"2 Legit 2 Quit" is a single by Hammer featuring Saja, released on September 5, 1991 as both the title track and first single of his fourth studio album, Too Legit to Quit. It proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 5. The single also peaked at No. 60 on the UK Singles Chart. In March 2003, Hammer released a version of the song featuring Saja.
Music video
The music video was directed by Rupert Wainwright, and at almost 15 minutes in length, was one of the most expensive videos ever produced. 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 a number of celebrities. 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. The performance is high-budget and laden with pyrotechnics. The video ends with a purported Jackson 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. The song's music video features several athletes making cameo appearances. These athletes can be seen 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. As a result of the appearance of various Falcons team members in the video, the 1991 team became known as the "2 Legit 2 Quit" Falcons, utilizing the song as their team theme song. The uncut version of the video also featured cameos from Danny Glover, Henry Winkler, Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, Eazy-E, DJ Quik, 2nd II None, Tony Danza, Queen Latifah and Milli Vanilli among others commenting on Hammer's apparent decision to "quit". The video was No. 5 in MAX music'sWorld'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. A hand gesture became popular as a result of the title song and video which was also shown in the "Addams Groove" movie video and on MTV. It involved forming the number two for "Too", an L for "Legit", and a "cut" motion for "Quit" with the hand and fingers.
Dance challenge
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. 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. Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.
