MC Hammer's back catalog has been sold for almost $3 million, according to reports. The collection of music, which amounts to approximately 40,000 songs, including global hits "U Can't Touch This" and "Pray," has been bought by the music company Evergreen.

Evergreen described the collection, which they bought for $2.7 million, as "some of the best-selling and most popular rap songs of all time."

The sale of Hammer's music comes after he filed for bankruptcy in 1996, with debts in the region of $14 million.

Speaking on behalf of Evergreen, David K. Schulhof commented: "We anticipate that many songs in the MC Hammer catalog will emerge as a perfect fit for licensing in movies, television shows, and corporate advertising."

MC Hammer, who has more recently taken on the role of minister, is apparently expected to release a new album, Look3X, in the coming months.