Psy was joined on stage at the American Music Awards by MC Hammer as the unlikely duo performed the infectious hit song Gangnam Style .
Many were not too surprised to see Psy turn up at the American Music Awards — the show had been teasing a feature with a “secret international sensation,” as if it could have been anyone else — but when he changed his baby-blue suit for a sparkled black top and hammer pants, many in the audience and watching at home didn’t know what to expect.
Then, halfway though Psy’s performance, the magic happened. As MTV News reported , the stage went black and quiet, with two familiar words sounding to send the crowd into a frenzy: “Stop. Hammertime.”
MC Hammer was suddenly next to Psy, and the two sensations separated by a generation performed a mashup of “Gangnam Style” and “2 Legit 2 Quit.” The song had the crowd in attendance dancing and performing Psy’s signature horse riding move.
Though Psy was the hit of the night, MC Hammer was no slouch either, notes Zap2It writer Rick Porter:
“At 50, Hammer can still bring it, showing off his smooth dance moves as the DJ mashed up Gangnam Style with his 1991 hit 2 Legit 2 Quit. Twenty-plus years, a bankruptcy, a reality show and a regrettable Cash 4 Gold ad after his apex, Hammer seemed genuinely excited to be pumping it up on stage again.”
For Psy, the American Music Awards appearance with MC Hammer represents a giant leap as an American cultural icon. Though he spent many years as a mainstay in the world of Korean pop, Psy and other artists in the field had failed to break through into American culture. That has changed now because of “Gangnam Style,” which has earned Psy a number of appearances in American media.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e9eeAFvRiTU