Inside Out

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineOn Inside Out, MC Hammer returned to his old moniker, as well as moving back to the more pop-oriented sound of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em. Although the album initially fared well on the R&B charts, it didn't have much staying power, which could be due to the inconsistent quality of the record. MC Hammer seems unsure of himself throughout the album, attempting to gain some street credibility and a mass audience simultaneously. The result is a record that has a few good isolated moments, but never delivers a knockout punch, let alone a memorable hook or groove.