Henderson, Deion Sanders, Andre Rison, Wayne Gretzky, Chris Mullin, Roger Clemens, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott, Lynette Woodard, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, David Robinson, and former Atlanta Falcons coach Jerry Glanville. Because various Falcons team members appeared in the video, the 1991 team was dubbed the "2 Legit 2 Quit" Falcons for utilizing the song as their team theme song.
The video was No. 5 in MAX Music's World's Worst Ever Video countdown, and No. 1 in its Forgotten Video Clips countdown in 2008. It was also voted No. 24 on MTV's all-time "25 Lame" countdown in 1999. However, it has been selected as a viewer's favorite by VH1.[5]
A hand gesture, popularized by the title song and video and also shown in the "Addams Groove" movie video and on MTV, involved forming the number two for "Too", an L for "Legit", and a "cut" motion for "Quit" with the hand and fingers (as seen in the video).[6]
At the end of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video, after James Brown enlists Hammer to obtain the glove of Michael Jackson, a silver-white sequined glove is shown on the hand of a Jackson look-alike doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. It was a reference to Hammer wanting to challenge Jackson to a dance-off for rights to his famous glove, which is also referenced on the album.[7]
Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.[8] [9] [10] M.C. Hammer appeared on The Wendy Williams Show on July 27, 2009 and told a story about a phone call he received from Michael Jackson, regarding the portion of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video that included a fake Jackson, giving his approval and inclusion of it. He explained how Jackson had seen the video and liked it, and both expressed they were a fan of each other.[11]
On the December 7, 1991 episode of Saturday Night Live, Hammer was the host and musical guest, performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" and two other songs.
In 1991, the song along with Hammer's "Addams Groove", was featured in the film The Addams Family.
For the opening of the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards, Rick Ross, Diddy and DJ Khaled performed "MC Hammer" (from the Teflon Don album), at which point Hammer stepped out to perform "2 Legit 2 Quit".[12] [13] [14]
At the 40th American Music Awards, in November 2012, Hammer danced to "2 Legit 2 Quit" and "Gangnam Style" alongside Psy, both wearing his signature Hammer pants.[15] [16] The mashup, suggested by Psy's manager,[17] was repeated by the two stars on December 31, 2012 during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve and was released on iTunes.[18]
| Chart (1991—1992) | Peak Position | |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] | 37 | |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] | 18 | |
| Italy Singles (Music&Media)[21] | 5 | |
| UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 60 | |
| US Billboard Hot 100[23] | 5 | |
| US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)[24] | 3 | |
| US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard) | 4 | |
| US Hot Dance Music/Club Play (Billboard)[25] | 1 |
. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 550.
. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 386.
. Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 171.