Wanna Be the Man

1990 song by Earth, Wind & Fire

"Wanna Be the Man"

Single by Earth, Wind & Fire featuring MC Hammer
from the album  Heritage
Released| 1990
Genre| R&B
Length| 4:08
Label| Columbia
Songwriter(s)| Kellee Patterson, MC Hammer, Maurice White, Sheldon Reynolds, Verdine White
Producer(s)| Maurice White
Earth, Wind & Fire featuring MC Hammer singles chronology
| "For the Love of You"
(1990)  | "Wanna Be the Man"
(1990)  | "Spend the Night"
(1993)

|
|

Music video
"Wanna Be The Man" on YouTube

"Wanna Be the Man" is a single by the band Earth, Wind & Fire featuring MC Hammer, issued in 1990 on Columbia Records.[1] The single peaked at No. 41 on the Cashbox Top R&B Singles chart and No. 46 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.[2][3]

## Critical reception[edit]

John Milward of Rolling Stone said the song is "sweetened by a buoyant vocal-group hook".[4] Mitchell May of the Chicago Tribune wrote "Hammer's clipped delivery meshes so well with EWF's leaner sound that they might want to consider hiring him full-time".[5] Bruce Britt of the Los Angeles Daily News wrote "'Wanna Be The Man' is great feel-good funk complete with a rapid fire rap by M.C. Hammer".[6] J.D. Considine of the Baltimore Sun exclaimed "Take a tune like 'Wanna Be the Man' with its bouncy chorus, tight falsetto harmonies and intoxicating swirl of percussion, it has all the earmarks of an EW&F classic. Yet by toughening up the beat and tossing in a little rapping (by M.C. Hammer, no less), it seems as vital as anything on the charts. Now, how's that for understanding your heritage?".[7] Pablo Guzman of the New York Daily News said "The pairing with M.C. Hammer on Wanna Be The Man" is "a kicking one".[8] James T. Jones IV of USA Today found that "EWF smartly gets help from MC Hammer on the hard-edged Wanna Be the Man".[9]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Earth, Wind & Fire: Wanna Be The Man. Columbia Records. 1990.
2. ^ "CASH BOX Top R&B Singles". cashboxmagazine.com. Cashbox. September 8, 1990.
3. ^ "Earth, Wind & Fire: Wanna Be The Man (Hot R&B Singles)". billboard.com. Billboard.
4. ^ Milward, John (March 22, 1990). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Heritage". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone.
5. ^ May, Mitchell (February 27, 1990). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Heritage". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
6. ^ Britt, Bruce (February 9, 1990). "Earth, Wind & Fire shows new sides on 'Heritage'". Macon Telegraph. Los Angeles Daily News. p. 6D - via newsbank.com.
7. ^ Considine, J.D. (February 16, 1990). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Heritage". newspapers.com. Baltimore Sun. p. 105.
8. ^ Guzman, Pablo (February 18, 1990). "Earth, Wind & Fire: Heritage". newspapers.com. New York Daily News. p. 422.
9. ^ Jones, James T, IV (18 January 1990). "LISTEN UP!". USA TODAY. p. 4D. ProQuest 306292404.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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Earth, Wind & Fire

Notable members|

| Current|

* Verdine White
* Philip Bailey
* Ralph Johnson
* John Paris

|

Former|

* Maurice White
* Wade Flemons
* Roland Bautista
* Jessica Cleaves
* Larry Dunn
* Ronnie Laws
* Al McKay
* Andrew Woolfolk
* Fred White
* Sonny Emory
* Sheldon Reynolds
* Freddie Ravel
* Morris Pleasure
* Robert Brookins
* Daniel de los Reyes
* Kim Johnson
* Greg "G-Mo" Moore

Studio albums|

* Earth, Wind & Fire
* The Need of Love
* Last Days and Time
* Head to the Sky
* Open Our Eyes
* That's the Way of the World
* Spirit
* All 'n All
* I Am
* Faces
* Raise!
* Powerlight
* Electric Universe
* Touch the World
* Heritage
* Millennium
* In the Name of Love
* The Promise
* Illumination
* Now, Then & Forever
* Holiday
* The Classic Christmas Album

Soundtrack albums|

* Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song

Live albums|

* Gratitude
* Greatest Hits Live
* That's the Way of the World: Alive in '75
* Live in Rio

Videos|

* Earth, Wind & Fire: In Concert
* The Eternal Vision
* Live in Japan
* Shining Stars: The Official Story Of Earth, Wind & Fire
* Earth, Wind & Fire: Live
* Earth, Wind & Fire: Live by Request
* Earth, Wind & Fire: Live at Montreux 1997
* The Collection
* Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire – Live at the Greek Theatre

Compilations|

* Another Time
* The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1
* The Collection
* The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2
* The Very Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
* The Eternal Dance
* The Very Best
* Elements of Love: Ballads
* Boogie Wonderland: The Very Best of Earth, Wind & Fire
* Greatest Hits
* The Ultimate Collection
* The Essential Earth, Wind & Fire
* The Greatest Hits

Singles|

* "Evil"
* "Keep Your Head to the Sky"
* "Mighty Mighty"
* "Kalimba Story"
* "Devotion"
* "Shining Star"
* "That's the Way of the World"
* "Sing a Song"
* "Can't Hide Love"
* "Getaway"
* "Saturday Nite"
* "Serpentine Fire"
* "Fantasy"
* "Got to Get You into My Life"
* "September"
* "After the Love Has Gone"
* "In the Stone"
* "Star"
* "Let Me Talk"
* "You"
* "And Love Goes On"
* "Let's Groove"
* "Wanna Be with You"
* "I've Had Enough"
* "Fall in Love with Me"
* "Side by Side"
* "Magnetic"
* "Touch"
* "System of Survival"
* "Thinking of You"
* "Evil Roy"
* "Turn on (The Beat Box)"
* "Sunday Morning"
* "In the Name of Love"
* "When Love Goes Wrong"
* "September 99"
* "Hold Me"
* "Pure Gold"
* "Change Your Mind"
* "Guiding Lights"
* "My Promise"
* "Why"

Collaborations|

* "Sun Goddess"
* "Boogie Wonderland"
* "Heritage"
* "For the Love of You"
* "Wanna Be The Man"
* "All in the Way"
* "The Way You Move"
* "Show Me the Way"
* "To You"
* "Holidays"

Related articles|

* Ramsey Lewis
* The Pharaohs
* Joe Wissert
* Charles Stepney
* The Phenix Horns
* Earth, Wind & Fire Horns
* The Emotions
* Wayne Vaughn
* Chicago
* Kalimba Music

Lists|

* Discography
* Awards and nominations
* Tribute albums
* Personnel

* Category

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