Pumps and a Bump
1994 single by Hammer
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"Pumps and a Bump" is a song by American rapper Hammer, released in February 1994 via Giant Records as the first single from his fifth album, The Funky Headhunter (1994).[3] It was both co-written and co-produced by Hammer, and peaked at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the final Top 40 hit of Hammer's career. "Pumps and a Bump" represented a departure from the rapper's previous pop image,[4] and contains a sample of George Clinton's 1982 single "Atomic Dog".[5]
| "Pumps and a Bump" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Single cover | ||||
| Single by Hammer | ||||
| from the album The Funky Headhunter | ||||
| Released | February 28, 1994 | |||
| Recorded | 1993 | |||
| Genre | West Coast hip-hop[1] | |||
| Length | 5:05 | |||
| Label | Giant | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Hammer singles chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote, "Preview of the forthcoming The Funky Headhunter collection (which also marks a label switch from Capitol to Giant) shows a new and improved Hammer. The bloated pomp and circumstance has been replaced by a gritty jack-swing groove and an electro-funk tone worthy of George Clinton. Track does not instantly hit you over the head, but it does crawl up your spine and sneak into your brain after a couple of spins. Once that happens, you won't be able to stop humming the melody. A smash."[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated, "Words and rhythm are in perfect harmony. Based on a sample from P-funk president George Clinton's 'Atomic Dog', this uncensored sex anthem is set to the perfect pulse."[7] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update described it as a "cheerfully sexist chanting and jiggling catchy P'funk jackswinger" in his weekly dance column.[8]
Music video
The original music video for "Pumps and a Bump" featured Hammer wearing nothing but a Speedo and dancing suggestively alongside numerous swimsuit-clad women, which resulted in it being banned from MTV as it was considered too graphic.[9] An alternative video was filmed with Hammer fully clothed[10] and featuring an appearance by Deion Sanders, while promoted as representing a remix of the song.[11] The video was nominated for Best Choreography at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.[12]
Impact
In 2010, American Idol contestant Larry Platt performed his own song titled "Pants on the Ground", which Entertainment Weekly claimed sounded similar to "Pumps and a Bump".[13] Spin magazine described the banned music video as "'Elvis on the Ed Sullivan Show' cranked to 11".[4]
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[17] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||