#Statue of Unity summer trip

[statueofunitytentcity]

Statue of Unity: Best Summer Getaway in Gujarat

Escape the heat and enjoy a refreshing summer vacation at the Statue of Unity. Explore scenic landscapes, riverfront activities, and luxury tent stays at Tent City-1. This guide offers tips, attractions, and everything you need for a perfect summer holiday in Gujarat’s iconic destination.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Back in 2005, shortly after Arafat’s death, the situation appeared more open. The PA agreed, in coordination with the governments of Israel and the United States, to hold new elections for its presidency and its parliament (both of which have tightly limited powers under Oslo). This time around, Hamas’s leaders agreed to take part in the parliamentary election. It was the first time Hamas showed a willingness to work within the Oslo framework, the clear goal of which was always understood by the PLO and all other Palestinian and Arab leaders to be the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. When those elections were held in January 2006, Hamas won them handily, taking 74 of the council’s 132 seats. The victory stunned the traditional Fatah leaders of the PA and their backers in Washington and Tel Aviv. In a reporting trip to the region soon thereafter, I found that Hamas’s success reflected a combination of skills: a history of having provided helpful community services to different grassroots constituencies; a reputation for generally “clean hands” (unlike Fatah); effective organizing through women’s networks, with several Hamas women leaders getting elected to the parliament; and good electoral discipline, not running more candidates than there were seats in multi-seat constituencies, as Fatah and its allies did in several places. The elections gave the PLO and its U.S. and Israeli allies a great opportunity to work to find a way to draw Hamas into the political process. Hamas was willing, too, initially making inroads to form a “government of national unity” with Fatah. But the reaction from Israel and Washington was harsh. They threatened to kill any of the newly elected legislators who would agree to join such a government—which I know because I was the conduit for conveying one such threat. Later, Washington and Israel persuaded Fatah to start plotting to overthrow the newly elected leaders of the PA’s parliament and premiership. In 2007 Fatah tried to launch a violent coup against Hamas, but Hamas leaders in Gaza rebuffed the attempt. Afterwards, Hamas set about institutionalizing their position in Gaza while Fatah retreated, with their generous U.S. funding, to Ramallah in the West Bank. All the while, Hamas and its allies retained significant support in the West Bank and throughout the widespread Palestinian diaspora—and remained the democratically elected government in Gaza, although new elections have not been held since. Though by 2005 Israel had withdrawn all its civilian settlers from Gaza, it has always maintained very tight control over all the crossings through which people or goods could pass in or out of the Strip—until October 7, that is. The United Nations continues to deem Israel as the “occupying power” there, with all the responsibilities that status entails under international law. And since 2007, several Israeli governments have undertaken punishment raids into Gaza—actions that some Israeli commentators have cynically dubbed “mowing the lawn.” The raids of late 2008 and summer 2014 were particularly destructive, with thousands of Palestinians killed in total. Successive U.S. presidents have generally seemed happy to allow these incursions. And the United States’ position in the global political order has meant that its word is law.

[theotherverge]

☆~The Various Places of Otherverge~☆

If you haven't caught up to speed, I'm writing a middle-grade fantasy book that's accessible for those who have a hard time reading. It's about a girl signing up for The Lost Souls, a mysterious summer program akin to Girl Scouts. She discovers herself, meets new friends, and rebuilds her confidence in a parallel world where the sun is always down, people use rats for transportation, and a cactus can give you hints on where to go.

It's a story akin to the early Harry Potter stories, where the whimsical, escapist side of that world will be recontextualized and expanded upon for this story. Think of it as a love letter to the many Scholastic book fair books you might've seen and experienced at school!

If you're the curious kind and would love to learn more about a certain mysterious world hidden to the naked eye, welcome to a grab-bag of the various places Otherverge has to offer, as well as a few world-building bits to tie it all together.

-------------------------

Laxa Hotel: A recent addition to Otherverge, a high-quality pitstop for travelers, visitors, and Lost Souls. Ridiculously tall, free breakfast, and pet-friendly! You can see most of Otherverge's other areas at the very top of the building.

Activity Center: A place where the Lost Souls hang out, doing small activities, playing arcade games, communicating with each other, exercising, and any form of entertainment you can think of. You can even watch classic movies and cartoons within a built-in theatre with old movie reels Othervergian people received during their secret trips to Earth.

Rat Station: Using large and friendly RATS as transportation, RAT stations are used for a cluster of rats to be ridden as if you were on a bus. With these, you can hop from place to place every half-hour for free.

Romaburg: A bustling food and shopping district, here you can get the finest meals and coolest souvenirs FOR FREE... If you don't live there.

Lanterna: A large glow-in-the-dark tree where fireflies call home. One of Otherverge's most captivating landmarks

New Unity: After the Great Creator of Otherverge passed on, the people of the land created this city nearer to honor the late creature. A bronze statue in the center of the city depicts The Great Creature's supposed identity— A winged beast.

Mt. Pinpoint: A mountain that pierces the sky, once The Great Beast's domain. Now, it's considered a taboo and forbidden area to attempt exploring, to respect the deceased creature. It's very dangerous to climb the mountain, so don't even think about it unless you have a death wish.

Dunes of Violet: A seemingly endless wasteland with purple grains of sand, talking cacti, and an extremely chilly atmosphere. You may run into scorpions and centipedes, but they're harmless here.

Camarón Beach: Although lacking sunlight, this beach's chill vibes are still present. If you look off into the ocean's horizon, you can actually see groups of shrimp jump in and out of the water!

If you'd like to learn more about Otherverge and the girl who's gonna explore it all, make sure to follow me and stay tuned! Next time, I'll be talking about The Lost Souls program and the generous way it came to be. See you there!

[vardhmanvacations23]

Explore the Best of Gujarat with Gujarat Tour Packages

Gujarat is one of the most colorful and beautiful states in India. Located on the western side of the country, Gujarat is famous for its rich culture, historical sites, beautiful temples, and stunning landscapes. Gujarat Tour Packages help travelers explore this amazing state in an easy and comfortable way. Whether you are a nature lover, a history fan, or someone looking for a peaceful trip, Gujarat has something for everyone.

Why Choose Gujarat for Your Next Trip?

Gujarat is a perfect mix of tradition and modern life. The state is known for its festivals, handicrafts, wildlife, and food. It is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and you can visit many places connected to his life. From deserts and beaches to temples and wildlife sanctuaries, Gujarat has many things to offer.

Top Places to Visit in Gujarat

1. Gir National Park This park is the only home of the Asiatic Lions. A jungle safari in Gir is a must for wildlife lovers. You can also see animals like leopards, deer, and many birds.

2. Somnath Temple One of the 12 Jyotirlingas, Somnath Temple is a sacred place for Hindus. The temple is located near the sea, and the evening aarti is a peaceful experience.

3. Rann of Kutch This white salt desert becomes alive during the Rann Utsav, a festival full of dance, music, and culture. It is one of the most unique landscapes in India.

4. Dwarka This holy city is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The Dwarkadhish Temple, dedicated to Lord Krishna, attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.

5. Statue of Unity This is the tallest statue in the world, built in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is a major tourist attraction and also includes a museum and a viewing gallery.

6. Ahmedabad The capital city offers a mix of history and modern life. You can visit the Sabarmati Ashram, Kankaria Lake, and the old city markets for shopping and local food.

Types of Gujarat Tour Packages

1. Pilgrimage Tour Packages These packages cover important temples like Somnath, Dwarka, Ambaji, and Palitana. They are perfect for those looking for a spiritual journey.

2. Wildlife Tour Packages These include visits to Gir National Park, Blackbuck National Park, and other nature reserves. You can enjoy jungle safaris and bird watching.

3. Heritage Tour Packages These focus on historical sites like Lothal (an Indus Valley site), Champaner, and the forts and palaces of Gujarat. A great choice for history lovers.

4. Rann Utsav Tour Packages These are seasonal packages during the Rann Festival. You can enjoy cultural shows, folk music, and stay in desert tents.

5. Beach Tour Packages Gujarat has a long coastline with many peaceful beaches like Mandvi, Diu, and Tithal. These packages are good for a relaxing holiday.

Best Time to Visit Gujarat

The best time to visit Gujarat is from October to March. The weather is pleasant, and most festivals and fairs also take place during this period. Summer months can be very hot, especially in desert areas.

Local Food to Try

Gujarat is known for its vegetarian dishes. Some must-try foods include:

Dhokla

Thepla

Fafda and Jalebi

Undhiyu

Khandvi

You can find these delicious items in most local restaurants and food stalls.

Tips for Travelers

Dress modestly, especially while visiting temples.

Always carry water and sunscreen, especially during outdoor trips.

Respect local traditions and ask before taking photos of people.

Try to include a local guide for places like Gir or Rann of Kutch for a better experience.

Final Words

Gujarat Tour Packages are a great way to explore the beauty and culture of the state without any stress. Whether you are traveling alone, with family, or in a group, there is a package for every budget and interest. Book your Gujarat tour today and experience the colors, culture, and charm of this wonderful land.

[meet-tours-travel1]

Top 5 Must-Visit Destinations from Vadodara with Meet Tours and Travels

Have you ever felt the urge to just pack your bags and go for an adventure? Whether it’s the mountains calling, the waves of ocean whispering, or the ancient temples inviting, travel has a way of refreshing the soul.

 Planning a trip can be stressful—booking transport, finding the right hotels, sorting out sightseeing. That is where we, at Meet Tours & Travels, step in—to turn your travel dreams into a smooth and unforgettable reality.

So, if you are in Vadodara and thinking, “Where should I go next?” Here are 5 breathtaking destinations that are just a ride away.

1.The Statue of Unity – Experience History Like Never Before

Distance from Vadodara: 90 km (about 2 hours)

If you haven't had the chance to visit the Statue of Unity yet, now is the perfect opportunity. This iconic landmark offers so much more than just a statue—it's a whole experience waiting for you.

 Light & Sound Show – A captivating storytelling adventure

 River Cruise – Enjoy breathtaking views along the water

 Jungle Safari – Get up close with  nature lions, tigers, and exotic birds

 Join our One-Day Tour for a stress-free visit

2. Mount Abu – Chill in the Coolest Place 

Distance from Vadodara: 400 km (7-8 hours)

When the heat in Gujarat becomes too much to handle, Mount Abu is the ideal getaway. Picture yourself enjoying cool breezes, misty mornings, and breathtaking views all around!

Hike up to Guru Shikhar – the highest peak in Rajasthan

Explore the Dilwara Temples – where you can admire stunning marble carvings

 Enjoy a boat ride on Nakki Lake – a must for couples and families alike

Ready for a weekend adventure? Let’s hit the road.

3.Udaipur – The City of Lakes & Royalty

Distance from Vadodara: 340 km (6-7 hours)

Have you ever dreamed of living like a king or queen? Well, in Udaipur, that dream can become a reality. This enchanting city feels like a fairytale, complete with breathtaking palaces, serene lakes, and a rich heritage.

 Take a boat ride on Lake Pichola – Experience the royal treatment as you float by the majestic City Palace

Shop at Hathi Pol Bazaar – Discover exquisite Rajasthani handicrafts to take home

Visit Fateh Sagar Lake – The ideal spot to catch a stunning sunset

 Traveler Story:

Udaipur has been on my bucket list for age.Thanks to Meet Tours & Travels, everything was planned perfectly, allowing me to soak in the royal charm without a single worry. – Parth Patel, Vadodara

4. Daman & Diu – Your Beachside Paradise 

Distance from Vadodara: 300 km (5-6 hours)

Who says you have to travel all the way to Goa for that perfect beach experience? Daman & Diu offer everything you want in this summer holiday—soft sandy shores, mouth watering food, and a sprinkle of Portuguese history.

 Unwind at Jampore Beach – Ideal for leisurely strolls

Discover St. Jerome Fort – Know the history behind it.

Savor the local food – A delight for all the food lovers out there

So grab your swimsuits, and let’s make our way to the beach

5. Polo Forest – A Hidden Gem 

Distance from Vadodara: 150 km (3 hours)

Are you looking for a quick getaway into nature? Look no further than Polo Forest, Gujarat's best-kept secret.

 Hike through vibrant greenery

 Discover ancient ruins

 Camp beneath a blanket of stars

So, grab your bags and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.

Why choose Meet Tours & Travels for your next adventure?

 Comfortable & Safe Vehicles – Whether you prefer a luxury car or a spacious group bus, we have got you covered.

 Affordable Packages – Enjoy amazing experiences without any hidden fees.

 Expert Planning – We take care of all the logistics, allowing you to focus on enjoying the journey.

 Friendly Customer Support – Your comfort is our priority

 So, where will your next adventure take you? Let’s start planning your trip today.

 Give us a call now to book your dream getaway.

Name: Meet tours and travels | Taxi services in Vadodara | Cab service in Vadodara

Address: A-203 urban Residency, TP-1 Nr Neelkanth Heights, Sevasi, Vadodara 391101

Phone Number: +91–7984713560

Email- meettoursandtravels88@gmail.com

Website — https://sites.google.com/view/meet-tours-travels/home

[c-nilsen]

TASK 002: FINDING YOUR ROOTS

Where was your muse born?

Eureka, CA, born and raised, baby.

Were they the first born, middle or youngest? Are they an only child? Adopted?

Cyrus is the first born of the Nilsen clan, and has always taken that position very seriously.  He’s the epitome of an older brother, mostly in the positive ways, but in a few instances, the negative ones as well.  After him is his first sister Reina, followed by his two younger brothers Erik and Dustin respectively.  And then the Nilsen family was rounded out by the little storm known as Mia, the child of Eli Nilsen’s best friend and his god daughter.  After a fire took her father too soon, the Nilsen’s quickly changed her status from god-daughter to just daughter. 

Does your muse have a favorite memory with their family?

Perhaps it’s cheesy to say, but Cyrus’ favorite memories with his family are just the small ones.  A good family dinner where they fought over the uneven number of rolls, a Sunday spent cheering each other on at one of their numerous sports games.  A Wednesday afternoon in the Summer spent in the backyard all together instead of flung off around town with their friends. 

Does your muse get along with their family? What is the family dynamic?

The Nilsens are a tight knit group.  Togetherness and unity was something stressed to them as children, the idea that family (blood or chosen) was one’s greatest strength.  And while of course there were times when the kids fought, both a children and adults, their parents rule of never going to bed angry, was successful in keeping most fights sequestered to one day, rather than anything lengthy.  Much to his dismay, after the death of their parents in quick succession, while Cyrus had hoped the family would pull together, they started to drift apart, and he hopes to remedy that. 

Does your muse have a favorite family member? Why?

Does his son count?  If so, then yes.  If not, then no, he loves all his siblings and his parents for different reasons, but all the same amount. 

Best family vacation? The worst?

The Nilsens are a family of habits, and every other summer they’d spend two weeks up in Orca’s Island in Washington.  Never really went anywhere else, and while his siblings may have gotten tired of the same old scenery, Cyrus never did.  So much so he continued the tradition with his own son. 

What are the names of your muse’s parents? Siblings?

Eli Nilsen - Father Cynthia Nilsen - Mother Reina Nilson - Sister Erik Nilsen -brother Dustin Nilsen - brother Mia Nilsen - sister

Who does your muse take after more? Any habits?

His nature is much more similar to his mother, but with his father’s strong influence, he tends to act more like him.  A classic case of nature versus nurture.  Eli was very purposeful in instilling his values, habits and morals into Cyrus, knowing that with his job, it was a very real possibility that one day Cyrus would be the ‘man of the house’. 

Favorite and/or least favorite family traditions?

Favorite?  Sunday night dinner.  Least favorite: Waiting until Christmas night to open presents, rather than Christmas morning

Who has the weakest bladder on road trips?

Dustin. 

[ladymacbeth3759]

Analysis on Luca Guadagnino’s film (2) - Call Me By Your Name

This is really long, so please have patience while reading this. And because I translated it to English from my original language, there might be some mistakes.

Link to (1):

One of the most significant metaphor in this film is the greek statue. These sensual and ancient figures symbolize the nature of desire and physicality, and also represent the instinctive, irresistible love between Elio and Oliver. As an example, in the scene of cataloging the pictures of the statues, the words of Elio's father express these significance. Another scene also shows this metaphor very well. There is a scene in which the two have a little confrontation and after the subtle fight and jealousy, the camera shows the scene where they lift up the statue from the ocean. This scene can be interpreted as a metaphor that the desire became visible by bringing it above the surface as it began to be expressed as an emotion of jealousy. It means that the boundaries of emotions that were unclear until then have gradually became clearer. After the statue was brought up, the two call each other's names in a swimming scene. If there is a guideline in love, the first step will be recognizing each other's ‘existence’ (metaphysically speaking), and the last step will be taking a full look at each other's ‘existence’, the true self, a state of unity in which the other person becomes the other one, and vice versa, which is the idealistic idea of love. In that respect, it can be said that the two have already entered the stage of destined love. Following this, after making love for the first time, they call each other by their names.

    

In the next scene, the camera focuses on Elio sitting on a bench and reading a book, following the narration:

    

‘The Cosmic Fragments by Herclitus’

    

“The meaning of the river flowing is not that all things are changing so that we cannot encounter them twice but that some things stay the same only by changing.“

    

Human beings are existents that change from moment to moment, and human identity is what grows due to conflicting elements or events. One of the reasons ‘Call Me By Your Name’ is such a special movie is that it can be a movie about love but also can be a movie about growing up. In this scene, Oliver's voice specifically puts the contents of the book as a narration because probably he is the very ‘moment’, the very elicitor in Elio's life. Although it is not revealed through dialogue or narration in this film, Elio has a very important moment of choice. Before making his first love with Oliver, he continues to engage with Marzia. If we learn that some important moment will change ourselves forever, it will probably be confusing and we will try to stay in the stability that we’re standing on right now. So Elio looks forward to meet Oliver, but he also feels nervous that something might change in himself. Perhaps Oliver left the book in an attempt to share the voice of wisdom with Elio? Like a flowing river, humans will always change, and even in the moment of change, we will still be perfectly ‘ourselves’. Perhaps this is the most important narrative in growing into life.

    

In this film, there are many voices overlapping between scenes, which kind of reminds of the act of retracing memories through one’s mind. (When we sometimes try to remember various scenes from the past, some imagery or voices pop up first before continuing to the next scene.) Also when it is a scene that Elio's emotions are maximized, music is inserted, which can be seen as a hint that this was based on Elio's memories. And the scenes where the focus becomes blurry can also be the evidence of this assumption.

    

In an interview, director Luca said that the meaning of true love is to accept difference as itself. In other words, it can be said that true love is not distorting the other into an stereotyped image, but seeing the other’s true ‘self’ clearly. After the scene where Elio realizes his desire and makes a first kiss with Oliver, the camera captures the image of Elio, waiting for Oliver who is too cautious about love, who is trying so hard not to surrender. And the narration comes in the middle of this scene. 'Do I know you?' Elio asks himself if he ‘truly’ knows Oliver. Or Oliver truly knows him. Often in romance movies, looking into each other's eyes is considered a cliché. As it is said that the eye is the window to the soul, the act of looking at the eye is the final gesture of love, the gesture of wanting to understand other’s true soul (the existence, the idée-edea). This is realized when the two make love for the first time and change each other's names. What's interesting here is that it was Oliver, not Elio, who suggested this first. Even though the desire became visible, it was Elio who actively expressed it, and Oliver was the one who relatively rejected it and avoided it. Remind ourselves what Elio's father said at the very end of the movie. “Nature has cunning ways of finding our weakest spot”. Oliver, who is older and probably has some experience with love, is actually being realistic avoiding Elio. The fact that Oliver’s wound from riding a bike became more festered after the first kiss with Elio suggests that the nature has discovered such a weakness (love for Elio) from Oliver. It is also understandable that Oliver, who has completely surrendered for the fatalistic love after this, wants a full understanding of the other. He understands how love can make a person helpless and lead to despair. When people don’t try to see each other as the complete ‘true self’ or accept difference as itself, relationships between people becomes inevitably distorted and tragic. He has rejected the love for Elio because of this fear (including practical reasons), but nature brought him down to a state of exposure. Therefore, asking each other to call as each other's names can be seen that Oliver finally accepted what he refused because he was too afraid of being hurt or hurting the other, and praying only for the complete love from now on.

    

There are two related scenes that are very interesting to see in this regard. There is a scene where Oliver deliberately dances closely with another woman in front of Elio's eyes, and the next day the two confront each other. At that time, in the scene passing through the door, the person who passes through first, that is, the person who leads, is Oliver. And after the two have made love for the first time (when Oliver is completely surrendered by nature of love), in an awkward atmosphere, Elio passes through the door before Oliver. Through these two scenes, we can see that the power dianamic, or superiority in this relationship has been completely reversed.

    

At a square with a monument commemorating the Battle of Piave, the camera takes a brief shot ascending towards the sky. This is the scene where Elio confesses his love to Oliver without saying that he loves him. In previous work of Luca, he used movements of camera to symbolically express relationships and emotions between characters. From that point of view, perhaps it can be seen as a symbol that Elio's desire has risen to its peak, and at the same time, the change in the relationship between the two begins to drive forward. And although it may be a coincidence, the camera takes a shot from top to bottom in the scene where the two go on a trip together, before the scene where Oliver has to leave. And after a moment of the descending camera movement, there is a scene where Oliver remembers the memories of the two at Piave Square while watching Elio, who fell asleep after making love at the hotel. Then he abruptly turns to the side as the news of the sudden breakup attacks(the sound of the train). And immediately after that, the sound overlappes the scene of the train station. It is as if the journey of the two's love was brought up by fate and then settled down again.

    

The timing of this film and the Battle of Piave are also closely related. Because the time where they are in is the summer of 1983, that is, the time of the AIDS wave. They are in a kind of virtual world that is closely connected with the reality around them, as if they were in the eyes of a typhoon. Like Elio, who confessed love while standing next to a statue that symbolizes the damages, death of the war(which can be interpreted as the AIDS situation where hundreds of people’s lives were at stake), the gap between the world in which the two are staying and the real world outside the shell is expressed very interestingly in this film.

    

Another interesting ‘connection’ in this movie is the scene where Elio watches Oliver dancing. There are only two scenes where Oliver dances based on the same song. Elio, enamored with jealousy in the first scene, drinks while watching Oliver, and in the second scene, this continues to Elio being drunk while watching Oliver, and after that he vomits. Personally, I think these two scenes symbolize the beginning and the end. It is the structure of continuation in the movie. Like a formal symbol where a love like drunkenness begins and ends.

    

It is no coincidence that Oliver is the only American in this film, and is set in the position of a student who stays only for the summer. This is because the symbol of the stranger who suddenly appeares in the landscape where everything else perfectly melts into the background means, that the essence of love is that the differences between two world eventually make contact with each other's eyes. Even the difference ‘itself’ is accepted without any distortion. That is the purpose and theme of this film. When I watch this movie, I sometimes think that what this movie is trying to say is completely different from the other typical queer movies. Other queer movies pay attention to the “queerness” of queer, but this movie rather pays attention to the “universality”. The universality of enjoying and appreciating love is shared from all kinds of people all over the world. Despite being a queer film set in the 80s, there are no obstacles between the two protagonists. It is a choice to only show the journey of love, that magical universality. I'm a pessimetic person, so naturally I’m kind of skeptical of this so-called ‘universality’ and ‘nature of love’ that a film like this presents. Can you really accept someone with its full self without any distortion? Isn't the first thing to be addressed is the anwser to the question of ‘what is the essence of human being?’. Human senses inevitably entail distortion, and the brain, where survival instinct and the reason are mixed, attempts to shrink and simplify the multi-layered and obscure nature of humans to a minimum. Isn't the existence of others inevitably bound to collide with another? As other reviews of mine will say, I'm skeptical, but I'm not hopeless. This is because I think that the state of struggling to try is perhaps the only goal that humans should have. Maybe Director Luca have different opinions from mine, but I see this movie as part of that attempt. This fantasy, fairy tale love story looks so perfect and ideal. The director's attempt to present it as some kind of a living experience is definitely admirable.

    

In the last scene, when the camera calmly captures Elio's face and the ending credit goes up, the lingering emotion we feel is quite unforgettable. That scene feels ike they are finally proclaiming that this magical experience was forever over. When Elio's mother calls out towards Elio, what Elio heard was the obituary of the one united person, someone, Elio and Oliver.

[blackkudos]

M. C. Hammer

Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), better known by his stage name MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper, dancer, record producer and entrepreneur. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the early 1990s. Remembered for his rapid rise to fame, Hammer is known for hit records (such as "U Can't Touch This" and "2 Legit 2 Quit"), flashy dance movements, choreography and eponymous Hammer pants.

A multi-award winner, M.C. Hammer is considered a "forefather/pioneer" and innovator of pop-rap (incorporating elements of freestyle music), and is the first hip hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album. BET ranked Hammer as the No. 7 "Best Dancer Of All Time". Vibe's "The Best Rapper Ever Tournament" declared him the 17th favorite of all-time during the first round.

Burrell became a preacher during the late 1990s with a Christian ministry program on TBN called M.C. Hammer and Friends. Additionally, he starred in a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman in 1991, and was executive producer of his own reality show called Hammertime, which aired on the A&E Network during the summer of 2009. Hammer was also a television show host and dance judge on Dance Fever in 2003, was co-creator of a dance website called DanceJam.com, and is a record label CEO while still performing concerts at music venues and assisting with other social media, ministry and outreach functions. Prior to becoming ordained, Hammer signed with Suge Knight's Death Row Records by 1995.

Throughout his career, Hammer has managed his own recording business. As a result, he has created and produced his own acts including Ho Frat Hoo!, Oaktown's 3.5.7, Special Generation, Analise, DRS, B Angie B, and Gentry Kozia. A part of additional record labels, he has associated, collaborated and recorded with Psy, VMF, Tupac Shakur, Teddy Riley, Felton Pilate, Tha Dogg Pound, The Whole 9, The Hines Brother, Deion Sanders, Big Daddy Kane, BeBe & CeCe Winans and Jon Gibson.

Early life and education

Stanley Kirk Burrell was born on March 30, 1962 in Oakland, California. His father was a professional poker player and gambling casino manager (at Oaks Card Club's cardroom), as well as warehouse supervisor. He grew up poor with his mother (a secretary) and eight siblings in a small apartment in East Oakland. He recalled that six children were crammed into a three-bedroom housing project apartment. The Burrells would also frequent thoroughbred horse races, eventually becoming owners and winners of several graded stakes.

In the Oakland Coliseum parking lot the young Burrell would sell stray baseballs and dance accompanied by a beatboxer. Oakland A's team owner Charles O. Finley saw the 11-year-old doing splits and hired him as a clubhouse assistant and batboy as a result of his energy and flair. Burrell served as a "batboy" with the team from 1973 to 1980. In 2010, Hammer discussed his lifelong involvement with athletes on ESPN's First Take as well as explained that his brother Louis Burrell Jr. (who would later become Hammer's business manager) was actually the batboy while his job was to take calls and do "play-by-plays" for the A's absentee owner during every summer game. The colorful Finley, who lived in Chicago, used the child as his "eyes and ears." Reggie Jackson, in describing Burrell's role for Finley, took credit for his nickname:

Hell, our chief executive, the guy that ran our team, uh, that communicated [with] Charlie Finley, the top man there, was a 13-year old kid. I nicknamed him "Hammer," because he looked like Hank Aaron [whose nickname was "The Hammer"].

Team players, including Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Pedro Garcia, also dubbed Burrell "Little Hammer" due to his resemblance to Aaron. Ron Bergman, at the time an Oakland Tribune writer who covered the A's, recalled that:

He was an informant in the clubhouse, an informant for Charlie, and he got the nickname "Pipeline."

According to Hammer:

Charlie said, "I'm getting you a new hat. I don't want you to have a hat that says "A's" on it. I'm getting you a hat that says 'Ex VP,' that says 'Executive Vice President.' You're running the joint around here." ... Every time I come down to the clubhouse, you know, Rollie would yell out "Oh, everybody be quiet! Here comes Pipeline!"

He acquired the nickname "M.C." for being a "Master of Ceremonies" which he used when he began performing at various clubs while on the road with the A's, and eventually in the military. Hammer, who played second base in high school, dreamed of being a professional baseball player but did not make the final cut at a San Francisco Giants tryout. However, he has been a participant/player in the annual Taco Bell All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game wearing an A's cap to represent Oakland (American League).

Burrell went on to graduate from McClymonds High School in Oakland and took undergraduate classes in communications. Discouraged by his studies at a local college and failing to win a place in a professional baseball organization. He joined the United States Navy for three years, serving with PATRON (Patrol Squadron) FOUR SEVEN (VP-47) of NAS Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA as a Petty Officer Third Class Aviation Store Keeper (AK3) until his honorable discharge.

Music and entertainment career

Before Hammer's successful music career (with his mainstream popularity lasting approximately between 1988 and 1998) and his "rags-to-riches-to-rags-and-back saga", Burrell formed a Christian rap music group with CCM's Jon Gibson (or "J.G.") called Holy Ghost Boys. Some songs produced were called "Word" and "B-Boy Chill". "The Wall", featuring Burrell (it was originally within the lyrics of this song he first identified himself as K.B. and then eventually M.C. Hammer once it was produced), was later released on Gibson's album Change of Heart (1988). This was Contemporary Christian music's first rap hit ever. Burrell also produced "Son of the King" at that time, releasing it on his debut album. "Son of the King" showed up on Hammer's debut album Feel My Power (1987), as well as the re-released version Let's Get It Started (1988).

With exception to later remixes of early releases, Hammer produced and recorded many rap songs that were never made public, yet are now available on the Internet. Via his record labels such as Bust It Records, Oaktown Records and Full Blast, Hammer has introduced, signed and produced new talent including Oaktown's 3.5.7, Ho Frat Hoo!, the vocal quintet Special Generation, Analise, James Greer, One Cause One Effect, B Angie B, The Stooge Playaz, DASIT (as seen on ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show), Teabag, Common Unity, Geeman and Pleasure Ellis; both collaborating with him and producing music of their own during his career.

At about the age of 12, Oakland native Keyshia Cole recorded with Hammer and sought career advice from him.

Feel My Power (1986)

In the mid-1980s while rapping in small venues and after a record deal went sour, Hammer borrowed US$20,000 each from former Oakland A's players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy to start a record label business called Bust It Productions. He kept the company going by selling records from his basement and car. Bust It spawned Bustin' Records, the independent label of which Hammer was CEO. Together, the companies had more than 100 employees. Recording singles and selling them out of the trunk of his car, he marketed himself relentlessly. Coupled with his dance abilities, Hammer's style was unique at the time.

Now billing himself as "M.C. Hammer", he recorded his debut album, Feel My Power, which was produced between 1986 and 1987 and released independently in 1987 on his Oaktown Records label (Bustin'). It was produced by Felton Pilate (of Con Funk Shun). It sold over 60,000 copies and was distributed by City Hall Records. In the spring of 1988, Tony Valera, a 107.7 KSOL Radio DJ, played the track "Let's Get It Started" in his mix-shows—a song in which Hammer declared he was "second to none, from Doug E. Fresh, LL Cool J, or DJ Run"—after which the track began to gain popularity in clubs. (He would continue to call out other East Coast rappers in future projects as well.)

Hammer also released a single called "Ring 'Em", and largely on the strength of tireless street marketing by Hammer and his wife, plus continued radio mix-show play, it achieved considerable popularity at dance clubs in the San Francisco Bay Area. Heartened by his rising prospects, Hammer launched into seven-day-a-week rehearsals with the growing troupe of dancers, musicians, and backup vocalists he had hired. It was Hammer's stage show, and his infectious stage presence, that led to his big break in 1988 while performing in an Oakland club. There he impressed a record executive who "didn't know who he was, but knew he was somebody", according to the New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll.

M.C.Hammer had received several offers from major record labels before (which he initially declined due to his personal success), but after the successful release of this independent album and elaborate live dance show amazed the Capitol Records executive, Hammer agreed to sign a record deal soon after. Hammer took home a US$1,750,000 advance and a multi-album contract. It didn't take long for Capitol to recoup its investment.

Let's Get It Started (1988)

Once signed to Capitol Records, Hammer re-issued his first record (a revised version of Feel My Power) with additional tracks added and sold over 2 million copies. "Pump It Up" (also performed during Showtime at the Apollo on September 16, 1989), "Turn This Mutha Out", "Let's Get It Started" and "They Put Me in the Mix" were the most popular singles from this album, all of which charted. Not entirely satisfied with this first multi-platinum success, Hammer's music underwent a metamorphosis, shifting from the standard rap format in his upcoming album. "I decided the next album would be more musical," he says. Purists chastised him for being more dancer than rapper. Sitting in a leopard-print bodysuit before a concert, he defended his style: "People were ready for something different from the traditional rap style. The fact that the record has reached this level indicates the genre is growing."

M.C. Hammer was very good friends with Arsenio Hall (as well as a then-unknown teen named Robert Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, despite later rumors that there was a "beef" between the two rappers which was addressed during the height of both their careers on Hall's show, and who he would later reunite with in a 2009 concert in Salt Lake City, Utah), and as such, Hammer was first invited to perform the song "U Can't Touch This", prior to its release, on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1989. He also performed "Dancing Machine" in a version that appeared in the same-titled movie.

Hammer used some of the proceeds from this album to install a rolling recording studio in the back of his tour bus, where he recorded much of his second album.

In 1989, Hammer was featured on "You've Got Me Dancing" (with Glen Goldsmith), which appeared on the Glen Goldsmith album Don't Turn This Groove Around (RCA Records). The track was Hammer's first release in the UK. Hammer also appeared in Glen Goldsmith's music video for this song. The single failed to chart.

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)

Notorious for dissing rappers in his previous recordings, Hammer appropriately titled his third album (and second major-label release) Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, which was released February 12, 1990 (with an original release date of January 1, 1990). It included the successful single "U Can't Touch This" (which sampled Rick James' "Super Freak"). It was produced, recorded, and mixed by Felton Pilate and James Earley on a modified tour bus while on tour in 1989. Despite heavy airplay and a No. 27 chart debut, "U Can't Touch This" stopped at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart because it was released only as a twelve-inch single. However, the album was a No. 1 success for 21 weeks, due primarily to this single, the first time ever for a recording on the pop charts. The song has been and continues to be used in many filmmaking and television shows to date, and appears on soundtrack/compilation albums as well.

Follow-up successes included a cover of the Chi-Lites' "Have You Seen Her" and "Pray" (a beat sampled from Prince's "When Doves Cry" and Faith No More's "We Care a Lot"), which was his biggest hit in the US, peaking at No. 2. "Pray" was also a major UK success, peaking at No. 8. The album went on to become the first hip-hop album to earn diamond status, selling more than 18 million units to date. During 1990, Hammer toured extensively in Europe which included a sold-out concert at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. With the sponsorship of PepsiCo International, Pepsi CEO Christopher A. Sinclair went on tour with him during 1991.

The album was notable for sampling other high-profile artists and gave some of these artists a new fanbase. "Dancin' Machine" sampled The Jackson 5, "Help the Children" (also the name of an outreach foundation Hammer started) interpolates Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", and "She's Soft and Wet" also sampled Prince's "Soft and Wet". All of these songs proved to be successful on radio and video television, with "U Can't Touch This," "Pray" (most successful), "Have You Seen Her," "Here Comes the Hammer," and "Yo!! Sweetness" (UK only) all charting. The album increased the popularity of hip-hop music. It remains the genre's all-time best-selling album.

A movie also accompanied the album and was produced in 1990, called Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (with portions of his music videos included within the movie). At the same time, he also appeared in The West Coast Rap All-Stars posse cut "We're All in the Same Gang." Music videos from this album and the previous albums began to receive much airplay on MTV and VH1.

M.C. Hammer also contributed a track, "This is What We Do", on the 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie soundtrack on SBK Records.

A critical backlash began over the repetitive nature of his lyrics, his clean-cut image, and his perceived over-reliance on sampling others' entire hooks for the basis of his singles—criticisms also directed to his contemporary, Vanilla Ice. He was mocked in music videos by 3rd Bass (including a rap battle with MC Serch), The D.O.C., DJ Debranz, and Ice Cube. Oakland hip-hop group Digital Underground criticized him in the CD insert of their Sex Packets album by placing Hammer's picture in it and referring to him as an unknown derelict. Q Tip criticized him in "Check the Rhyme," asking, "What you say Hammer? Proper. Rap is not pop, if you call it that then stop." LL Cool J dissed him in "To tha Break of Dawn" (from the Mama Said Knock You Out album), calling Hammer an "amateur, swinging a Hammer from a bodybag [his pants]," and saying, "My old gym teacher ain't supposed to rap.", though this could have been seen as a response to Hammer calling him out in "Let's Get it Started", when he was mentioned along with Run-DMC and Doug E. Fresh as rappers that Hammer claimed to be better than. (LL Cool J would later compliment and commend Hammer's abilities/talents on VH-1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, which aired in 2008). However, Ice-T came to his defense on his 1991 album O.G. Original Gangster: "A special shout out to my man M.C. Hammer: a lot of people dis you, man, but they just jealous." Ice-T later explained that he had nothing against people who were pop-rap from the start, as Hammer had been, but only against emcees who switch from being hardcore or dirty to being pop-rap so that they can sell more records.

Despite the criticisms, Hammer's career continued to be highly successful including tours in Asia, Europe, Australia, and Russia. Soon after, M.C. Hammer Mattel dolls, lunchboxes, and other merchandise were marketed. He was also given his own Saturday morning cartoon, called Hammerman, which he hosted and voiced.

Too Legit to Quit (1991)

After publicly dropping the "M.C." from his stage name, Hammer released Too Legit to Quit (also produced by Felton Pilate) in 1991. Hammer answered his critics within certain songs from the album. Sales were strong (over five million copies), with the title track being the biggest hit single from this record. The album peaked in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200. Another hit came soon after, with "Addams Groove" (which appeared on both The Addams Family motion picture soundtrack and the vinyl and cassette versions of 2 Legit 2 Quit), reaching No. 7 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the UK. His video for the song appeared after the movie.

Hammer set out on a tour for this album, with a stage show which had become as grandiose and lavish as his lifestyle ⁠— ⁠loaded with singers, dancers, and backup musicians, the supporting concert tour was too expensive for the album's sales to finance, and it was canceled partway through. In 1992, Boyz II Men joined Hammer's high-profile 2 Legit 2 Quit tour as an opening act. While traveling the country, their tour manager Khalil Roundtree was murdered in Chicago, and the group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. As a result of this unfortunate experience, the song would help advance their success.

Music videos were produced for all four singles released from this album (including "Do Not Pass Me By" and "This Is The Way We Roll"), all which charted.The "2 Legit 2 Quit" video featured many celebrity appearances. It's been ranked as one of the most expensive videos ever made. The hand motions used within the song and video also became very popular. The song proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #5. Despite the album's multi-platinum certification, the sales were one-third of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.

At the end of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video, after James Brown enlists Hammer to get the famous glove of Michael Jackson, a silver-white sequined glove is shown on the hand of a Michael Jackson look-alike doing the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture. In a related story, M.C. Hammer appeared on The Wendy Williams Show (July 27, 2009) and talked about his hit reality show Hammertime on A&E, his marriage, his role as a dad and the reasons he eventually went bankrupt. He told an amusing story about a phone call he received from "M.J.", regarding the portion of the "2 Legit 2 Quit" video that included a fake Michael Jackson, giving his approval and inclusion of it. He explained how Michael had seen the video and liked it, and both expressed they were fans of one another. Hammer and Jackson would later appear, speak and/or perform at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006.

The artwork featured in the album was created by James B. Young and accompanying studios.

During 1991, Hammer was featured on the single "The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album, Different Lifestyles. In 1992, the song peaked at No. 8 on the Christian charts.

New venture with Oaktown/Giant Records (1992–1993)

In 1992, after a four-year hiatus, Doug E. Fresh signed with Hammer's label, Bust It Records and issued one album, Doin' What I Gotta Do, which (despite some minor acclaim for his single "Bustin' Out (On Funk)" which sampled the Rick James 1979 single "Bustin' Out") was a commercial failure.

Prior to Hammer's next album, The Funky Headhunter, rumors from critics and fans began claiming Hammer had quit the music/entertainment business or had suffered a financial downfall (since a couple of years were passing between his two records), which Hammer denied. Hammer claimed rumors falsely heralded his downfall were most likely a result of the fact he turned over his "trimmed-down" Bust It Records to his brother and manager Louis Burrell Jr., and his horse racing interests to his brother Chris and their father, Louis Burrell Sr.

During his hiatus between albums, Hammer consequently signed a multimillion-dollar deal with a new record company. He said there were a lot of bidders, but "not too many of them could afford Hammer". Therefore, Hammer parted ways with Felton Pilate (who had previously worked with the successful vocal group Con Funk Shun) and switched record labels to Giant Records, taking his Oaktown label with him. Hammer was eventually sued by Pilate. Additionally, Hammer launched a new enterprise, called Roll Wit It Entertainment & Sports Management, with clients such as Evander Holyfield, Deion Sanders and Reggie Brooks. In 1993, his production company released a hit rap song by DRS.

By this time, he also parted ways with his only female executive, music business administration consultant and songwriter, Linda Lou McCall (who previously worked with The Delfonics and her husband Louis A. McCall, Sr.'s band Con Funk Shun). She went on to work with artists such as Puff Daddy, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., Mýa, Black Eyed Peas and Eminem. A music industry vet who attended Howard University's College of Fine Arts and the University of California-Davis School of Law, McCall was hired by Hammer's brother and manager, Louis K. Burrell, in 1990 to help set up his corporate operations and administration at Bust It Management and Productions Inc. in Oakland, California. She later became Vice President of Hammer's talent management company, overseeing artists like Heavy D, B Angie B and Ralph Tresvant. While at Bust It, she and her husband Louis A. McCall, Sr. brought their artist Keith Martin to Felton's attention who hired him as a backup musician and vocalist for Hammer's Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em and Too Legit to Quit world tours. In 1993 and 1994, Linda Lou was also involved in several lawsuits against Hammer which were eventually settled out of court.

With a new home and daughter, a new record soon to be released, and his new business, Hammer claimed he was happy and far from being broke during a tour of his mansion for Ebony. "Today there is a more aggressive Hammer, because the '90s require you to be more aggressive", Hammer said of his music style. "There is a harder edge, but I'm no gang member. Hammer in the '90s is on the offense, on the move, on the attack. And it's all good".

The Funky Headhunter and Prime Time (1994)

In 1993, Hammer began recording his fifth official album. To adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, this album was a more aggressive sounding album entitled The Funky Headhunter. He co-produced this record with funky rapper and producer, Stefan Adamek. While Hammer's appearance changed to keep up with the gangsta rap audience, his lyrics still remained honest and somewhat clean with minor profanity. Yet, as with previous records, Hammer would continue to call out and disrespect other rappers on this album. As with some earlier songs such as "Crime Story" (from the album Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em), the content and reality about "street life" remained somewhat the same, but the sound was different, resulting in Hammer losing favor with fans. Nonetheless, this harder-edged, more aggressive record went gold, but failed to win him a new audience among hardcore hip-hop fans.

In another appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show during the mid-1990s, Hammer debuted the video for "Pumps and a Bump". Talk show host Arsenio Hall said to M.C. Hammer, "Women in the audience want to know, what's in your speedos in the 'Pumps and a Bump' video?" A clip from the video was then shown, to much approval from the audience. Hammer didn't give a direct answer, but instead laughed. Arsenio then said, "I guess that's why they call you 'Hammer.' It ain't got nothin' to do with Hank Aaron."

The accompanying video to the album's first single, "Pumps and a Bump", was banned from heavy rotation on MTV with censors claiming that the depiction of Hammer in Speedos (and with what appeared to be an erection) was too graphic. This led to an alternative video being filmed (with Hammer fully clothed) that was directed by Bay Area native Craig S. Brooks.

"It's All Good" was the second single released, which would become a pop culture phrase as a result of its success. It was also the most successful song by this title.Within this album, Hammer disses rappers such as A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip), Redman and Run DMC for previous attacks they made against him on wax. This quite possibly led to a decrease in his popularity after this record responded to his critics.

On December 20, 1994, Deion Sanders released Prime Time, a rap album on Hammer's Bust It Records label which featured the minor hit "Must Be The Money". "Prime Time Keeps on Tickin'" was also released as a single. Sanders, a friend of Hammer's, had previously appeared in his "Too Legit to Quit" music video, and his alter-ego "Prime Time" is also used in Hammer's "Pumps and a Bump" video.

The song "Help Lord (Won't You Come)" appeared in Kingdom Come.This album peaked at number two on the R&B charts and remained in the Top 30 midway through the year. To date, it has managed to become certified platinum.

Inside Out, Death Row Records and Too Tight (1995–1996)

In 1995, Hammer released the album Inside Out V (or inside out V). The album sold poorly compared to previous records (peaking at 119 on the Billboard Charts) and Giant Records dropped him and Oaktown Records from their roster. Songs "Going Up Yonder" and "Sultry Funk" managed to get moderate radio play (even charting on national radio station countdowns).

Along with a fickle public, Hammer would go on to explain in this album that he felt many of his so-called friends he helped staff, used and betrayed him which contributed to a majority of his financial loss (best explained in the song "Keep On" and the bio from this album). He would also hint about this again in interviews, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2009.

In 1995, Hammer released "Straight to My Feet" (with Deion Sanders) from the Street Fighter soundtrack (released in December 1994). The song charted No. 57 in the UK.

Hammer's relationship with Suge Knight dates back to 1988. Hammer signed with Death Row Records by 1995, then home to Snoop Dogg and his close friend, Tupac Shakur. The label did not release the album of Hammer's music (titled Too Tight) while he had a career with them, although he did release versions of some tracks on his next album. However, Burrell did record tracks with Shakur and others, most notably the song "Too Late Playa" (along with Big Daddy Kane and Danny Boy). After the death of Shakur in 1996, Burrell left the record company. He later explained his concern about this circumstance in an interview on Trinity Broadcasting Network since he was in Las Vegas with Tupac the night of his death.

Return to EMI and Family Affair (1996–1998)

In October 1996, Burrell and Oaktown signed with EMI, which saw the release of a compilation album of Hammer's chart topping songs prior to The Funky Headhunter. The album, titled Greatest Hits, featured 12 former hits. In 1998, another "greatest hits" album, called Back 2 Back Hits, was produced and released by CEMA. (Another compilation version of Back 2 Back was later released by Capitol Records in 2006.) As Hammer's empire began to collapse when his last album failed to match the sales of its predecessors, and since he unsuccessfully attempted to recast himself in the "streetwise/hardcore rap" mold of the day, Hammer turned to a gospel-friendly audience.

In 1998, MC Hammer released his first album in his new deal with EMI, titled Family Affair, because it was to introduce the world to the artists he had signed to his Oaktown Records (Geeman, Teabag, and Common Unity) as they made their recording debut. Technically his seventh album since his debut EP, this record was highly promoted on Trinity Broadcasting Network (performing a more gospel version of "Keep On" from his album Inside Out V), yet featured no charting singles and selling about 1,000 copies worldwide.

The album also features a song written for Hammer by 2Pac called "Unconditional Love". Hammer would later dance and read the lyrics to this song on the first VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2004.

A double album mostly about faith and family values, additional tracks from Family Affair are: "Put It Down", "Put Some Stop in Your Game", "Big Man", "Set Me Free", "Our God", "Responsible Father Shout", "He Brought Me Out", (Geeman Intro), "Eye's Like Mine", "Never Without You", "Praise Dance Theme Song", "Shame of the Name", (Smoothout Intro), (Teabag Intro), "Silly Heart", "I Wish U Were Free", (Common Unity Intro), "Someone to Hold to You", "Pray" (1998), "Let's Get It Started" (1998), and with "Hammer Music/Shouts/Tour Info" announcements between songs. The compact disks are also "PC Ready" with interactive features.

After this album, new projects were rumored to be in the works, including an album (War Chest: Turn of the Century) and a soundtrack to the film Return to Glory: The Powerful Stirring of the Black Man, but neither appeared.

The Hits and Active Duty (2000–2001)

In 2000, another compilation album was released, titled The Hits. It contains 17 tracks from his first four albums.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, M.C. Hammer released his 8th studio album, Active Duty, on his own World Hit Music Group label (the musical enterprise under his Hammertime Holdings Inc. umbrella) to pay homage to the ones lost in the terrorist attacks. The album followed that theme, and featured two singles (with accompanying videos), "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" and "Pop Yo Collar" (featuring Wee Wee) which demonstrates "The Phat Daddy Pop", "In Pop Nito", "River Pop", "Deliver The Pop" and "Pop'n It Up" dance moves. The album, like its predecessor, failed to chart and would not sell as many copies as previous projects. Hammer did however promote it on such shows as The View and produced a video for both singles.

This patriotic album, originally planned to be titled The Autobiography Of M.C. Hammer, donated portions of the proceeds to 9/11 charities. Hammer shot a video for the anthem "No Stoppin' Us (USA)" in Washington, D.C., with several members of the United States Congress, who sang in the song and danced in the video. Present members of the United States House of Representatives included J. C. Watts, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Thomas M. Davis, Earl Hilliard, Alcee Hastings, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) and Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Full Blast (2004)

After leaving Capitol Records and EMI for the second time in his career, M.C. Hammer decided to move his Oaktown imprint to an independent distributor and released his ninth studio album, Full Blast (which was completed in late 2003 and released as a complete album in early 2004). The album would feature no charting singles and was not certified by the RIAA. A video was produced for "Full Blast", a song that attacks Eminem and Busta Rhymes for previous disrespect towards him.

Some of the original songs didn't end up making the final album release. Guest artists included The Stooge Playaz, Pleasure, Rain, JD Greer and DasIt.

Look Look Look and Platinum MC Hammer (2006–2008)

After going independent, Hammer decided to create a digital label to release his tenth studio album, Look Look Look. The album was released in February 2006 and featured production from Scott Storch. The album featured the title-track single (Look Look Look) and a music video. It would sell much better than his previous release (300,000 copies worldwide).

"YAY" was produced by Lil Jon. "What Happened to Our Hood?" (featuring Sam Logan) was originally from Active Duty. "I Got It From The Town" was used in the movie but is only present in one scene instead of the originally planned two on The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (soundtrack).

Between 2006 and 2007, Hammer released a military-inspired rap song with a political message to President George W. Bush about sending American troops back home from war, called "Bring Our Brothers Home". The video was filmed at the Santa Monica Pier.

In 2008, Platinum MC Hammer was released by EMI Records. The compilation consists of 12 tracks from Hammer's previous albums, with a similar playlist as former "greatest hits" records (with the exception of including a remix of "Hammer Hammer, They Put Me In A Mix" which includes rap lyrics that "They Put Me In A Mix" originally did not). An import was released by Capitol Records.

DanceJamtheMusic (2008–2009)

Since his 2006 album, Hammer continued to produce music and released several other raps that appeared on his social websites (such as Myspace and Dancejam.com) or in commercials, with another album announced to be launched in late 2008 (via his own record label Fullblast Playhouse). Talks of the tour and a new album were expected in 2009.

"Getting Back to Hetton" was made public in 2008 as a digital single. It was a departure for Hammer, bringing in funky deep soul and mixing it with a more house style. Released through licence on Whippet Digital Recordings, media reviews were said to be "disappointing". However, the song "I Got Gigs" from this album was used in a 2009 ESPN commercial and performed during Hammertime (as well as played while he danced just prior to introducing Soulja Boy during YouTube Live on November 22, 2008).

Other tracks and videos from the album included: "I Go" (produced by Lil Jon), "Keep It In Vegas", "Lookin' Out The Window", "Dem Jeans" (by DASIT), "Stooge Karma Sutra" (by The Stooge Playaz) and "Tried to Luv U" (by DASIT featuring Pleasure Ellis).

In March 2009, M.C. Hammer and Vanilla Ice had a one-off concert at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah. This concert aided in the promotion of Hammer's new music and television show. During the concert (as shown during an episode of Hammertime), it was mentioned between the two rappers that this was their first headline show together in nearly 20 years, since the time when they were touring together at the peak of their hip-hop careers. Hammer said: "Contrary to popular belief, Ice and I are not only cool with each other, we are like long lost friends. I've known him since he was 16, before he had a record contract and before I had a record contract. It is a great reunion." Vanilla Ice, real name Robert Van Winkle, said: "It's like no time has passed at all. We set the world on fire back in the day - it gives me goose bumps to think about. The concert wouldn't have been so packed if it wasn't us together. I'm so happy right now, the magic is here."

Most recent releases (2010–present)

Hammer has occasionally released singles over the past few years. Below are the most publicized:

"Better Run Run" (2010)

M.C. Hammer promised to release a track (expected on October 31, 2010) responding to a song by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z which attacked him. On the "So Appalled" track, which features Swizz Beatz and RZA, Jay-Z raps a verse targeting Hammer about his financial dilemma in the 1990s. On it Jay says: 'Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused / I lost 30 mil' so I spent another 30 / 'Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me'. Hammer addressed his displeasure about the diss on Twitter, claiming he will react to Jay-Z on Halloween.

Hammer released a sample of his "beef" with Jay-Z (aka 'Hell Boy' according to Hammer) in a brief teaser trailer called "Better Run Run" by 'King Hammer'. At one point, it was uncertain if his reaction would be a film video, a music video or a combination of both. Regardless, he claimed he would show evidence that 'Jigga worships the devil'. It's possible that Jay-Z was offended by an analogy Hammer was conveying in an earlier interview in response to "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" on AllHipHop.

On November 1, Hammer's song with video called "Better Run Run!" hit the web in retaliation to Jay-Z's September 2010 diss towards him. M.C. accuses Jigga of being in league (and in the studio) with Satan—and then Hammer defeats the devil and forces Jay to be baptized. Speaking on the video, Jacob O'Gara of Ethos Magazine wrote: "What's more likely is that this feud is the last chapter in the tragic cautionary tale of M.C. Hammer, a tale that serves as a warning to all present and future kings of hip-hop. Keep your balance on the pedestal and wear the crown strong or you'll have the Devil to pay."

In an interview with BBC's DJ Semtex, Jay said he didn't mean the verses as a personal attack. "I didn't know that [Hammer's financial status] wasn't on the table for discussion!" he said. "I didn't know I was the first person ever to say that..." He continued, "When I say things, I think people believe me so much that they take it a different way — it's, like, not rap anymore at that point. I say some great things about him in the book I have coming out [Decoded] — that wasn't a cheap plug," he laughed. "He's gonna be embarrassed, I said some really great things about him and people's perception of him. But it is what it is, he took it that wrong way, and I didn't know I said anything wrong!"

"See Her Face" (2011)

On February 3, 2011, M.C. Hammer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show premiering the track "See Her Face" via Flipboard. It was the first time Flipboard included music in the application.

"Raider Nation" and "All In My Mind" (2013–2014)

Among other singles, Hammer released "Raider Nation (Oakland Raiders Anthem)" along with a video in late 2013 and "All In My Mind" (which samples "Summer Breeze" by The Isley Brothers) in early 2014 with his newly formed group called Oakland Fight Club featuring Mistah F.A.B.

"Help the Children" (2017)

Hammer released an updated version of his 1990 charting song with a short film video in late 2017.

Additional business ventures

In 1991, M.C. Hammer established Oaktown Stable that would eventually have nineteen Thoroughbred racehorses. That year, his outstanding filly Lite Light won several Grade I stakes races including the prestigious Kentucky Oaks. His D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt Dance Floor won the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the Breeders' Futurity Stakes in 1991, then the following year won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and finished 3rd in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. He continues to attend shows as well as many sporting events alongside celebrities.

In the late 1990s into the early 2000s, along with a new clothing line called "J Slick", Hammer began creating and working on M.C. Hammer USA, an interactive online portal.

In 2002, Hammer signed a book contract with publishing company Simon & Schuster which called for a release the following year. However, a manuscript for an inspirational book called Enemies of the Father: Messages from the Heart on Being a Family Man (addressing the situation of African American men), for which Hammer received advance money to write, was never submitted in 2003. This resulted in Hammer being sued by the book company over claims that he never finished the book as promised. The company's March 2009 lawsuit sought return of the US$61,000 advance given to Hammer for the unwritten book about fatherhood.

Hammer was a popular web mogul and activist, becoming involved in several Internet projects (including TechCrunch40 conferences). In 2007, Hammer was co-founder and chief strategy officer of Menlo Park-based (Silicon Valley) DanceJam.com along with Geoffrey Arone. The community site (valued at $4.5 million) was exclusively dedicated to dancing video competitions, techniques and styles which Hammer sometimes judged or rated. After receiving $4.5 million in total equity funding, the site closed on January 1, 2011.

In July 2010, Hammer started a mixed martial arts management company to manage, market, promote, and brand-build for fighters such as Nate Marquardt, Tim F. Kennedy, and Vladimir Matyushenko, among others. According to MMAWeekly.com and Bizjournals, his new company is Alchemist Management in Los Angeles. It now manages 10 fighters. That same month, Hammer also announced his latest venture called Alchemist Clothing. The brand described as a colorful new lifestyle clothing line debuted during an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Austin. Middleweight fighter Nate "The Great" Marquardt wore an Alchemist shirt as he walked out to the ring. Hammer has shown an interest in boxing throughout his career.

On September 28, 2010, M.C. Hammer headlined at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference for an official after-hours party.

Hammer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in February 2011 to discuss his tech-media-mogul status, as well as his creation, demonstration and consulting of social applications/sites/media (such as having an involvement with the Internet since 1994 including YouTube and Twitter), and devices such as iPad and ZAGGmate. He also explained how employing/helping so many people in the past never really caused him to be broke in terms of the average person, as the media made it seem, nor would he have changed any experiences that has led him to where he is today. During the "Whatever Happened to M.C. Hammer" episode, he discussed his current home, family and work life as well.

In October 2011, Hammer announced a new internet venture called WireDoo - a "deep search engine" that planned to compete with the major search engines including Google and Bing. With the motto, "Search once and see what's related", Hammer's team planned to eventually open up the site to a select number of beta testers. Wiredoo failed, having never left beta testing, and officially went offline in early 2012.

Television and film career

M.C. Hammer produced and starred in his own movie, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990). The film is about a rapper returning to his hometown who defeats a drug lord using kids to traffic his product. For this project, Hammer earned a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video at the 33rd Grammy Awards (having been nominated for two). He later produced MC Hammer: 2 Legit (The Videos), which included many actors and athletes.

Hammer appeared in major marketing campaigns for companies such as Pepsi, KFC, Toshiba, British Knights and Taco Bell during the height of his career.

In 1991, Hammer hosted, sang/rapped and voiced a Saturday-morning cartoon called Hammerman. That same year, he and Bust It Productions (including B Angie B, Special Generation and Ho Frat Hoo!) appeared in concert from New Orleans on BET

Hammer has made cameos and/or performed on many television shows such as Saturday Night Live (as host and musical guest), Amen and Martin. He also made a cameo in the 1993 Arnold Schwarzenegger film Last Action Hero. Hammer would also go on to appear as himself on The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (1995). Additionally, he has been involved in movies as an actor such as, One Tough Bastard (1996), Reggie's Prayer (1996), the Showtime film The Right Connections (1997), Deadly Rhapsody (2001), Finishing the Game (2007) and 1040 (2010), as well as a television and movie producer.

Despite public attacks about his financial status, after meeting at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas in April 2001, it was Hammer (credited as a producer) who provided the much needed funding to filmmaker Justin Lin for Better Luck Tomorrow (2002). In its first ever film acquisition, MTV Films eventually acquired Better Luck Tomorrow after it debuted at The Sundance Film Festival. The director said, "Out of desperation, I called up MC Hammer because he had read the script and liked it. Two hours later, he wired the money we needed into a bank account and saved us."

Hammer appeared in two cable television movies. At the age of 39, he was one of the producers for the VH1 movie Too Legit: The M.C. Hammer Story, starring Romany Malco and Tangi Miller as his wife, which aired on December 19, 2001. The film is a biopic which chronicles the rise and fall of the artist. "2 Legit To Quit: The Life Story of M.C. Hammer" became the second highest-rated original movie in the history of VH1 and broadcast simultaneously on BET. "The whole script came from me," says Hammer, "I sat down with a writer and gave him all the information."

In 2003, Hammer appeared on The WB's first season of The Surreal Life, a reality show known for assembling an eclectic mix of celebrities to live together. He was also a dance judge on the 2003 ABC Family TV series Dance Fever. Additionally, he appeared on VH1's And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop (2004) as well as in 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s (2008), a countdown which he was also commentator on. His eldest child, A'Keiba Burrell, was a contestant on MTV's Rock the Cradle in April 2008 (which Hammer also made appearances on).

Hammer had shown an interest in having his own reality show with specific television networks at one point. Already being a part of shows for VH1 and The WB (I Married... M.C. Hammer and The Surreal Life), it was later confirmed he would appear in Hammertime on A&E Network in the summer of 2009. This reality show was about his personal, business and family life. The following year, Hammer appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly June 3, 2009 to promote his show which began June 14, 2009 at 10 PM EST.

In August 2008, a new ESPN ad featured Hammer in it, showcasing his single "I Got Gigs'" (from his DanceJamtheMusic album). The commercial was for Monday Night Football's upcoming football season. This is not the first commercial in more recent years that Hammer has been in, or his songs/raps/dancing was used for and included in such as Lay's, Hallmark Cards, Purell, Lysol, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Citibank, etc. On February 1, 2009, Hammer and Ed McMahon were featured in a Super Bowl XLIII commercial for Cash4Gold.

In addition to appearing in television commercials, M.C. Hammer's music has also been used in television shows and movies, especially "U Can't Touch This" during The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990), Hot Shots! (1990), The Super (1991), Doogie Howser, M.D. (1992), Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003), Into the Wild (2007), Tropic Thunder (2008), Dancing with the Stars (2009), Glee (2010) and many more. Additionally, "This Is What We Do" was a 1990 track by Hammer (featuring B Angie B) for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film and soundtrack. Tracks "That's What I Said" and "Feel My Power" were used for the Rocky V film and soundtrack. Some examples of other raps by Hammer used in movies and television were "Addams Groove" (The Addams Family), "Pray" (License to Wed), "2 Legit 2 Quit" (Hot Rod), "I Got It From The Town" (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift), "Help Lord, Won't You Come" (Kingdom Come), "Let's Go Deeper" (Beverly Hills, 90210) and "Straight to My Feet" (Street Fighter), among others.

Along with Betty White, Hammer was a voice actor on the September 17, 2010 episode of Glenn Martin, DDS called "Step-brother". In 2016, MC Hammer appeared as himself in an episode of Uncle Grandpa on Cartoon Network.

Hammer has most recently been a spokesman for 3M Command Strips and Starburst.

Dancer, choreographer and entertainer

M.C. Hammer's dance style not only helped pave the way for the Bay Area movement called Hyphy, but also helped to bring hip-hop and rap to the Bay Area. His dancing skills are still taught to this day. With his popular trademark Hammer Pants, one phenomenal difference from Hammer versus other performers during his heyday was that he was an entertainer, both during live shows and in music videos. His flamboyant dancing was as much a part of his performances as rapping and musical instruments were. With high-energy dance routines, he is often considered one of the greatest dancers. While adding his own techniques, Hammer adopted styles from James Brown and The Nicholas Brothers such as the splits, and feverish choreographed dance routines including leaps and slides, most notably. His creation of such dances as "Hammer Dance" (or the "Typewriter Dance"), "The Bump" (from "U Can't Touch This") and the use of "The Running Man" and the "Butterfly," among others, made his flashy and creative dance skills unlike any others at the time.

Hammer's showmanship and elaborate stage choreography, involving fifteen dancers, twelve backup singers, seven live musicians and two disc jockeys, gave him a powerful visual appeal. Hammer was the first rap artist to put together a choreographed show of this type, and his visual flair attracted heavy airplay for his videos on MTV, which at the time had a predominantly white viewership that had aired little rap music before Hammer.

During a 1990 visit from M.C. Hammer (accompanied by his friend Fab Five Freddy) on Yo! MTV Raps, one of the dancers whom Hammer was holding auditions for was a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez.

At the height of his career, Hammer had his legs insured for a substantial amount of money (into the millions), as mentioned in an interview by Maria Shriver in the early 1990s. He later suffered an injury to his knee that halted his dancing career for a period of time. Eventually, BET ranked Hammer as the 7th Best Dancer Of All Time. Some of Hammer's entourage, or "posse" as he called them, were also trained/skilled dancers (including Tiffany Patterson). They participated in videos and at concerts, yet too many dancers and band members eventually contributed to Hammer's downfall, proving to be too much for him to finance.

Hammer stayed active in the dance media/genre, both on television shows and as co-founder of DanceJam.com (which showcased dance competitions and instructional videos on all the latest dance styles) until he and his partner Geoffrey Arone sold it to Grind Networks. Well known for bringing choreography to hip-hop, many of his dancing skills can still be seen on dance-focused and social networking sites. "Dance is unlike any other social medium. It's the core of our culture", Burrell told Wired News.

In addition to his websites and other Internet appearances, Hammer has also appeared demonstrating much of his dancing abilities on talk shows such as The Arsenio Hall Show, Soul Train, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (performing O'Brien's famous "string dance" together as well), The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View and was a dance judge on Dance Fever. On June 3, 2009, he performed the "Hammer dance" on Live with Regis and Kelly with Will Ferrell as co-host.

While Hammer may have challenged and competed with Michael Jackson during the height of his career, they were friends, proven by a phone call Hammer had with Jackson about his "Too Legit to Quit" video which he shared on The Wendy Williams Show (July 2009). Hammer wanted to ensure he was not offended by the ending of the video where a purported Michael Jackson (seen only from behind) does the "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture with his famous glove. They also appeared together at the funeral service for James Brown in 2006, where Hammer danced in honor of The Godfather of Soul. After Jackson's death, Hammer posted his remembrance and sympathy of the superstar on Twitter. Michael's friend and fellow pop culture icon Hammer told Spinner that, "now that the King of Pop has passed, it's the duty of his fans and loved ones to carry Jackson's creative torch." He went on to say, "Michael Jackson lit the fuse that ignited the spirit of dance in us all. He gave us a song and a sweet melody that will never die. Now we all carry his legacy with joy and pride."

Personal life

At the time of his first album, M.C. Hammer opened his own music management firm. As a result of the success of his third album, Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, Hammer had amassed approximately US$33 million. US$12 million was used to build his Xanadu-like home in Fremont, California, 30 miles (50 km) south of where he grew up. Jet reported Hammer once employed 200 people, with an annual payroll of US$6.8 million. The estate was sold for $5.3 million after Hammer lived in it for six years.

Hammer currently resides in a large ranch-style abode situated on a two-acre corner lot in Tracy, California with his wife Stephanie of over 30 years (whom he met at a church revival meeting and married December 21, 1985). They have five children: three boys (Bobby, Jeremiah, Sammy) and two girls (Sarah, A'keiba), along with a nephew (Jamaris) and cousin (Marv) having lived with them. It was reported in July 2012, that Hammer was encouraged to marry Whitney Houston by her father at the Super Bowl in 1991.

Hammer frequently posts about his life and activities on his blog "Look Look Look", as well as other social websites such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter (being one of the earliest celebrities to contribute and join). A self-described "super geek" who's presently consulting for or investing in eight technology companies, Hammer claims to spend 10–12 hours daily working on his technology projects, and tweets 30-40 times a day.

Hammer was an endorser of the SAFE California Act, which if passed in November 2012, would have replaced the death penalty. However, the proposition was defeated.

Bankruptcy, lawsuits and media reaction

Contrary to public rumor, Hammer claimed he was really never "down-and-out" as reported by the media (eventually expressed on The Opie & Anthony Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2009). Originally having an estimated net worth of over $33 million according to Forbes magazine, speculations about Hammer's status first emerged during delays between albums Too Legit to Quit and The Funky Headhunter, with Hammer having spent much of his money on staff and personal luxuries. In addition to excessive spending while supporting friends and family, Hammer ultimately became $13 million in debt. With dwindling album sales, unpaid loans, a large payroll, and a lavish lifestyle, Hammer eventually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Oakland, California on April 1, 1996. The case was converted to Chapter 7 on September 23, 1998, but Hammer was denied a bankruptcy discharge on April 23, 2002.

Hammer's mansion was sold for a fraction of its former price. "My priorities were out of order," he told Ebony. He claimed, "My priorities should have always been God, family, community, and then business. Instead they had been business, business, and business." Along with Felton Pilate and other group members, Rick James sued Hammer for infringement of copyright, but the suit was settled out of court when Hammer agreed to credit James as co-composer, effectively cutting James in on the millions of dollars the record was earning. By the late 1990s, though, Hammer seemed to stabilize himself and made himself ready to undertake new projects.

In 1992, Hammer had admitted in depositions and court documents to getting the idea for the song "Here Comes the Hammer" from a Christian recording artist in Dallas named Kevin Christian. Christian had filed a 16 million dollar lawsuit against Hammer for copyright infringement of his song entitled "Oh-Oh, You Got the Shing". This fact, compounded with witness testimony from both Hammer's and Christian's entourages, and other evidence (including photos), brought about a settlement with Capitol Records in 1994. The terms of the settlement remain sealed. Hammer settled with Christian the following year.

In 1997, just prior to beginning his ministry, M.C. Hammer (who by that time had re-adopted "M.C.") was the subject of an episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show and the VH1 series Behind the Music (music from his album Inside Out V was featured in this documentary). In these appearances, Burrell admitted "that [he] had already used up most of [his] fortune of over $20 million, proving that money is nothing if it doesn't bring peace and if priorities are wrong". He would go on to express a similar point in other interviews as well.

During numerous interviews on radio stations and television channels throughout the years, Hammer was constantly questioned about his bankruptcy. During an interview by WKQI-FM (95.5) for the promotion of his "Pioneers Of Hip Hop 2009" gig at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, which featured 2 Live Crew, Naughty by Nature, Too Short, Biz Markie, and Roxanne Shanté, Hammer was asked about his finances by the Mojo in the Morning host. Hammer responded on Twitter that Mojo was a "coward" and threatened to cancel commercials for his upcoming show.

On November 21, 2011, the U.S. government filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in California against Hammer to obtain a court judgment on his unpaid taxes for years 1996 and 1997. In December 2011, this litigation was reported in the media. Hammer owed $779,585 in back taxes from his earnings dating back to 1996–1997 - during the years Hammer was believed to be facing his worst financial problems. After years of public and media ridicule regarding his financial problem, Hammer tried to assure fans and "naysayers" via Twitter, claiming that he had proof he had already taken care of his debt with the IRS. "700k … Don't get too excited .. I paid them already and kept my receipt. Stamped by a US Federal Judge", Hammer tweeted from his account @MCHammer. However, the District Court ruled against Hammer. He appealed but, on December 17, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected Hammer's argument that because the government had not listed those taxes in the government's proof of claim filed with the Bankruptcy Court, the government should be stopped from collecting the taxes. According to a 2017 episode of the Reelz TV series Broke & Famous, the situation was eventually resolved. As of the making of the aforementioned Broke & Famous episode, Hammer had a reported net worth of $1.5 million.

Obstruction charges

M.C. Hammer was arrested in 2013 in Dublin, California for allegedly obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties and resisting an officer (according to "stop and identify" statutes). Hammer claims he was a victim of racial profiling by the police, stating an officer pulled out his gun and randomly asked him: "Are you on parole or probation?" Hammer stated that as he handed over his ID, the officer reached inside the car and tried to pull him out. Police in Dublin, east of Oakland, said Hammer was "blasting music" in a vehicle with expired registration and he was not the registered owner. "After asking Hammer who the registered owner was, he became very argumentative and refused to answer the officer's questions," police spokesman Herb Walters typed in an e-mail to CNN. Hammer was booked and released from Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. A court date was scheduled, however, all charges were dropped in early March. Hammer tweeted that he was not bitter and considered what happened "a teachable moment."

Christian beliefs and pastoral ministry

In 1984, Burrell began attending Bible studies, joined a street ministry and formed a gospel rap group known as Holy Ghost Boys featuring Jon Gibson. In 1986, Burrell along with Tramaine Hawkins, performed with Gibson's band doing several concerts at various venues such as the Beverly Theatre in Beverly Hills and recorded several rap songs. They collaborated on a song for Gibson's 1988 album (Change of Heart) called "The Wall", prior to M.C. Hammer's mainstream success. This was Contemporary Christian music's first rap hit ever. Burrell also produced "Son of the King" at that time, releasing it on his debut album.

Raised Pentecostal, Hammer strayed from his Christian faith during his success, before returning to ministry. His awareness of this can be found in a film he wrote and starred in called Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie (1990), in which he also plays the charismatic preacher character named "Reverend Pressure". Nonetheless, as a tribute to his faith, Hammer vowed/promised to dedicate at least one song on each album to God.

During 1991, Hammer was featured on the single "The Blood" from the BeBe & CeCe Winans album, Different Lifestyles. In 1992, the song peaked at No. 8 on the Christian charts.

Hammer later reaffirmed his beliefs in October 1997, and began a television ministry called M.C. Hammer and Friends on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, as well as appearing on Praise the Lord programs where he went public about his devotion to ministry as an ordained minister. Hammer officiated at the celebrity weddings of actor Corey Feldman and Susie Sprague on October 30, 2002 (as seen on VH1's The Surreal Life), and also at Mötley Crüe's Vince Neil and Lia Gerardini's wedding in January 2005.

During an interview on TBN (between 1997 and 1998), Hammer claimed he adopted the "M.C." back into his name which now stood for 'Man of Christ'. Hammer continued to preach while still making music, running a social media business and television show, and devotes time to prison and youth ministries.

From 2009 to 2010, Hammer joined Jaeson Ma at a crusade in Asia. Minister and mentor to Ma for more than a decade, Hammer assisted and co-starred in his documentary film 1040, which explores the spread of Christianity throughout Asia.

Legacy and pop culture fame

Widely considered the first "mainstream" rapper, Hammer continues to entertain while sharing his legacy with other rappers (as cited on BET.com). Hammer became a fixture of the television airwaves and the big screen, with his music being used in many popular shows, movies and commercials still to this day. Hammer appeared in major marketing campaigns for companies to the point that he was criticized as a "sellout", including commercials for British Knights during the height of his career. The shoe company signed him to a $138 million deal.

Hammer's impression on the music industry appeared almost instantaneous, as Digital Underground's rap "The Humpty Dance," which was released when Hammer was still early in his career, included the lyrics "People say ya look like M.C. Hammer on crack, Humpty!", boasting about Hammer's showmanship versus Humpty Hump (Shock G)'s inability to match it in dance. Additionally, Hammer had several costly videos, two in particular were "Too Legit to Quit" or "2 Legit 2 Quit" (in which many celebrities appeared) and "Here Comes the Hammer".

Hammer is well-known for his fashion style during the late 80s and early 90s. Hammer would tour, perform and record with his hype man 2 Bigg MC or Too Big (releasing a song in which he claimed "He's the King of the Hype"). This duo introduced the "shiny suit" and popularized Hammer pants to mainstream America, as seen in videos such as "(Hammer Hammer) They Put Me In A Mix", in which Hammer also claimed Too Big was the "King of Hype" and in an unspoken competition with Flavor Flav (hype man for Public Enemy) during the height of their careers.

Hammer also established a children's foundation, which first started in Hammer's own community, called Help The Children (HTC was named after and based on his song by the same name which included a music video with a storyline from his film Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie).

A Sesame Street segment features Elmo taking on the persona of MC Hammer; nicknaming himself "MC Elmo" and along with two backup singers they rap a song about the number five called "Five Jive".

In 1994, British TV presenter Mark Lamarr interrupted Hammer repeatedly with Hammer's catch phrase ("Stop! Hammer Time!") in an interview filmed for The Word, which he took in good humour. He claimed Hammer was a "living legend". It was also within this interview that Hammer explained the truth about his relationship with "gangsta rap" and that he was merely changing with the times, not holding onto his old image nor becoming a "hardcore gangsta". By some accounts, this change contributed to his decline in popularity.

In 2005, Hammer appeared in a commercial for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company which made a humorous reference to his career. First he is shown in his distinctive clothing with his dance troupe performing "U Can't Touch This" in front of a mansion representative of his former house with a monogram H on the gable. Then there is silence and a screen card saying "Fifteen Minutes Later" appears with a view of Hammer sadly sitting on the curb in front of the same house as a crane removes the monogram H and tow trucks pull away sports cars that were parked in front. After a large "Foreclosed" sign appears, the voiceover said "Life comes at you fast. Be ready with Nationwide!"

In 2006, M.C. Hammer's music catalog (approximately 40,000 songs) was sold to the music company Evergreen/BMG for nearly $3 million. Evergreen explained that the collection was "some of the best-selling and most popular rap songs of all time." Speaking for Evergreen Copyrights, David Schulhof stated the songs "will emerge as a perfect fit for licensing in movies, television shows, and corporate advertising." According to VH1, "Hammer was on the money. Hit singles and videos like "U Can't Touch This" and "Too Legit To Quit" created a template of lavish performance values that many rap artists still follow today."

In March 2009, Ellen DeGeneres made plans for Hammer to be on her show (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) after he contacted her via Twitter.

Hammer continues to give media interviews, such as being a guest on Chelsea Lately (June 16, 2009), where he discussed his relationship with Vanilla Ice, his stint on The Surreal Life, his show Hammertime, his family, his mansion, about him being in shape, his positive financial status and other "colorful topics" (subliminal jokes) regarding his baggy pants.

In 2010, Rick Ross released "MC Hammer" from the Teflon Don album which samples Hammer's "2 Legit 2 Quit".

To celebrate Hammer's 50th birthday, San Francisco game maker Zynga offered up some recent player's Draw Something drawings from his fans. Other sources/services offered "props" on behalf of his special occasion and to show appreciation for his memorable persona/gimmicks used during the peak of his career.

In 2012, Slaughterhouse released a single called "Hammer Dance", along with a video. "Hammer Dance" was the lead single from the Welcome to: Our House album.

During the 2013 Oakland Athletics season, the "2 Legit 2 Quit" music video played on the Diamond Vision in between innings, usually during the middle of the 8th inning. The video featured prominent players from the San Francisco Bay Area's sports championships, such as former A's players Jose Canseco and hall of fame inductee Rickey Henderson.

Influences and effect

M.C. Hammer's career in rap and entertainment has influenced and been influenced by such artists as: Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson, Kurtis Blow, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James, Doug E. Fresh (who joined Hammer's Bust It Records label in 1992 and issued the album Doin' What I Gotta Do with the track "Bustin' Out (On Funk)" sampling the Rick James single "Bustin' Out") & The Get Fresh Crew (Barry Bee and Chill Will), Run-DMC and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Hammer was followed by related musicians: Will Smith, dc Talk, BB Jay, Diddy (aka "Puffy" or "Puff Daddy"), Young MC, B Angie B, M.C. Brains, MC Breed, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, C+C Music Factory, Mystikal, Bell Biv DeVoe, Kris Kross, Ho Frat Hoo! and Oaktown's 357.

Hammer also influenced the music industry with pop culture catchphrases and slang.

Some critics complained of a lack of originality in Hammer's early productions. Entertainment Weekly described "U Can't Touch This" as 'shamelessly copying its propulsive riff from Rick James ("Super Freak"). Hammer admits, "When I look at Puffy with a choir, I say, 'Sure that's a take-off of what I do."

Notable feuds/beefs Hammer had with other rappers include: LL Cool J, Vanilla Ice, Too Short, Redman, 3rd Bass, Jay-Z, Eminem, A Tribe Called Quest and Run-DMC. Several diss tracks were featured on The Funky Headhunter.

Award recipient, appearances and recognition

Throughout the years, Hammer has been awarded for his music, videos and choreography. He has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. He has won three Grammy Awards (one with Rick James and Alonzo Miller) for Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1990), Best Rap Solo (1990) and Best Music Video: Long Form (1990) taken from Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie. He also received eight American Music Awards, a People's Choice Award, an NAACP Image Awards and the Billboard Diamond Award (the first for a hip hop artist).

The International Album of the Year validated Hammer's talent as a world-class entertainer. Additionally, Hammer was also honored with a Soul Train Music Award (Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year) in 1991. He has also been a presenter/performer at Soul Train's Music Awards several times, including The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1991), The 9th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1995) and Soul Train's 25th Anniversary (1995).

Hammer appeared on gospel music's Stellar Awards show in 1997 and spoke of his renewed commitment to God. In the same interview, he promised to unveil the "second leg" of his career.

In the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Hammer made a surprise appearance in the middle of the show with best friend Jermaine Jackson.

On June 12, 2008, Hammer gave his support to Warren Beatty by attending the 36th AFI Life Achievement Awards. In August 2008, at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, Hammer won a Living Legends of Hip Hop Award from Hip Hop International in Las Vegas.

Hammer, Gary Vaynerchuk, Shaquille O'Neal and Rick Sanchez (host) celebrated the Best of Twitter in Brooklyn at the first Shorty Awards on February 11, 2009, which honored the top short-form content creators on Twitter. In September 2009, Hammer made the "accomplishment appearance" in Zombie Apocalypse for the downloadable Smash TV/Left 4 Dead hybrid for the Xbox 360. Hammer attended the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards which aired on BET November 29, 2009.

On January 5, 2010, Hammer (along with Alyssa Milano and others) was a member of panel judges for the Real-Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences at the Second Annual Shorty Awards. On October 2 (televised October 12), Hammer opened the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" in Atlanta along with Rick Ross, Diddy and DJ Khaled (all performing together during "MC Hammer" from the Teflon Don album as well).

With over 2.6 million Twitter followers in 2010, his contribution to social media and as a co-founder of his own Internet businesses (such as DanceJam.com), Hammer was announced as the recipient of the first Gravity Summit Social Media Marketer of the Year Award. The award was presented to him at the 3rd Annual Gravity Summit on February 22, 2011 at the UCLA Covel Commons.

At the 40th American Music Awards in November 2012, Hammer danced to a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit" along with South Korean pop star Psy, both wearing his signature Hammer pants. The collaboration was released on iTunes. The performance idea with Hammer came from Psy's management. They both performed it together again on December 31, 2012 during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

Hammer received the George and Ira Gershwin Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement (not to be mistaken for the Gershwin Prize), presented during the UCLA Spring Sing in Pauley Pavilion on May 17, 2013.

Tours and concerts

Notable tours and concerts include: A Spring Affair Tour (1989), Summer Jam '89 (1989), Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour (1990 & 1991), Lawlor Events Center at University of Nevada, Reno (1990-2017), Too Legit World Tour (1992), Red, White, and Boom (2003), The Bamboozle Festival (2007), Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (2008–2013), McKay Events Center with Vanilla Ice (2009), Illinois State Fair with Boyz II Men (2011), MusicFest (2012), Jack's Seventh Show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (2012), Kool & the Gang Superjam at Outside Lands (2014) and Hammer's All-star House Party Tour (2019).

Discography

Feel My Power (1986)

Let's Get It Started (1988)

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em (1990)

Too Legit to Quit (1991)

The Funky Headhunter (1994)

Inside Out (1995)

Family Affair (1998)

Active Duty (2001)

Full Blast (2004)

Look Look Look (2006)

DanceJamtheMusic (2009)

[thejollyroger-writer]

Historical Inaccuracies

a/n: Inspired by a chat in the discord, this story was born out of Killian’s love for history and America’s hatred for the British while on historical tours. Up until last night, this fic was lovingly referred to as “the history nerd fic,” and it is dedicated to @welllpthisishappening @profdanglaisstuff @kmomof4 and @shireness-saysIt is, of course, Fourth of July themed, like all of Mary Margaret’s outfits on this trip. 

Read it on AO3 if that’s more your jam

3k words // rated G

SUMMARY:  When David and Mary Margaret's son wants to go on the Freedom Walk guided tour in Boston for his birthday, Emma and Killian tag along, still hiding their relatively-new relationship from their friends. But when the tour guide starts to berate a certain group of people from across the pond, both Killian's anger and their relationship come out.

-----

Killian would do anything for his godson. Of course, he would do anything for his nephew, Charlie, too, but the hour-long car trip from Boston to Northbridge is far easier than the flight across the Atlantic to his brother and his wife in England. 

But this? This is a new level of Hell, right here in the middle of Boston. 

Not all of it is terrible. He gets to share an apartment with his girlfriend, their fairly-new relationship still a secret to their best friends. They both took off work for Leo’s birthday celebration, so they get to spend a few days together, without either of them having to worry about their jobs, since she could manage a few days without going after someone who skipped bail, and his university was off for the summer. And their best friends are back in town, their seven-year-old in tow. It really was a “stay-cation” that he was looking forward to, especially since the thing Leo wanted the most was to spend days on historical tours of Killian's favorite city, some of them led by Killian himself, and others led by costumed tour guides in celebration of the Fourth of July week in Boston.  

But it's one of these costumed tour guides that is putting Killian through hell. Ben. Ben, a twenty-something year old, probably a college student, with shaggy ginger hair and a freckle-covered face, wearing an American Revolutionary War uniform.

He got through the part of the tour where Ben referred to the British soldiers during the Revolutionary War as the “bloody Brits,” paired with a terrible fake accent. He got through the discussion of the Boston Tea Party where Ben instead referred to them only as the “Colonizers.” 

But now? 

“You know,” Ben says, turning around to look at their small group as he leads them down the last few blocks towards the Faneuil Market, the ending place for their tour. “We focus so much on the Brits of the past on this tour, but what about the Brits of the present?” 

There’s a small smattering of laughter from the group, but Killian squeezes his hands into fists, tight enough for them to quickly start shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Emma turn to him, making sure he is okay, and though he is decidedly not, there’s nothing they can do without calling attention to him. 

This is one form of torture. Everyone around him learning he is one of these bloody Brits would be something more. Or, he fears it would. Hence why he hasn’t spoken since the tour started, simply happy to be spending time with the people closest to him. 

“It’s one thing to colonize countries when it was all the rage. Everyone was colonizing when the British ruled the Americas, and the Brits colonized everyone — but to still have colonies? In the twenty-first century?” 

There’s a mumble of approval through the group. 

Killian just rolls his eyes. 

“And who still has a queen, in this day and age?” he jokes, and this gets a few laughs in response. “Nowadays, the Royal Family seems more like the stars of a reality show then the people ruling a nation. I mean, why does it matter what the prince’s wife wears on a daily basis? That’s the status of a celebrity, not of a woman who might one day rule the whole country.” There are a few more laughs, the crowd now getting more into his new-found stand up comedy role. 

Killian disagrees, pressing his teeth lightly into his tongue. 

(Though he would never admit it, Killian kind of agrees with this point. The fame of the Royal Family has seemed a little irrelevant to him over the past few years — though it was never something that Killian would talk about in public.)

Emma hears Killian huff beside her, groaning under his breath. What she can’t see is the way his teeth are practically cutting into his tongue, the faint taste of blood taking over his mouth. 

He’s surprised to feel Emma’s hand wrap around his, and the warmth of it, even in the bright city sun, calms the boiling of his blood. 

She has been his best friend for years. Sure, they may not have gotten along that well when they first became neighbors her and David’s senior year of college, but that was almost twelve years ago. Since then, they have watched David and Mary Margaret fall in love, move out of the city, get married, and have Leo, with their second on the way. They have seen Killian go through two roomates: Jefferson and Robin, leaving him with Will currently. 

They have seen Emma go through more. Ruby, Belle, Zelena, Regina, and Tink, all of whom tended not to stay too long, though only Regina and Tink left because of Emma: Regina because they were too different, their schedules opposites, Regina much more meticulous than Emma could ever be. 

And Tink? Tink was insanely jealous of her friendship with Killian, even more jealous when their friendship became more. It was only a few weeks before that she heard Tink shouting Killian’s name through the thin bedroom walls in the middle of the night while she was staying in Killian’s apartment, which pushed Emma to ask her to move out. 

Because after everything, they fell in love. 

The only issue with that is they decided not to tell David and Mary Margaret yet. It’s not that they don’t think their friends would be happy for them — Mary Margaret would probably start screaming, and after David stopped leveling him with his gaze, he would crack a smile, as well. 

But it’s only been five months. They decided to wait longer until they told their friends, and holding hands in the middle of Boston is not the way to keep their relationship secret. 

It helps the angry pounding of his heart, though, which is almost enough for him to not care.

“Why is their flag so busy?” Ben asks, pulling an old-fashioned American flag out of his pocket, one with thirteen stars. “All those lines going every which way and all that — not to mention the colors. Red, white, and blue, so original.” 

At this, Leo turns around to Emma and Killian, standing at the back of the group. Just the night before, Killian had gone through the history of the British flag with the lad, who sat cross-legged on the floor of his apartment, his bright eyes wide with interest. 

But when he sees Killian and Emma standing behind him, old enough to know what their intertwined hands means, his eyes widen in a completely different way. Emma can swear that everything around her slows down as Leo opens his mouth to say something, and she presses her finger to her lips before he can make a sound. He looks worried for a moment, until Killian winks and smiles at him, and the smile returns to the seven year old’s face and he turns back to the tour guide. 

This time, when Killian turns to Emma, she lets out a sigh of relief. 

“And don’t even get me started on tea!” Ben says, pulling Killian’s attention back to him. “Why are they so high and mighty about their tea? We all know that coffee is the far superior hot beverage.” 

To none of his friend’s surprise, this is when Killian cracks: if Killian Jones has strong opinions about anything, it's coffee. “Oi, really, mate?” he yells, and he couldn’t have sounded more British if he tried. When every eye in the group turns towards him, his face reddens even more, and Emma’s not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger. 

Probably both. 

Though when she sees David’s gaze fall to their hands, his eyes widening in surprise, her cheeks redden in her own embarrassment. 

“Not a single piece of information you just supplied is correct, do you know that? Or if it is, it’s completely biased.” He’s on a roll, not stopping now, and even as he runs his fingers through his hair, his grip on her hand tightens, as if it's the one thing stopping him from truly losing control. Emma fears it just might be. “Yes, okay, Great Britain still has colonies, but do you know who else does? America! Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, France, they all have colonies! It’s more than just us bloody Brits. And do you know that the queen doesn’t actually ‘rule the entire country’?" He definitely has not stopped to take a breath, which worries her. "There’s a whole system of people who work with her, who keep her in check, and it might be a system that’s a few hundred years old, but I’ll tell you this, our checks and balances work much better than whatever bullshit that happens here.” 

A few of the younger people in the group all go “Oooh!”, some of them laughing, others outraged, but it’s all nothing compared to the surprised outrage written across Ben’s freckled features. 

When he starts again, the words are tumbling madly from his lips, much angrier when he conveyed the same information to Leo the night before. “The British Flag is a culmination of the British, Scottish, and Irish from when King James I of Scotland inherited all three thrones, so it’s technically not just one flag, but three all out together. It represents the same kind of unity that your American flag is also supposed to represent, three countries coming together in unity, though of course that’s not the flag that we use anymore. It was redesigned when Great Britain and Ireland were united in 1801, and that is the flag that you all recognize as our Union Jack.” 

He stops for a moment, looking around the group, his blue eyes wide with anger, with madness — pausing for a moment on David, whose eyes are not on his face, but on his hand, which he realizes in this moment is still wrapped around Emma’s. 

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. 

His free hand raises to scratch at the spot behind his ear that always seems to itch when he finds himself embarrassed. “I’m not even going to start on the tea comment, because that’s just plain bullshit,” he says after a silent second, his voice even again, and he even laughs lightly, which makes the tension that has filled the group lighten a bit. 

Except for Ben. 

Ben looks like he’s never been more embarrassed in his life. It’s a definite possibility that he actually hasn’t. 

A beat passes. The group is silent. 

And then Ben, still red in the face, claps his hands together, standing on the steps in front of the market before them. 

“I would like to thank each of you for joining me on this Freedom Trail Walk during this year’s 38th annual Boston Harborfest. I hope you’ll all join us on Thursday for the Parade of Lights and Fireworks, which starts at 8:30. If anyone still needs to find a place to sit to enjoy them, let me know, I have a few suggestions. Enjoy the rest of the celebration!” 

The group begins to dissipate, David leading their whole crew a few steps away from where the bulk of the group still stands. Killian moves to let go of Emma’s hand, to try and make the conversation he knows is going to happen a little less awkward, but Emma refuses to let go. Killian turns to her, David and Mary Margaret still leading them with Leo between them. He catches her eye, and when she turns her head and smiles at him, he pulls their hands up to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. 

Her smile widens. 

He hears her unspoken words, a question she desperately wants to ask him: are you sure? He hopes that the smile that takes over his face is answer enough. 

Because he's sure. He may never have been so sure about anything in his life as he is about Emma — as he is about loving her, about wanting to be with her badly enough to have to incur the wrath of their best friends — of her brother — finding out like this. 

God, he loves her. It's not the first time he's had the thought, but it's the first time he's realized just how true it all is. He's not ready to tell her, to tell anyone, but he's ready enough to believe it in his own mind. To think it when he looks at her, when he wakes up curled around her in the morning, when he's buried deep inside her. 

Sure, they've only been together for a few months, but he's been in love with her for years. He tried to bury it beneath bottles of rum, tried to hide from it by using other women, but every time when he woke up beside one of them, he would dream it was her, wake up hoping it wasn't just a dream, and regret when that was not the truth.

Needless to say, the first morning he finally woke up beside her, golden locks strewn all over his face and his chest, his arm asleep from refusing to move away from her during the night, was the greatest morning of his life. 

"Alright," David says, turning back to the two of them to turn their group into a circle. But when his eyes go wide, they are not focused on Killian and Emma's joined hands, but instead just over Killian's shoulder. 

Not a moment later, he feels a tap on it, paired with a soft-spoken, "Excuse me, sir." 

He whips his head towards the sound, now releasing his grip on Emma's hand, and when he meets the eyes of the person standing behind him, he remembers why Emma reached over to grab his hand in the first place, which he's both happy and angry about. 

Ben. 

He still looks like he's never been more embarrassed in his life. 

Good. 

"I, uh, I just really wanted to apologise for what… happened," he says, his eyes falling to the pavement. "I really have no problems with the British, just to clear that up. I just — I never had anyone on my tour that's not American — not that you're not American, of course, that's not what — not what I'm saying, it's just — " 

Finally, Killian stops him, raising his hands up between them. "Listen, lad," he says, and Emma can't help but think that his accent is stronger than it usually is. Or maybe she's just focusing on it more. "I appreciate your apology. I just hope this is a lesson to really know who's in your group before you go poking fun at other countries, especially ones whose residents are such hard-headed gits, aye? Not everyone will be as forgiving as I am." 

It's not until he smiles at him that Ben realizes he's serious. "Th—thank you," he stutters, his voice soft, and after a moment passes (one Killian is pretty sure neither of them breathe through), he turns to walk away. 

When Killian turns back towards his friends, the sigh he lets out is both audible and visible, the rise and fall of his shoulders obvious. "Well, that was exciting," he says after yet another silent moment passes between them, and then turns to David. "What's the plan, boss?" 

But it's Mary Margaret who responds. "Oh, no, uh-uh, no way." She shakes her head, crossing her arms over the third different stars-and-stripes dress that has made an appearance this week. 

When David mirrors her appearance, Leo looks back and forth between them a few times before he does the same. If they weren't teaming up against her, Emma would think they're adorable. 

But since they are teaming up against her, that ruins it a bit. 

"Yeah," David says, his bright eyes narrowing into slits. "It seems the two of you have to explaining to do." 

"Yeah!" Leo adds, though his glare is not as piercing as his parents'.

"What's there to explain?" Killian asks, his voice much calmer than Emma's would have been, especially once he reaches out to wrap his arm around her shoulder, pulling himself closer to her. "We're dating. It's still relatively new to us, and we didn't want to get anyone's hopes up in case it doesn't work out." 

At his words, David's face softens, but when Emma turns to Mary Margaret, hers has not. "How long has this been going on?" 

Now it's Emma's turn to answer, the lump in her throat almost completely gone now, but her voice is still soft when she manages to speak. "Not very long. Just a few months, four? Maybe five?" 

This does not make Mary Margaret any calmer, either. "Five months! You've been dating for five months and you haven't told anyone?!" 

Emma feels her face growing hot. This is why they haven't told anyone. 

"And why do you think that is, hm?" Killian asks, gesturing towards Mary Margaret with his free hand. 

This silences the woman, enough for her to snap her mouth shut. 

"I guess, uh, it makes sense now," David says, realizing exactly what Killian and Emma hoped he had: that Mary Margaret's response was exactly what they had expected. 

But the best thing about David and Mary Margaret finding out happened two nights later, when Killian realized he didn't want to move back into his apartment when David asked if they could stay a few days longer than expected. 

They even invited the rest of their friends over to help move his things into her apartment, sitting out on the balconies to watch the fireworks over the bay. 

A year later, he stood in the exact same place to ask her to marry him, and was sure to tell everyone the very next day at the Nolan's first annual Fourth of July barbeque. 

[goldstarnation]

DECEMBER 2019 GOLD STAR MEDIA SCHEDULES & REVIEW

Members may earn 3 points each (up to 6 points) for writing, by the end of January 7 KST:

A solo para of 400+ words based on their monthly schedule (does not count toward your monthly total).

A thread of six posts (three per participant, including the starter) based on their monthly schedule.

Threads do not have to take place directly during an important date listed on the schedule, but must be related to what the muse is mentioned to be doing in the paragraph explaining their schedule/the company’s schedule for the month and/or their thoughts on the mentioned activities or lack thereof.

These schedules may be updated throughout the month if new information needs to be added.

Reminder: November schedule posts are due by the end of December 7 KST.

Overall Company

As the year ends, most of the important company business is still levels higher than idols are privy to. Most of Gold Star’s idols are focused on end of the year festivals or award shows or are already preparing for what 2020 will bring them, but beginning December 1st, the inside of the Gold Star building has been decked out in tasteful and professionally designed Christmas decorations in hopes of keeping employee morale high. Management may be messy lately, but at least the building looks nice!

Important dates:

N/A

Gold Star Soloist 1

Her end of the year fan meetings have her spending her New Year’s Eve with fans to celebrate the end of a year of, admittedly, minimal activity for her, though she’ll film a New Year’s Greeting video earlier in the month so all fans can begin the new year with her as well. She’s encouraged by management to reassure fans that a new album is coming in 2020 during the fan meeting to generate buzz.

Important dates:

December 20: New Year’s Greeting video filming.

December 30 Play Pause & U Fanmeeting at Kyunghee University Grand Peace Palace.

December 31: Play Pause & U Fanmeeting at Kyunghee University Grand Peace Palace.

Gold Star Soloist 2

Though she isn’t nominated for the awards, Gold Star has pulled strings to get her to perform at the Mnet Asian Music Awards this year in a combined stage with BEE (admin note: Gold Star Soloist 2 will be performing “Room Shaker” for her solo portion instead) to spread word of her comeback after so long.

Important dates:

December 1: Fansign in Yongsan.

December 4: Mnet Asian Music Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan (also attending: BC Soloist 1, BEE, CHARM, WISH, Alien, Origin, and Impulse).

December 5: End of music show promotions

Gold Star Soloist 3

For most of the month, he’s granted a vacation for the holiday season to enjoy himself before Gold Star pushes him into full focus on his English album in the new year, but they are beginning a new series on their YouTube channel to earn him more attention from international audiences, which he’ll be recording for two days this month. First, he’ll do a cover of Anne-Marie’s “2002″, the hottest pop song in South Korea this year, and later, he’ll record a live performance video of his latest single, “Runaway”.

Important dates:

December 15: Filming of “2002″ cover.

December 27: Filming of “Runaway” performance video.

December 31: Release of “2002″ cover on Gold Star Media’s Youtube channel.

Silhouette

Their comeback last month didn’t do all that well compared to the company’s other girl groups, and, as promised, that means Gold Star is in a position of reconsidering how to market the group. They have landed a new chicken brand ambassador deal, though, which they’ll film a Christmas greeting for as a group, and a photo shoot for Maxim Korea’s January 2020 issue (admin note: though the reference only includes three members, all four members of Silhouette will participate in the shoot), but after that, the members are given a vacation for the rest of 2019 while their future hangs in the hands of Gold Star Media’s recently famously troubled management.

Important dates:

December 4: Mexican Chicken Christmas Greeting video filming.

December 9: Maxim Korea photo shoot.

Aria

With their end of the year concerts out of the way, Aria is now focused on their comeback this month as well as more end of the year shows. They’ll be performing both “I’m So Sick” and “Lost N Found” at the shows, passing over “Wag-Zak” since it was a low promotion summer single, with special intros. As one of the artists promoting during the Christmas season, Aria will participate in a series of special stages for Music Bank by performing a cover of “Last Christmas” inspired by the movie Love, Actually on broadcast in addition to their title track (admin note: the performance concept will be more elegant than cute, but the set and line distribution will mirror the reference performance, with the main dancer/lead vocal signing Yookyung’s part and with members wearing the stage outfits in the beginning half of this video).

Important dates:

December 9: Release of “Lost N Found” & Sanctuary mini-album showcase, promotions continue until January 9. 

December 10: Fansign in Gangnam, Seoul.

December 11: Fansign in Seocho, Seoul.

December 15: Fansign in Songpa, Seoul.

December 16: Filming of Idol Star Athletics Championships in Seoul, South Korea (also attending: Knight, Lipstick, CHARM, Dimensions Soloist 2, Alien, 7ROPHY, and Lucid.)

December 20: Last Christmas special stage on Music Bank broadcast.

December 25: Performance at Gayo Daejeon [2] at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, Lipstick, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Origin, Impulse, Fuse, and Femme Fatale).

December 27: Performance at Gayo Daechukje [2] at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Origin, Impulse, and Fuse).

Origin

More award shows and year-end festivals mean more time spent rehearsing elaborate stages. After their record breaking daesang sweep at the Melon Music Awards last month, it’s more important than ever that they live up to all of the expectations for them. They do take a quick trip to the US to perform at one stop on the iHeartt Radio Jingle Ball tour to form stronger radio relations for their next comeback, and they’ve also been chosen to cover the next issue of Paper Magazine, where they’ll give a (carefully monitored) interview and star in a photo shoot combining their cultural power with that of artist Lisa Frank and Louis Vuitton fashion designer Virgil Abloh.

Important dates:

December 4: Mnet Asian Music Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan (also attending: BC Soloist 1, BEE, CHARM, WISH, Alien, Gold Star Soloist 2, and Impulse).

December 6: Jingle Ball at The Forum in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

December 9: Photo shoot and interview for Paper Magazine January issue.

December 25: Performance at Gayo Daejeon at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, Lipstick, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Impulse, Fuse, and Femme Fatale). 

December 27: Performance at Gayo Daechukje at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Impulse, and Fuse). 

December 31: Performance at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in New York, NY, USA..

Impulse

They begin the month in Japan to finish off their Japan hall tour and attend the Mnet Asian Music Awards before returning to Seoul to attend year-end festivals.They’ll be rehearsing for their year-end stages even while in Japan in order to present clean performances. Their sixth debut anniversary is coming up next month, so at some point among their busy schedules, each member will be pulled aside to film a video message to fans for their sixth anniversary. All of the messages will be compiled into one video to be posted by Gold Star on their anniversary.

Important dates:

December 2: Our Loop Japan Tour concert at Nagoya Congress Center Hall in Nagoya, Japan.

December 4: Mnet Asian Music Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan (also attending: BC Soloist 1, BEE, CHARM, WISH, Alien, Gold Star Soloist 2, and Origin).

December 11: Our Loop Japan Tour concert at Fukuoka Sunpalace Hall in Fukuoka, Japan.

December 12: Our Loop Japan Tour concert at Fukuoka Sunpalace Hall in Fukuoka, Japan.

December 24: Release of “Take” He Is Psychometric OST.

December 25: Performance at Gayo Daejeon at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, Lipstick, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Origin, Fuse, and Femme Fatale).

December 27: Performance at Gayo Daechukje at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Origin, and Fuse).

December 31: Performance at Gayo Daejejeon at MBC Dream Center in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, Lipstick, CHARM, Alien, Unity, 7ROPHY, Lucid, and Fuse).

Fuse

On the 4th, Gold Star releases a statement that the outfit plagiarism controversy has been settled with the designer by “reaching an understanding” and “planning to work together in the future”. That’s one grey cloud lifted from promotions, but “Umpah Umpah” still isn’t really a major hit, even if it’s getting music show wins and Fuse won a song of the year daesang for it a week after release last month at the Asia Artist Awards, and it failed to live up to even their earlier release this year digitally. From what management is saying, it sounds like Fuse won’t be releasing their next comeback for a while, perhaps signalling their status shifting to that of a senior group in the company who can make money in ways other than releasing music or, perhaps, signalling an attempt at seeing if Femme Fatale’s spaced out releases strategy can produce another hit for Fuse as big as “Red Flavor”. It’s not easy to tell and management isn’t speaking to the members directly about it, but in the meantime they’re focusing on rehearsals for year-end festivals and a new gig as LG phone ambassadors.

Important dates:

December 4: LG V50 CF filming.

December 9: Fansign in Suwon.

December 11: Fansign in Yongsan, Seoul.

December 15: Fansign in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul.

December 19: End of music show promotions.

December 25: Performance at Gayo Daejeon at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, Lipstick, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Origin, Impulse, and Femme Fatale).

December 27: Performance at Gayo Daechukje at KINTEX in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, WISH, CHARM, Alien, Unity, Lucid, Aria, Origin, and Impulse). 

December 31: Performance at Gayo Daejejeon at MBC Dream Center in Ilsan, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, Lipstick, CHARM, Alien, Unity, 7ROPHY, Lucid, and Impulse).

Element

Element continues to take their tour (including their cover stages from last month) on the road throughout December as tour through Latin American and stop by Toronto briefly to performance amidst a K-pop festival lineup. Both Christmas and New Year’s will be spent in Brazil, but for Christmas, they’ll have the day off to celebrate in São Paulo as they please (within reason). From the 27th to the 30th, they’ll be back in Seoul, but the whole month, members who need it will be required to attend English lessons to prepare for their North American tour the first two months of 2020 and some limited American media interviews Gold Star plans for them to partake in.

Important dates:

December 8: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at C3 Stage in Guadalajara, Mexico.

December 17: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at Teatro Coliseo in Santiago, Chile.

December 19: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at Vivo Rio in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

December 21: Performance at K-Pop North at Metro Toronto Convention Center in Toronto, ON, Canada.

December 24: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at Tom Brasil in São Paulo, Brazil.

December 26: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at Baile Perfumado in Recife, Brazil. 

December 31: 4lement in Latin America Tour concert at Bar Opinão in Porto Allegre, Brazil.

Femme Fatale

This month is busy with preparations for the finale to the Japanese arena tour, where they’ll be bringing their revamped round of special stages (please see October’s schedule for their assigned solo stages) and adding a series of special Christmas stages ( “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Last Christmas”, and “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”) to appropriately celebrate the Christmas Eve date. After that, it’s back to Seoul and onto end of the year festivals where they’ll be performing “Ddu-Du Ddu-Du” and “Forever Young”, and a performance at a fan event in their role as Adidas ambassadors.

Important dates:

December 4: Release of Femme Fatale In You Area Japanese album.

December 24: Femme Fatale Japan Arena Tour Special Final at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, Japan.

December 25: Performance at Gayo Daejeon at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea (also performing: Decipher, BEE, Lipstick, WISH, CHARM, Lucid, Alien, Unity, Aria, Origin, Impulse, and Fuse).

December 30: Performance at Adidas Winter Night Fan Event in Seoul, South Korea.

[statueofunitytentcity]

Ultimate 2-Day Travel Guide to the Statue of Unity with a Luxurious Stay at Tent City-1

Looking for a unique weekend getaway that blends history, nature, and luxury? The Statue of Unity is the ideal destination. As the world’s tallest statue, it attracts thousands of tourists daily. This travel will help you plan a perfect 2-day trip to the Statue of Unity. A luxurious stay at Statue of Unity Tent City-1, located in the heart of nature.

Day 1: Arrival & Exploration

12:00 PM – Welcome to Statue of Unity Tent City-1 Start your journey with a warm welcome at the Statue of Unity Tent City-1. Check into your elegant, air-conditioned cottage surrounded by greenery and serenity.

12:30 PM – Lunch Enjoy a traditional Gujarati meal at the spacious dining area, offering a delicious start to your stay.

02:30 PM – Visit Sardar Sarovar Dam & Valley of Flowers Head out for a guided tour to the dam’s selfie point followed by a walk through the Valley of Flowers, which features over 300 flower species.

04:00 PM – Statue of Unity Visit Marvel at the world’s tallest statue and get breathtaking panoramic views from the 400-foot-high Viewing Gallery. Don’t forget to visit the museum and audiovisual gallery inside the complex.

06:45 PM – Laser Light & Sound Show Watch the stunning laser show that narrates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s inspiring life story through a spectacular display of lights and music.

08:00 PM – Illumination Tour & Dinner Enjoy a peaceful tour of the illuminated statue before heading back for dinner at the Tent City-1.

Day 2: Adventure & Relaxation

06:30 AM – Khalwani Sunrise Walk Start your day with a peaceful walk along the scenic riverside trails.

09:30 AM – Jungle Safari Embark on a thrilling jungle safari where you can spot leopards, antelopes, zebras, and exotic birds in a carefully curated habitat.

02:30 PM – In-House Activities Unwind with indoor games, relax by the pool, or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

06:00 PM – Unity Glow Garden Wrap up your adventure by visiting the Unity Glow Garden — a luminous display of art and creativity that mesmerizes visitors of all ages.

08:30 PM – Dinner & Rest

Day 3: Departure

Enjoy one last breakfast at the dining hall before checking out at 9:30 AM. Complimentary transfer to Ekta Nagar Railway Station ensures a smooth end to your journey.

Best Time to Visit in Summer The summer months (April–June) are the best time to visit the Statue of Unity Tent City-1. Mornings and evenings are pleasant, making it a perfect season for sightseeing and laser shows.

How to Reach:

By Train: Kevadia Railway Station (5 km)

By Road: Well-connected to Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat

By Air: Vadodara Airport (90 km), Ahmedabad Airport (200 km)

For a comfortable and enriching travel experience, book your stay at Statue of Unity Tent City-1. It’s the ultimate blend of comfort, nature, and culture — perfect for your next weekend escape.

[lightscameramagicrp]

Lights, Camera, Awards!

Welcome to Awards season here at LCM Studios! We have a lot in store for you this week. While the main event is coming your way soon, we are going to kick this thing off in style with pre-show week! This week the ballots open, the galas start, the brunches are prepared and the charity gatherings come out in full force.  This is the week that the who’s who in television and film come together to celebrate and party before the awards show truly begins. 

The week’s events are listed below: 

Pre-Awards Brunch hosted by Noelani Moreno 

Brunch will be held at 2pm at Market on the third floor of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. This brunch is for everyone in attendance at the upcoming awards show. This your chance to get to know your fellow co-workers and castmates while partaking in the finest dining. 

One day music festival hosted by Dominic Harris 

Join us at LCM Studios as the studio has been transformed into multiple sound stages in order to house a one-day music festival. Join some of LCM’s own talent Jaquelyn Presley and Rick Valentine in addition to Kane Brown, Ariana Grande, Harry Styles, JP Saxe, Julia Michaels, Lizzo, and Summer Walker as they provide music, food truck style fast food, and memorable performances from 11 am - 12 am. 

Pre-Show TV & Film Panel hosted by Isaiah Novak & Jennifer Scarrow 

Join many of LCM’s actors, cast and crew as they take fan questions, talk about their television shows and films and maybe even give us some juicy behind the scenes insight into their lives. 

LCM Gift Lounge hosted by Kenzi Fletcher & Jordan Wyatt 

This lounge set up at the studio is for all those invited to the awards show to get swag from the latest designers and most popular brands. There is even a chance to win a trip for two to a destination of your choice. 

LCM Portrait Lounge with Photographer Luna Sinclaire 

This is your one-stop-shop to get your LCM Studio official portrait taken by our very own Luna Sinclaire.  

Supernatural Unity Gala hosted by Rick Valentine

This unity gala is a philanthropic opportunity to support the growing political efforts to regain supernatural citizenship status as well as overturn laws that are unfair and unjust to supernaturals.

Pre-show 90s Themed Party hosted by Noah St.Claire & Roxanne Taylor

This is easily one of the biggest parties of the year. This party signifies the end of pre-show week. Come dressed up in your best 90s costume, enjoy the music, performances, and of course the all you can eat buffet. 

[OOC Note: Periodically throughout the week, there will be plot drops, so be sure to expect the unexpected. Anything can happen and most of the time it will! Feel free to keep other threads going, it is completely up to you whether you want to drop them. This is a plot heavy event, so just be sure that any event threads be tagged lightscameraevent2. Some scenarios will mention people by name, but if you or your character are in the area even if not mentioned by the post, feel free to plot, make starters, and interact with the plot drops. Most importantly have fun.]

[walkonwalkonwithhopeinyourheart]

Dominic King- Liverpool uncovered: Simon Mignolet on Sadio Mane the dressing-room joker, practising penalties with Mohamed Salah and losing his place to the best goalkeeper he's ever seen via /r/LiverpoolFC

Dominic King- Liverpool uncovered: Simon Mignolet on Sadio Mane the dressing-room joker, practising penalties with Mohamed Salah and losing his place to the best goalkeeper he's ever seen

Liverpool suffered heartbreak in Barcelona on Wednesday night, but their quest to win the Premier League is still alive. It has been a remarkable campaign and, with 91 points on the board, they will chase Manchester City all the way to the line.

Ahead of Saturday's crucial trip to Newcastle, long-serving goalkeeper Simon Mignolet told Sportsmail the story of the season from the players' perspective.

The Belgian has been on the journey every step of the way, seeing the highs and lows, and knows Liverpool can still dream.

DREAMING BIG

After reaching the Champions League final last May, Liverpool made four big summer signings and enjoyed a fruitful start to the season. The key moment for the squad, though, was the night Paris Saint-Germain came to town in September and were taken apart.

SIMON MIGNOLET: It all started so well. We had four victories before the first international break. When we came back we then had Tottenham at Wembley and PSG at home in the Champions League, two of the best teams in the world in quick succession.

We beat Spurs 2-1, then scored three against PSG and blew them away. If we could play like that against Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, why couldn't we do it to everyone else? We knew, there and then, we didn't need to be afraid of anyone.

We had a good run the previous season but we knew people would wonder if we could sustain it. So that game was the benchmark. That's where it all started.

SQUAD UNITY

Jurgen Klopp has emphasised how well run Liverpool's dressing room is. Mignolet's role may have changed over the last 12 months but he is an important member behind the scenes and the inclusive atmosphere has been crucial to maintaining form.

SM: I've never been in a dressing room where there hasn't been trouble at some stage.

There's always going to be something where someone doesn't talk to someone else or they don't get on.

But that isn't the case with this squad. It's been that way for a year. Nobody is talking behind anyone's back, nobody has a grudge.

Sadio Mane always tries to be the joker but his jokes aren't always funny — people ended up laughing with him, rather than at the joke he made!

There's a lot of banter going on... Robbo (Andy Robertson), Milly (James Milner), Virg (Virgil van Dijk) — it comes from all sides.

WORRYING TIMES

It is easy to look at Liverpool's results and think progress has been smooth, but that is not the case. Autumn brought some below-standard league performances and poor results in the Champions League. A 2-0 defeat at Red Star Belgrade was a line in the sand.

SM: October and November was a rough patch. We lost to Napoli away, drew with Manchester City at home, drew at Arsenal and then lost to Belgrade. Everything that could have gone wrong that night did go wrong.

The main thing that came out of it was doubt. The manager was so unhappy. We stayed over in Belgrade and the big question we asked was: 'Why are we doing this?' It turned out to be a game we learned more from. We had to make sure it didn't happen in the Premier League.

DEFINING DAYS

Lift-off for Liverpool came on December 2, when they dramatically beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby with an injury-time goal from Divock Origi. The victories that resonated most, however, will come as a surprise.

SM: I don't show my feelings a lot but when Divock scored I jumped off the bench! I was sat next to Adam Lallana and James Milner and the noise in the stadium was incredible. That win was huge.

But I will pick another three out: Brighton away in January. We had lost two games against Manchester City and Wolves, and the match was dead, no chances for either team. Then Mo (Salah) scored a penalty. A week later, we beat Crystal Palace 4-3. A crazy game but so, so important. Those six points were massive. One slip and it makes a hell of a difference. Then recently we had Cardiff.

Like Belgrade, everything was set up there for us to fail. A dry pitch, 30-degree heat. What we did that day to win 2-0 made it one of our best performances.

MAGICAL MO

Salah has enjoyed another outstanding season and could well retain the Golden Boot. If he does, Mignolet will have done his bit to help.

SM: He sits next to me on the coach when we travel to games. He asks me about penalties and what ideas the opposition goalkeeper will have. I'll tell him he should do this or that. We practise penalties the day before a game and we work together.

I try to do the same as the keeper he will face the next day, to make it as realistic as possible.

The big thing about Mo? He is a cult hero in Egypt. People forget how big a figure he is in the Muslim world.

We went to Dubai in January for a training camp and he was everywhere. He's like a statue.

He carries all that on his shoulders and he does it so well, like the pressure is nothing. He is down to earth, still the same guy as he was when he signed. Everywhere we go there is attention for him.

When there are crowds around the coach shouting 'Salah! Salah!' we join in with them and make it funny.

But he has an example to give. He has got so much talent but he works so hard to help.

PERSONAL ANGUISH

Mignolet has not played in the Premier League this season. The £65million signing of Alisson Becker made him No 2 but he has blocked out any personal disappointment. His attitude is so good that both Klopp and Milner have highlighted his role.

SM: Me and my missus are building a house in Spain. I speak a few languages and last year we decided to take Spanish lessons. Then Ali came and I don't need lessons any more as I speak Spanish with him!

As a goalkeeper, you learn from the guys you work with. He is Brazil No 1 ahead of Ederson. The main difference between the two is that Ali is probably better with his hands. He's the most complete goalkeeper I've seen in my career. He is so calm.

Not playing is the hard bit, the feeling of being on the pitch at the end when you've won is what I miss most. I understand how people who don't play stop doing their work. That is why I push myself every day. I get in the gym at 9am. The boys must look at me and think, 'What's that idiot doing there again?'

THE FINAL ACT

Mignolet was part of the last Reds squad who challenged for the title, in 2014. Whatever happens in the next week, he believes this group have what it takes to be champions one day.

SM: The manager is perfect for the club. His vision and his character embodies what the fans live for. The style of play we have is what the supporters want, they want to see fire. They want to see Liverpool pushing, fighting.

It would be strange — and very frustrating — if we didn't win anything, but the only thing that would stop it is the opposition (Manchester City) being so good. All credit to them if that is the case. The amount of points we've accumulated would mean we are champions in a normal year.

We've been through the process to get where we want to be and the squad have grown. We should get something one day.

Submitted May 03, 2019 at 05:00AM by x77aca77x via reddit http://bit.ly/2J8ptFP

[vardhmanvacations23]

Gujarat Tour Packages: Explore the Beauty of Gujarat

Gujarat is a beautiful state in India known for its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes. Whether you love history, wildlife, or religious places, Gujarat has something for everyone. Gujarat Tour Packages offer a perfect way to explore this amazing state with ease and comfort.

Why Choose Gujarat Tour Packages?

Gujarat is a perfect destination for travelers who want to experience history, spirituality, adventure, and scenic beauty. With well-planned itineraries, Gujarat Tour Packages ensure that visitors get the best out of their trip without any hassle. From ancient temples to modern cities, stunning beaches to wildlife sanctuaries, these packages cover all major attractions of Gujarat. Travelers can also enjoy local food, handicrafts, and festivals that showcase the vibrant culture of the state.

Top Places to Visit in Gujarat

1. Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad is the largest city in Gujarat and an important cultural hub. The city is home to the famous Sabarmati Ashram, where Mahatma Gandhi lived and led the freedom movement. Other attractions include Akshardham Temple, Kankaria Lake, Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, and the Jama Masjid. Ahmedabad is also known for its delicious street food and bustling markets, making it a paradise for food lovers.

2. Gir National Park

For wildlife lovers, Gir National Park is a must-visit. It is the only place in the world where you can see Asiatic lions in their natural habitat. A safari in Gir is a thrilling experience, offering visitors a chance to see leopards, deer, and a variety of birds.

3. Rann of Kutch

The Rann of Kutch is a breathtaking white desert that attracts tourists from all over the world. The Rann Utsav, held every year, showcases Gujarat’s vibrant culture with folk dances, music, camel rides, and local handicrafts. The sight of the full moon reflecting on the vast white desert is a mesmerizing experience.

4. Somnath Temple

One of the most famous temples in India, Somnath Temple is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. The temple has great historical and spiritual significance and is believed to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple stands tall on the shores of the Arabian Sea, offering a stunning view.

5. Dwarka

Dwarka is another important religious site in Gujarat. It is believed to be the ancient kingdom of Lord Krishna. The Dwarkadhish Temple is the main attraction of the city. Apart from the temple, tourists can visit Bet Dwarka, Rukmini Temple, and the beautiful Gomti Ghat.

6. Saputara

Saputara is the only hill station in Gujarat, offering a cool and refreshing escape from the heat. Surrounded by lush green forests, beautiful waterfalls, and scenic landscapes, it is a great place for nature lovers. Visitors can also enjoy boating, trekking, and exploring tribal culture in this picturesque location.

7. Statue of Unity

The Statue of Unity, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is the world’s tallest statue. Located near Kevadia, this massive monument attracts thousands of tourists every day. Visitors can enjoy boat rides, laser light shows, and the beautiful surroundings of the Narmada River.

Best Time to Visit Gujarat

The best time to visit Gujarat is from October to March. During this time, the weather is pleasant and perfect for sightseeing. The famous Rann Utsav is also held during this period, attracting tourists from around the world. Summers in Gujarat can be hot, so winter is the ideal season for travel.

Types of Gujarat Tour Packages

1. Heritage Tour Packages

These packages cover historical sites like Ahmedabad, Champaner, Lothal, and Modhera Sun Temple. They are perfect for history lovers who want to explore Gujarat’s rich past.

2. Wildlife Tour Packages

These packages include visits to Gir National Park, Marine National Park, Blackbuck National Park, and other wildlife sanctuaries. Ideal for nature and wildlife enthusiasts, these tours offer exciting safaris and bird-watching experiences.

3. Pilgrimage Tour Packages

These packages focus on religious sites like Somnath, Dwarka, Palitana, Ambaji, and Akshardham. They are perfect for spiritual travelers seeking peace and devotion.

4. Adventure Tour Packages

For adventure seekers, these packages include activities like desert safaris in Kutch, trekking in Saputara, paragliding, and water sports at Mandvi Beach. Adventure lovers can enjoy thrilling experiences in Gujarat’s diverse landscapes.

5. Beach Tour Packages

Gujarat is home to some beautiful beaches, including Mandvi Beach, Dwarka Beach, and Tithal Beach. These packages offer a relaxing getaway with beachside resorts and exciting water activities.

Gujarat’s Unique Culture and Festivals

Gujarat is known for its vibrant festivals and cultural heritage. The Navratri festival, celebrated with energetic Garba and Dandiya Raas dances, is a major attraction. Other famous festivals include the International Kite Festival, Rann Utsav, and Janmashtami in Dwarka. Tourists can also explore traditional Gujarati cuisine, including dishes like Dhokla, Thepla, Khandvi, and Undhiyu.

Conclusion

Gujarat is a wonderful place to visit with its rich culture, heritage, and natural beauty. Gujarat Tour Packages make it easy to explore this amazing state without any hassle. Whether you love history, wildlife, adventure, or spirituality, Gujarat has something special for you. Plan your trip today and experience the magic of Gujarat like never before!

[torentialtribute]

Liverpool uncovered: Simon Mignolet on losing his place to the best keeper he’s ever seen

Liverpool suffered a heartbreak in Barcelona on Wednesday night, but their quest to win the Premier League is still alive. It has been a remarkable campaign and with 91 points on the board, they will chase Manchester City all the way to the line.

Ahead of Saturday's crucial trip to Newcastle, long-serving goalkeeper Simon Mignolet told Sportsmail the story of the season from the players' perspective.

The Belgian has been on the journey every step of the way, seeing the highs and lows, and knows Liverpool can still dream.

Simon Mignolet has an important presence in the field for Liverpool this campaign

The Belgian believes the group at Anfield have what it takes to be champions one day

DREAMING BIG

After reaching the Champions League final last May, Liverpool made four big summer signings and enjoyed a fruitful start to the season. The key moment for the squad, though, was the night Paris Saint-Germain came to town in September and were tasks apart.

SIMON MIGNOLET: It all started so well. We had four victories before the first international break. When we came back we had Tottenham at Wembley and PSG at home in the Champions League, two of the best teams in the world in quick succession.

We beat Spurs 2-1, then scored three against PSG and blew them away. If we could play like that against Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, why couldn't we do it to everyone else? We knew, there and then, we didn't need to be afraid of anyone.

We had a good run in the previous season but we knew people would wonder if we could sustain it. So that game was the benchmark. That's where it all started.

Mignolet spoke exclusively to Sportsmail's Dominic King about Liverpool's season so far

SQUAD UNITY

Jurgen Klopp has stressed how well run Liverpool's dressing cream is. Mignolet's role may have changed over the last 12 months but he is an important member behind the scenes and the inclusive atmosphere has been crucial to maintaining form.

SM: I've never been in a dressing room where there is no trouble at some stage.

There's always going to be something where someone doesn't talk to someone else or they don't get on.

Alongside his prolific goalscoring, Sadio Mane also tries to make his team-mates laugh

But that's not the case with this squad. It's been that way for a year. Nobody is talking behind anyone's back, nobody has a grudge.

Sadio Mane always tries to be the joker but his jokes aren't always funny – people ended up laughing with him, rather than at the joke he made!

There's a lot of banter going on … Robbo (Andy Robertson), Milly (James Milner), Virg (Virgil van Dijk) – it comes from all sides.

Mignolet also identified James Milner (left) and Andrew Robertson as two of the biggest jokers

WORRYING TIMES

It's easy to look at Liverpool's results and think progress has been smooth, but that's not the case. Autumn brought some below-standard league performances and poor results in the Champions League. A 2-0 defeat at Red Star Belgrade was a line in the sand.

SM: October and November was a rough patch. We lost to Napoli away, drew with Manchester City at home, drew at Arsenal and then lost to Belgrade. Everything that could have gone wrong that night did go wrong.

The main thing that came out of it was doubt. The manager was so unhappy. We stayed over in Belgrade and the big question we asked was: "Why are we doing this?" It turned out to be a game we learned more from. We had to make sure it didn't happen in the Premier League.

A shock defeat at Red Star Belgrade proved to be a significant turning point

DEFINING DAYS

Lift-off for Liverpool came on December 2, when they dramatically beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby with an injury-time goal from Divock Origi. The victories that resonated most, however, will come as a surprise.

SM: I don't show my feelings a lot but when Divock scored I jumped off the bench! I was sat next to Adam Lallana and James Milner and the noise at the stage was incredible. That win was huge.

But I will pick another three out: Brighton away in January. We had two lost games against Manchester City and Wolves, and the match was dead, no chances for either team. Then Mo (Salah) scored a penalty. A week later, we beat Crystal Palace 4-3. A crazy game but so, so important. Those six points were massive. One slip and it makes a hell of a difference. Then recently we had Cardiff.

Like Belgrade, everything was set up there for us to fail. A dry pitch, 30-degree heat. What we did that day to win 2-0 made it one of our best performances.

Mignolet identified Divock Origi's late Merseyside derby winner as a 'huge' moment

MAGICAL MO

Salah has enjoyed another outstanding season and could well retain the Golden Boot. If he does, Mignolet will have his bit to help done.

SM: He sits next to me on the coach when we travel to games. He asks me about penalties and what ideas the opposition goalkeeper will have. I'll tell him he should do this or that. We practice penalties the day before a game and we work together.

I try to do the same as the keeper he will face the next day, to make it as realistic as possible.

The big thing about Mo? He is a cult hero in Egypt. People forget how big a figure he is in the Muslim world.

Mohamed Salah could win the Golden Boat again after another outstanding scoring season

We went to Dubai in January for a training camp and he was everywhere. He's like a statue.

He carries all that on his shoulders and he does it so well, like the pressure is nothing. He's down to earth, still the same guy as he was when he signed. Everywhere we go there is attention for him.

When there are crowds around the coach shouting 'Salah! Salah! " we join in with them and make it funny.

But he has an example to give. He has got so much talent but he works so hard to help.

Mignolet praised the way the Egyptian forward handles all of the pressure of his status

PERSONAL ANGUISH

Mignolet has not played in the Premier League this season. The £ 65million signing of Alisson Becker made him No 2 but he has blocked out any personal disappointment. His attitude is so good that both Klopp and Milner have highlighted his role.

SM: Me and my missus are building a house in Spain. I speak a few languages ​​and last year we decided to take Spanish lessons. Then Ali came and I don't need lessons any more if I speak Spanish with him!

As a goalkeeper, you learn from the guys you work with. He is Brazil No 1 ahead of Ederson. The main difference between the two is that Ali is probably better with his hands. He's the most complete goalkeeper I've seen in my career. He is so calm.

Not playing is the hard bit, the feeling of being on the pitch at the end when you've won is what I miss most. I understand how people who don't play stop doing their work. That's why I push myself every day. I get in the gym at 9am. The boys must look at me and think, "What's that idiot doing there again?"

Alisson is established as Liverpool's first-choice stopper and Mignolet called him 'complete'

THE FINAL ACT

Mignolet was part of the last Reds squad who challenged for the title, in 2014. Whatever happens in the next week, he believes this group has what it takes to be champions one day.

SM: The manager is perfect for the club. His vision and his character embodied what the fans live for. The style of play we have is what the supporters want, they want to see fire. They want to see Liverpool pushing, fighting.

It would be strange – and very frustrating – if we didn't win anything, but the only thing that would stop it is the opposition (Manchester City) being so good . All credit to them if that's the case. The amount of points we've accumulated would mean we are champions in a normal year.

We've been through the process to get where we want to be and the squad have grown. We should get something one day.

Mignolet was a part of Liverpool's 2014 title-challenging side and played in defeat by Chelsea

Source link

[gujarat-trips]

A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Statue of Unity Tour Package

If you're planning a trip to Gujarat, the Statue of Unity is a must-visit destination. Standing at 182 meters tall, it is the tallest statue in the world and a symbol of India's unity and strength. To make your visit to the Statue of Unity a memorable one, it's important to plan your tour package in advance. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you plan your Statue of Unity tour package with gujaratpackage.com

Step 1: Choose Your Travel Dates The first step in planning your Statue of Unity tour package is to choose your travel dates. The statue is open to visitors throughout the year, but the best time to visit is between October to March when the weather is pleasant. Decide on the duration of your trip and make sure to factor in travel time to and from Gujarat.

Step 2: Select Your Accommodation Gujarat offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference. Whether you prefer luxury hotels or budget-friendly guesthouses, gujaratpackage.com can help you find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs. Our travel experts can help you select the best hotels and resorts near the Statue of Unity, ensuring that you have a comfortable and enjoyable stay.

Step 3: Choose Your Mode of Transportation There are several ways to reach the Statue of Unity, including by road, train, and air. gujaratpackage.com can help you select the most convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation based on your budget and travel requirements. We can arrange for private cars, buses, or taxis to take you to the statue and other tourist destinations in the surrounding areas.

Step 4: Plan Your Itinerary Once you have chosen your travel dates, accommodation, and mode of transportation, it's time to plan your itinerary. Gujarat offers a wealth of tourist attractions, including historical monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, and cultural landmarks. Our travel experts can help you plan a customized itinerary that includes the Statue of Unity and other popular tourist destinations in the surrounding areas.

Step 5: Book Your Statue of Unity Tickets The Statue of Unity is open to visitors from 9 AM to 6 PM. You can book your tickets online or purchase them at the ticket counter. There are different ticket options available, such as entry to the observation deck, the Sardar Patel Memorial, and the statue's base. gujaratpackage.com can help you book your tickets in advance, ensuring that you don't have to wait in long queues at the ticket counter.

Step 6: Hire a Tour Guide To make the most of your visit to the Statue of Unity and other tourist destinations in Gujarat, it's advisable to hire a tour guide. A tour guide will provide you with valuable insights into the history, culture, and significance of the places you visit. They can also help you navigate the local customs and traditions, ensuring that you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

Step 7: Pack Wisely Gujarat experiences extreme weather conditions, with hot summers and cold winters. Make sure to pack light cotton clothes in summers and warm clothes in winters. Comfortable shoes are a must for walking and hiking, as there are several trekking trails in the surrounding areas. Don't forget to carry sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the harsh sun.

Step 8: Be Prepared for the Crowds The Statue of Unity is a popular tourist destination and attracts a large number of visitors every day. Be prepared for the crowds, especially during weekends and holidays. To avoid the crowds, visit the statue early in the morning or late in the evening.

Step 9: Respect Local Culture and Customs Gujarat is known for its rich culture and customs. Respect the local culture and customs while visiting the Statue of Unity and

other tourist destinations in Gujarat. Dress modestly while visiting religious sites and be mindful of local traditions and customs. Avoid smoking, littering, and any behavior that could be deemed disrespectful to the local culture and customs.

Step 10: Enjoy Your Trip Finally, the most important step in planning your Statue of Unity tour package is to enjoy your trip. Take in the magnificent view of the statue, explore the surrounding areas, and immerse yourself in the local culture and cuisine. Don't forget to capture your memories through photographs and videos.

At Statue of Unity Tour Package, we understand the importance of planning a hassle-free and enjoyable trip to the Statue of Unity. We offer a wide range of customized tour packages to suit your budget and travel requirements. Our travel experts can help you plan your itinerary, book your accommodation and transportation, and provide you with valuable insights into the best places to visit in Gujarat.

In conclusion, planning a Statue of Unity tour package with Statue of Unity Tour Package is easy if you follow these steps. Choose your travel dates, select your accommodation and mode of transportation, plan your itinerary, book your tickets, hire a tour guide, pack wisely, be prepared for the crowds, respect local culture and customs, and most importantly, enjoy your trip. A visit to the Statue of Unity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a must-do activity for tourists visiting Gujarat. Let Statue of Unity Tour Package help you plan a hassle-free and enjoyable trip to the Statue of Unity and other tourist destinations in Gujarat.