Synopsis

A news report announces that Hammer is quitting the music business, prompting disbelief from celebrities and an increasingly impatient concert crowd. Before the show, Hammer meets James Brown, who sends him on a mission involving Michael Jackson's famous glove. After receiving a burst of encouragement from Brown, Hammer returns to deliver an elaborate performance packed with dancers, pyrotechnics, and star cameos. The extended video ends with a figure resembling Jackson acknowledging Hammer's signature "2 Legit 2 Quit" hand gesture.

Factoids & Trivia

• The extended version runs for almost 15 minutes, making it closer to a short film than a conventional music video.

• Jim Belushi appears as the news anchor reporting Hammer's supposed retirement.

• James Brown plays a central role in the video's comic storyline, calling Hammer "Godson" and sending him to retrieve Michael Jackson's glove.

• Michael Jackson does not appear in person. The ending shows a lookalike from behind wearing a sequined glove and performing the song's hand motions.

• The video features a remarkable collection of celebrity cameos, including Danny Glover, Henry Winkler, Queen Latifah, Tony Danza, Ralph Tresvant, Eazy-E, DJ Quik, Mark Wahlberg, Donnie Wahlberg, and Milli Vanilli.

• Professional athletes appearing in the video include Jose Canseco, Isiah Thomas, Kirby Puckett, Jerry Rice, Rickey Henderson, Deion Sanders, Wayne Gretzky, Roger Clemens, Ronnie Lott, and David Robinson.

• Several Atlanta Falcons players and coach Jerry Glanville appear, and the 1991 Falcons became associated with the song after using it as a team theme.

• The production was regarded as one of the most expensive music videos made at the time, matching Hammer's oversized stage production with a large cast, elaborate sets, and pyrotechnics.

• Capitol Records planned to send copies of the video to the stadiums and arenas of the 24 professional athletes featured, where they could be shown on scoreboard screens.

• The hand routine spelling out "2," "Legit," and "Quit" became one of Hammer's most recognizable trademarks and was also used to promote the album and related performances.

• The video was nominated for Best Choreography at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards, with Hammer credited for the choreography.

• The video's Michael Jackson gag reflected Hammer's publicly discussed desire to challenge Jackson to a dance competition, turning the two performers' reputations for elaborate choreography into part of the joke.