Tupac Shakur, in rare footage, voices his opinion on MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” massive single, claiming the rapper is diluting hip hop.
In the rare footage, KRON TV’s Dominique Diprima receives a shocking answer when asking Tupac what is his favorite Rap Song. Before asking a young 20-year-old Tupac, the host would ask DJ Fuze who was sitting right next to the 2Paclypse Now artist. “I’m not going to ask you because you’re going to say something like Raw Fusion,” Diprima says to Fuze on “The Up” special hip hop show.
Consisting to Money B and DJ Fuze, Raw Fusion is a hip hop group out of Oakland. Tupac all too familiar with its members who like himself were part of Digital Underground, surprisingly gave the host his favorite rap song. “Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer,” Tupac said. “Cause it’s raging and his funky. Its funky dance steps.”
The host not taking Tupac’s answer seriously as Shakur laughed, asked the audience why so many are not taking Hammer seriously pointing out he had sold 10 million albums. “I’m not getting on Hammer. He did sell 10 million records, but crack fiends bought 10 million rocks, doesn’t mean crack is good. Selling records don’t mean nothing.”
In true Tupac fashion, the hip hop legend went on to advocate for a strong message in hip hop music. “He’s diluting rap,” Tupac explained. “The reason everybody is buying his record is because he’s not threat.”
Tupac would know a thing or two about being a threat, as his debut project “2Paclypse Now” was meet with much criticism. Although the album gave us hits such as “Brenda’s Got A Baby,” other songs on the project was look upon as a “threat.” But, for Tupac it was all about the message in these songs as he encouraged his generation to fight back against those who oppressed and abused their powers.
The album would garner attention from then Vice President Dan Quayle who publicly criticized after Ronald Ray Howard murder a Texas state trooper and his defense attorney claimed he was influenced by 2Pacalypse Now and its strong theme of police brutality. Quayle made the statement on national television speaking of Tupac, “There’s no reason for a record like this to be released. It has no place in our society.” A statement which shocked Tupac and made his realize the power of his music.
Despite Tupac’s comments about MC Hammer, the two would build a strong relationship. During Tupac’s time with Death Row records, Hammer and Tupac would also record music together. In fact, Tupac was ready to help Hammer with a new album which would have been released via Death Row records as well.
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