Which rapper is best known for the hit 'U Can't Touch This'?

MC Hammer is best known for the hit “U Can’t Touch This.” The song was released in 1990 as the signature single from his third album, “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ’Em,” and became one of the most recognizable crossover hits in hip-hop.

MC Hammer, whose real name is Stanley Kirk Burrell, built the track around the opening riff from Rick James’s 1981 funk song “Super Freak.” The instantly recognizable sample, Hammer’s energetic delivery, and his elaborate choreography helped the song reach audiences far beyond rap’s core market.

“U Can’t Touch This” became a major chart success, reaching number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Its chorus and the phrase “Hammer time” became enduring pop-culture catchphrases.

The song also earned two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Song and Best Rap Solo Performance. Its use of “Super Freak” led to a copyright dispute with Rick James and other credited writers, which was settled by granting them songwriting credit. The track is therefore associated with MC Hammer, not Sir Mix-a-Lot, Will Smith, or Vanilla Ice.