John Cena: The Rap That Forged the “Doctor Thuganomics” and His Hip-Hop Legacy

John Cena: From the Ring to Raps, a Story of Authenticity

Before becoming a wrestling legend, John Cena was at a moment of uncertainty in his career. Despite being considered the future of WWE in the mid-2000s, he struggled to connect with the public. It was during a European tour, on a bus, where he found the key: freestyle.

This facet, where Cena improvised with his colleagues, gave rise to a new character: “The Doctor of Thuganomics”. This personality revitalized his career, catapulting him to stardom. But the freestyle on “SmackDown” was not just a trick, but an extension of his true identity.

“He was a kid who liked rap, and then he became a wrestler”.

Esoteric, friend of Cena and rapper

Freestyles evolved on the album “You Can’t See Me”, released on May 10, 2005. The album fused Cena’s ingenious rhymes with underground production. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and included Cena’s entrance theme, “The Time Is Now”, which he still uses after 20 years. Cena stayed true to hip-hop, collaborating with underground artists. One of these collaborations was with Bumpy Knuckles, recognized for his authenticity. Knuckles met Cena before an appearance on New York’s Hot 97 radio. Knuckles, at first, didn’t know Cena, but he was surprised by his rhythm. After a conversation, both built a relationship that extended to the creation of Cena’s album. Cena’s motivation for creating the album was the generic rap music that WWE was using at the time, which did not represent his musical tastes. It was then that he decided to create his own material, looking for something better. The producer Jake One, at first, was not familiar with Cena, but his manager proposed that the wrestler use three of his beats. One received 30,000 dollars for the beats, which for him meant a great income. One of those songs was “The Time is Now”, a hit that became a wrestling anthem. The song was released on March 17, 2005 on “SmackDown”. The producer feels grateful to have been part of a crucial moment in Cena’s career. The album “You Can’t See Me” featured Cena, along with Trademarc, in 17 bravado-filled songs. Unlike other forays into rap, Cena showed authenticity, from his rings to his rhymes and production. For Cena, hip-hop was an integral part of his being. During the creation of the album, he collaborated with key figures from the underground scene, demonstrating that he was not exploiting the culture.

“I’ve seen my share of tasteless tricks as a fan of black wrestling, but Cena exuded authenticity and someone who understood and cared about the culture.”

Murs, underground hip-hop figure from California

Murs collaborated with Cena on the remix of “H-U-S-T-L-E” in 2004, before the release of Cena’s album. Murs met Cena at a mutual friend’s apartment. Cena participated in the remix and delivered his verse in less than 48 hours. Bumpy Knuckles also played an important role in the creation of Cena’s album. Knuckles maintained that he never wrote a verse for Cena. His role was to be his partner to ensure that Cena was seen as a real rapper. The album, which received positive reviews, was considered a success. The RapReviews review said: “You Can’t See Me may have been a well-planned marketing strategy, but at the same time it screams the passion of a man who loves rap as much as he loves wrestling.”

Two decades after the release of “You Can’t See Me”, Cena has evolved. Although the denim shorts are a classic, the rhymes and personality have changed, giving way to a more polished image. Cena decided to stop rapping and focused on other projects, such as acting. At 48 years old, Cena is at the end of his career in the ring, but “You Can’t See Me” remains a milestone in his career. Although he is no longer immersed in hip-hop, his authenticity remains.

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

Bumpy Knuckles