As reported by AFROTECH, in 1996, the esteemed music legend MC Hammer found himself in bankruptcy as a result of his extravagant spending habits, having amassed a staggering $10 million in debt with only $1 million in assets, as reported by SF Gate. Despite this dramatic reversal of fortune, he remains steadfast in his conviction that he harbors no regrets concerning the sequence of events.
"When some people ask me if I would go back and change things," MC Hammer revealed in an interview featured on Oprah.com, "they are astonished by my response. My genuine, unwavering answer is that I wouldn't change a single thing. I wholeheartedly believe in the butterfly effect. If I were to alter one element, everything else would change. I would lose the children I have today, the relationships I cherish, and the serenity I currently possess. Therefore, I am content with my decisions."
While many may only recall him for his musical successes and subsequent financial struggles, this is but a fragment of the 62-year-old's narrative. Presently, as a father of five, he has established himself as a successful entrepreneur, spiritual leader, and technology investor.
According to the profile on Oprah.com, MC Hammer's fascination with technology traces back to his involvement in producing music videos in the 1990s.
Recognizing the potential for music videos to be shared on the internet, he encountered numerous impediments due to the unprepared technological infrastructure. However, he remained resolute in his vision, relentlessly seeking ways to disseminate his music videos and ultimately witnessing the emergence of platforms like YouTube.
"I persevered from '94 until YouTube," he expressed. "If you look on YouTube, you'll find me there when they had their [offices] atop a pizza parlor and merely possessed three or four computers."
Subsequently, this marked the onset of his foray into technology investments. Currently based in Silicon Valley, California, he collaborates with companies at the confluence of technology, music, and marketing. His diverse investment portfolio encompasses enterprises such as Bump Technologies, Square, and the former social media platform X, known today as Twitter.
"On a day-to-day basis, I'm loosely engaged with about eight [technology] companies that I find promising," MC Hammer disclosed in the Oprah profile. "From offering guidance and consultation to making investments, it occupies me for 10 to 12 hours each day."
MC Hammer's most prominent technology investment is notably in Twitter. As outlined in a separate AFROTECH report from 2020, it was disclosed during a tech conference by Chamillionaire that MC Hammer "owned a piece of Twitter."
A report by Billboard in 2011 pointed out that MC Hammer was involved with approximately a dozen startups while investing in entities like Bump Technologies and Square. His investment strategy has affirmed his standing within the Oakland community as a respected figure, utilizing both his setbacks and successes as substantial experience and invaluable wisdom.
"Anyone in the Valley who deals with digital music commodities knows how to get in touch with me," MC Hammer shared with the outlet. "It's a very tight-knit community up here. I'm usually just a text away."
As a co-founder of DanceJam, he is deliberate in his current investment undertakings. MC Hammer's approach to investment is methodical, with each endeavor guided by strategy and foresight for widespread impact, instilling confidence in his business awareness.
"I'm intrigued by companies that can influence enterprise on a global scale; ventures that can enrich and streamline your connected life," he remarked to Billboard. "But always, I seek opportunities to fortify or reinvigorate the music business model."
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