The rapper formerly known as Hammer has reverted back to his "U Can't Touch This" handle of MC Hammer and completed material for a new album entitled "War Chest: Turn of the Century."

Last year MC Hammer was forced to shelve plans for another record, "Family Affair," that he was set to release via his own label, Oaktown 3.5.7. But Hammer, whose 1990 album, "Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em," remains the best selling rap album of all time, says he's finishing up a deal with another label to issue "War Chest" this summer.

For the new record, Hammer tells the MTV Radio Network that he's included tracks that he cut with the late rapper Tupac Shakur, and he's also remade a version of Shakur's "Unconditional Love," a track that appeared on Tupac's "Greatest Hits" collection.

Aside from the Tupac connection, Hammer says that fans can expect the new record to feature the same mix of booty-shaking and spiritually reverent themes he utilized on "Please Hammer" and 1991's "Too Legit to

Quit."

"I'm real excited about it," MC Hammer said, "it's something to make you bob your head, pop your collar, get out on the dance floor and have a good time. At the same time, it'll help you get better as a person. You know, it's fun."

MC Hammer hopes to release a track called "That's How I Feel" as the first single from the new album at the end of this month.