WWE superstar turned actor John Cena opened up about his love of hip-hop while visiting Shannon Sharpe at Club Shay Shay.
While growing up in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena admitted to rebelling as a youngster in the predominately white small town. “I was one of five boys, and I had a lot of angst with how the household was being run. I was a rebel. That music found me at the right time,” Cena said around the six-minute mark. “So, even though a song like ‘F—k tha Police’ might have been an anthem for the state of the social well-being in South Central Los Angeles — to a 13-year-old kid the police are my parents, and it was me who was like, ‘Well, f—k that.”
He then talked about his iconic entrance song “The Time is Now” and his only rap album You Can’t See Me, saying he decided to make his own rap music because he wasn’t feelin’ the “stock rap music” the company had to offer.
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“At the time, WWE was a rock and roll company. They didn’t have any depth of field for hip-hop, and I listened to my own music being like, ‘I could do better than this,’” he said. “I called up a friend who knew a friend who had a studio. We got some beats and we made an album. And that was it, that was it.” His debut album, released in 2005, peaked at No. 15 on the 200 chart.
Cena also named his top three athlete-rappers and his Mount Rushmore of Rap. Shaq, Kobe, and Master P made up the former, while Rakim, Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem rounded out the latter. “Everyone has their bias and I know that list is obviously going to incite riots,” he admitted. “We all have our bias. We all have our favorites. That’s what makes music special. That’s what makes creativity. I was brought up in the East Coast boom bap. I love wordplay, I love poetry, that’s what I based my character on. So I think all that’s super clever.”
His signature “You can’t see me” hand gesture he often did in the ring was inspired by the G-Unit’s Tony Yayo. In 2022, the Queens rapper posted a clip of Cena explaining where he got it from while making an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
You might be able to see who Shannon Sharpe is talking to, but you can watch the full episode here.
WWE superstar turned actor John Cena recently shared his passion for hip-hop during a visit to Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe. Growing up in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena revealed his rebellious nature and how hip-hop music resonated with him during his formative years.
Rebellious Beginnings
As one of five boys in a predominantly white small town, Cena expressed his angst towards the household dynamics. He found solace in hip-hop music, even relating to songs like ‘F—k tha Police’ in his own unique way. This rebellious spirit shaped his early connection to the genre.
Creating His Own Music
Cena delved into his foray into rap music with his iconic entrance song “The Time is Now” and his album ‘You Can’t See Me’. Dissatisfied with the standard rap music offered by WWE, Cena took matters into his own hands and decided to create his own music, leading to the release of his debut album in 2005.
Top Athlete-Rappers and Mount Rushmore of Rap
Sharing his top three athlete-rappers and his personal Mount Rushmore of Rap, Cena highlighted names like Shaq, Kobe, Master P, Rakim, Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem. He acknowledged the subjectivity of such lists but emphasized the importance of personal favorites in music.
Inspiration Behind “You Can’t See Me”
Cena revealed that his signature “You can’t see me” hand gesture was inspired by G-Unit’s Tony Yayo. A clip from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2022 showcased Cena explaining the origins of this iconic gesture, adding another layer to his connection with hip-hop culture.
Watch the Full Episode
While you may catch glimpses of Cena’s conversation with Shannon Sharpe, you can watch the full episode to delve deeper into his love for hip-hop and his journey in the music industry.
FAQs
Q: What inspired John Cena to create his own rap music?
A: Cena’s dissatisfaction with the standard rap music offered by WWE led him to create his own music, resulting in the release of his debut album ‘You Can’t See Me’ in 2005.
Q: Who are John Cena’s top three athlete-rappers?
A: Cena named Shaq, Kobe, and Master P as his top three athlete-rappers.
Q: Who is included in John Cena’s Mount Rushmore of Rap?
A: Cena’s Mount Rushmore of Rap features Rakim, Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem.
Credit: www.billboard.com
