Editing MC Hammer (section)

=== 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 [[hit single]]s prior to ''The Funky Headhunter''. The album, titled ''[[Greatest Hits (MC Hammer album)|Greatest Hits]]'', featured twelve former hits.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Greatest_Hits_M_C_Hammer|title= Greatest Hits by M.C. Hammer Specs|publisher = DealTime}}</ref> In 1998, another "greatest hits" album, called ''[[Back 2 Back Hits]]'', was produced and released by [[CEMA (record label distributor)|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 "[[hardcore hip hop|streetwise/hardcore rap]]" mold of the day, Hammer turned to a [[gospel music|gospel]]-friendly audience.<ref name="answers1"/>

In 1998, 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 [[extended play|EP]], this record was highly promoted on [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] (performing a more gospel version of "Keep On" from his album ''[[Inside Out (MC Hammer album)|Inside Out V]]''), yet featured no [[Hit single|charting singles]] and selling about 1,000 copies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://new.music.yahoo.com/mc-hammer/albums/family-affair--188884598|archive-url = https://archive.today/20120711053520/http://new.music.yahoo.com/mc-hammer/albums/family-affair--188884598|url-status = dead|archive-date = July 11, 2012|title = MC Hammer Albums: Family Affair|publisher = yahoo.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.pandora.com/music/artist/mc+hammer|title = MC Hammer|publisher = pandora.com}}</ref> The album also features a song written for Hammer by [[Tupac]] called "[[Unconditional Love (Tupac Shakur song)|Unconditional Love]]".<ref name="billboard">{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/mc-hammer/chart-history |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215231216/https://www.billboard.com/music/mc-hammer/chart-history |url-status=live |archive-date=February 15, 2019 |title=Discography |publisher=Billboard }}</ref> Hammer would later dance and read the lyrics to this song on the first ''[[VH1 Hip Hop Honors]]'' in 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/hammertime |title=MC Hammer To Perform Hip Hop Honors |website=DallasBlack.com |date=September 22, 2004 |access-date=March 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708222347/http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/hammertime |archive-date=July 8, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/vh1-hip-hop-honors/hip-hop-honors--2004/episode/979577/summary.html |title=VH1 Hip Hop Honors – Season 1, Episode 1: Hip Hop Honors : 2004 – TV.... |website=www.tv.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915102615/http://www.tv.com/vh1-hip-hop-honors/hip-hop-honors--2004/episode/979577/summary.html |archive-date=15 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/mc-hammer/albums/family-affair--188884598 |title=Family Affair {{pipe}} MC Hammer Album {{pipe}} Yahoo! Music |website=Music.yahoo.com |access-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210215150/http://music.yahoo.com/mc-hammer/albums/family-affair--188884598 |archive-date=February 10, 2013 }}</ref> The [[compact disc]]s are also "[[Personal computer|PC]] Ready" with [[Interactive media|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.<ref>{{cite web|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=mc hammer|bio=true}} |title=Information Not Found |publisher=Billboard |access-date=March 31, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtvmusic.com/mc_hammer/ |title=Hammer Music Videos – Watch Hammer Videos at |website=Mtvmusic.com |date=March 30, 1962 |access-date=March 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012213221/http://www.mtvmusic.com/mc_hammer |archive-date=October 12, 2009 }}</ref>