Both will.i.am and MC Hammer have carved out legacies that extend far beyond the recording studio. While they have collectively sold millions of albums and generated billions of streams, their shared impact on music, technology, and popular culture remains a defining characteristic of their careers. In the latest episode of Uproxx‘s series Visionaries Moments, will.i.am offers a heartfelt tribute to the man who helped shape his perspective on innovation.
Reflecting on Hammer’s monumental influence, will.i.am noted, “He gave us the path to cartoons, movies, MTV Music Awards, Grammys. He’s the first freaking hip-hop global Michael Jackson phenomenon. You get no bigger than Hammer.”
The conversation also touched upon the lesser-known origins of Hammer’s business acumen. Long before he was a household name, MC Hammer worked with the Oakland Athletics, a role that provided him with unique insights into talent acquisition and scouting. He eventually shared these lessons with will.i.am, explaining how he applied the same rigor used by baseball scouts to the tech world.
“He’s like, ‘I scout all the IT colleges. I go to Georgia Tech, Caltech.’ I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s where you find the talent. Then I bring that talent up here to the Bay. That’s why I’m MC Hammer up here.’ I’m like, ‘This dude done crack the code,'” will.i.am shared. “So, this concept of MC Hammer’s broke. Nah, n*gga, y’all caught up in the wrong hoopla. MC Hammer, and you will be rewarded. That dude.”
For those interested in the intersection of hip-hop and technology, the full episode of Visionaries Moments provides a fascinating look at how these two legends continue to push boundaries. You can watch the full segment in the video above.
