John Cena: From the wrestling rings to the microphone, a wrestling and hip-hop legend
Before being recognized as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, John Cena was at a standstill in the world of wrestling. Despite being touted as the future of WWE in the mid-2000s, he struggled to connect with the audience. It was during a European tour, on a bus, where Cena found a new facet by joining the improvisations of his colleagues. His freestyle ability left everyone astonished, giving life to a new character: “The Doctor of Thuganomics”.
This new persona revitalized Cena’s career, propelling him to stardom. But his improvisations on “SmackDown” were not just a gimmick; they were a reflection of who Cena was before the jorts and retro t-shirts. A close friend, the rapper Esoteric (Seamus Ryan), stated that Cena was passionate about rap from a young age, and that he later became a wrestler.
These improvisations led to the album “You Can’t See Me”, released on May 10, 2005. The album fused Cena’s ability for witty rhymes with an underground production. It debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and generated Cena’s entrance theme, “The Time Is Now”, which is still used 20 years later.
His intentions were pure, and when he had the opportunity to merge both things, he jumped headfirst.
Esoteric
Cena stayed true to his passion for hip-hop, collaborating with underground artists. Ryan highlighted Cena’s fluency in hip-hop, mentioning his knowledge of artists like Gang Starr and Wu-Tang Clan.John Cena’s “The Doctor of Thuganomics” character was more than just a gimmick.The creation of the album “You Can’t See Me” was an ambitious project for Cena, who sought to distance himself from the generic rap music used in the WWE. In an interview on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast, Cena revealed that he felt he could create better music than what was being produced in the company.
In the album creation process, Cena collaborated with producer Jake One, who, without knowing Cena, was contacted by his manager to use three of his beats. One received $30,000 for his work, and one of those beats became “The Time Is Now”, Cena’s entrance theme.
The theme song became a cultural phenomenon. Jake One expressed his gratitude for being part of a crucial moment in Cena’s career.
The album “You Can’t See Me” was much more than “The Time Is Now.” Cena, along with Trademarc, offered a 17-song album full of confidence and style. Unlike other forays into rap, Cena showed a genuine connection to hip-hop culture, from the four-finger rings to his witty rhymes and his ear for production.
Cena collaborated with key figures in the underground scene, such as the rapper Murs. Murs highlighted Cena’s authenticity and his respect for hip-hop culture.Rapper/producer Bumpy Knuckles was featured on four tracks with John Cena on “You Can’t See Me.”Rapper and producer Bumpy Knuckles, who participated in four songs on the album, played an important role in its creation. Cena became deeply involved in hip-hop culture, seeking authenticity and respect from the community.
Ryan, who participated in the track “Beantown”, highlighted that the final product exceeded expectations for a wrestler looking to make a hip-hop album. The album received positive reviews, and RapReviews magazine rated it 7.5 out of 10.Boston rapper Esoteric worked with John Cena on his rap album in 2005.Nowadays, Cena has left his rapper side behind, focusing on acting. However, “You Can’t See Me” remains a milestone in his career.
Bumpy Knuckles emphasized that Cena was always authentic in his connection to hip-hop.
