John Cena: From Wrestling to Rap, the Story of “You Can’t See Me”

John Cena: From the Ring to the Rhythms of Hip-Hop

Before becoming a wrestling legend, John Cena faced challenges in connecting with the audience. In the 2000s, Cena, who was seen as the future of WWE, sought to stand out with a new personality. During a European tour, on a bus, the character of “The Doctor of Thuganomics” emerged through improvisations with other wrestlers. This new facet revitalized his career, leading him to stardom. But Cena’s freestyle on “SmackDown” was not just a strategy; it was an expression of his passion for rap. His friend and rapper Esoteric (Seamus Ryan) revealed that Cena was passionate about hip-hop, a fan of artists like Gang Starr and Wu-Tang Clan. The improvisations led to the album “You Can’t See Me”, released on May 10, 2005. The album combined his wit with underground production and debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200. From this album came his entrance theme, “The Time Is Now”, which he still uses.

His intentions were pure, and when he had the opportunity to merge both things, he went for it.

Seamus Ryan

For his album, Cena collaborated with underground artists. His friend, Esoteric, highlighted Cena’s choice to work with Bumpy Knuckles, a respected MC in the hip-hop scene, instead of popular radio artists. Bumpy Knuckles, also known as James Campbell, met Cena before an appearance on New York’s Hot 97 radio. Campbell was surprised by Cena’s talent, although he initially gave his rhymes a “4 out of 10” rating. Afterwards, they established a relationship that extended to the creation of the album. Cena’s motivation for creating the album stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the rap music that WWE was using at the time. He wanted to make music that represented his tastes and experiences.

Producer Jake One, at the beginning of his career, was commissioned to create three tracks for Cena’s album. He initially hesitated, but accepted. For these tracks, One received $30,000, a considerable sum at the time. One of those tracks became “The Time Is Now”, an iconic theme in wrestling. Although the song has generated much more money, the producer has still not met Cena.

On March 17, 2005, Cena debuted “The Time is Now” on “SmackDown”. “You Can’t See Me” was a 17-song album that showcased Cena’s personality. Murs, a rapper from the California underground scene, collaborated with Cena and highlighted his authenticity. Cena got involved in hip-hop culture, which resonated with the public.

Campbell, who participated in four songs, helped create Cena’s album. He highlighted Cena’s desire to be authentic and respected in hip-hop. In addition to working on songs, they spent time together, sharing experiences and meeting influential figures in hip-hop. Ryan, who participated in the song “Beantown”, said that the final result exceeded expectations. The album received moderate reviews, highlighting Cena’s passion for rap.

Nowadays, Cena’s image has changed, but “You Can’t See Me” remains a crucial moment in his career. Cena has evolved into a more polished image, leaving rap behind and focusing on acting.

I don’t think WWE ever told John to act like a rapper, I think John showed up like that.

James Campbell

Despite his changes, Cena will always be remembered for his authenticity in hip-hop.