Hip-hop champ
WWE's John Cena brings the rhymes into the ring
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
Posted on Thu, Jan. 27, 2005
EVER SINCE singer Cyndi Lauper managed female grappler Wendi
Richter, there's been a love affair between music and wrestling.
Much has changed since that watershed moment of the early 1980s, but
not the industry's love for music.
Make that rock music.
But what about hip-hop's connection with mainstream wrestling? Aside
from Lugz commercials and DJ Ran spinning live at World Wrestling
Entertainment (WWE) events, there hasn't been much of a link.
Thank goodness for John Cena.
Since he came to the WWE from the Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) four
years ago, Cena has gone from mid-card talent with no bite to the
darling of the WWE, all without abandoning his hip-hop vibe.
Wherever the current U.S. champion for WWE's SmackDown! brand goes,
the vestiges of hip-hop follow him.
From his before-match freestyles to his throwback athletic gear -
old-school Reebok Pumps - and iced-out "spinner" championship belt,
Cena is pretty much mainstream wrestling's biggest hip-hop
personality and fan.
"I have a passion for hip-hop like I do for sports entertainment,"
the 28-year-old from West Newbury, Mass., told the Daily News
recently. Some fans don't like it, but Cena shakes off criticism as
adeptly as he has rival Kurt Angle's one-liners. Maybe that's
because he rolls with certified hip-hop music heavyweight Freddie
Foxxx.
Foxxx, the longtime Bronx, N.Y., b-boy whose street rep may match
Cena's ring rep, has taken the talented wrestler under his wing,
providing lyrical insights and coaching. He's helping out on Cena's
as-yet untitled solo album, now being recorded and mixed.
"We linked up last year," said Foxxx, who was in on the
interview. "He wanted to work on an independent album, and he knew
me having the credibility that I do, that I could direct him and
keep him focused on what's on the street. I turned him on to
[street] mixtapes and other things, in reference to what's hot."
Cena has earned his spot in the pantheon of rising wrestling stars
with a combination of charisma, New England swagger and fundamental
wrestling skills. But Cena's ascension has perhaps been hampered by
his embrace of the hip-hop culture.
"It was real hard the first two years... I got booed out of every
building," Cena said. "Fifteen, twenty thousand fans a night,
getting called every name in the book. It was such a negative. The
crowd was so against [Cena's character] that it made me second-guess
it. But I said forget [changing]. This was me."
MTV and the WWE's predecessor, the World Wrestling Federation,
forged an immediate alliance when the cable music station began in
the mid-'80s. That led to a slew of wrestling and music cross-
promotions - everything from a WWF album and the
early "WrestleMania" events to music stars such as the
aforementioned Lauper and Captain Lou Albino entering the squared
circle.
More recently, the WWE and MTV have continued their collaboration
with the "Tough Enough" reality series, where the winner gets a
guaranteed WWE contract. "Tough Enough" just wrapped up its third
season.
But while MTV gravitated toward hip-hop music and culture beginning
in the late '80s, the WWE lodged itself in the big-haired,
early '80s rock era. Sure, the wrestlers updated their looks as
prototypical, new-millennium athletes - with attitude to match. They
were hip; they just weren't hip-hop.
Then Cena came along.
"We wanted to work [rapping] into what John Cena was doing. You want
exclusivity if you can find it," said Jim Ross, a WWE executive who,
as the former head of talent relations, has overseen the signing and
development of just about every current WWE wrestler. He sees
nothing but good things for Cena.
Cena "had the it factor, he told the Daily News. "John maintains
your attention... he's physically gifted, in great shape and trains
hard."
Ross, who is currently the executive vice president of business
strategy for the company, remembers "scouting John while he was
working for [independent wrestling organization] UPW."
Once Cena was signed, Ross continued, "I had some very engaging
conversations with John, but I had no idea he could rap on the spot.
We were on an international trip, and John got on the PA system on
our chartered bus and did some freestyle rapping.
"I remember thinking that this guy was actually pretty good - not
like two or three drunks at the karaoke machine."
The real John Cena enjoys hip-hop and the role of the underdog, but
acknowledges that it can be a daunting task to represent the WWE as
an elite titlist while trying to change the culture in the industry.
"I'm bringing hip-hop legitimately to the WWE... no one really did
it before me," Cena said. "WWE never gave hip-hop a chance. It was
always rock and wrestling."
Cena takes hip-hop and all that goes with his position very
seriously. And don't let looks fool you: While he may look like just
another young, rich, white suburbanite who digs rapping on the
weekends, he has considerable mike skills that are only getting
sharper.
And Cena has a rather diplomatic stance for the naysayers who may
knock him for not being "real" enough. Dealing with adversity "is
part of being an emcee," Cena said. "You've got to have passion for
it. [Corniness] shows real quick, and I put a lot of effort into
what you see on TV. It's not for the sole purpose of getting a
check."
Taking lessons from one of hip-hop's true architects can only help,
but even a master like Foxxx needs some sort of framework. Luckily,
Cena came with a healthy respect for and knowledge of hip-hop
culture.
"Cena knows about hip-hop history past the BBQ [a famous 1989
freestyle session in New York City that featured Nas and many
others]... he met Melle Mel and all the legendary cats," Foxxx
said. "I knew his love for hip-hop was authentic. John really loves
rhyming. I help him structure his songs, how to put it together and
how to use certain lingo."
But questions remain, although when considering Cena's lyrical
quotient, one should also keep in mind that he has to perform in
front of thousands of fans during weekly "SmackDown!" tapings and on
tour.
The rhymes we hear on TV must fit within the parameters the WWE
sets. So forgive Foxxx for seeing something in Cena that ardent hip-
hop purists may not.
"I think he's doing well... the thing that makes him so good is that
he does have a passion for it, for spitting," Foxxx said. "It's like
anything else. There's a before-and-after picture in everything.
Some [emcees] are kind of selfish, and won't open their mind to new
things. But Cena is someone who will go into the studio with me and
say, 'Foxxx, tell me what's wrong or what's right with my rhyme.' "
Cena has the showmanship aspect of hip-hop locked down. He can be
seen on numerous WWE DVDs, including "Before They Were Superstars 2"
and "WWE: John Cena: Word Life." Cena's lyrics can also be found on
the songs "Untouchables" (on the CD "WWE Theme Addict: The Music,
Vol. 6") and "Basic Thugganomics" ("WWE Originals").
The latter may have given Cena the confidence he needed to pursue a
rap career.
Along with the assist from "Bumpy Knuckles" himself.
"Everyone besides Freddie prejudged me... but sit down with me and
you'll see I'm passionate for hip-hop," Cena said. "I'm trying to
spread hip-hop to a demographic it hasn't hit yet. I deal with the
whole audience. WWE is reaching 4.5 million [viewers] every week.
"WWE was marketed since day one as a rock and roll thing, and now
[fans] are rocking John Cena T-shirts. And in the hip-hop community,
it's cool to watch wrestling."
credit: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10745161.htm?1c
WWE's John Cena brings the rhymes into the ring
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
Posted on Thu, Jan. 27, 2005
EVER SINCE singer Cyndi Lauper managed female grappler Wendi
Richter, there's been a love affair between music and wrestling.
Much has changed since that watershed moment of the early 1980s, but
not the industry's love for music.
Make that rock music.
But what about hip-hop's connection with mainstream wrestling? Aside
from Lugz commercials and DJ Ran spinning live at World Wrestling
Entertainment (WWE) events, there hasn't been much of a link.
Thank goodness for John Cena.
Since he came to the WWE from the Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) four
years ago, Cena has gone from mid-card talent with no bite to the
darling of the WWE, all without abandoning his hip-hop vibe.
Wherever the current U.S. champion for WWE's SmackDown! brand goes,
the vestiges of hip-hop follow him.
From his before-match freestyles to his throwback athletic gear -
old-school Reebok Pumps - and iced-out "spinner" championship belt,
Cena is pretty much mainstream wrestling's biggest hip-hop
personality and fan.
"I have a passion for hip-hop like I do for sports entertainment,"
the 28-year-old from West Newbury, Mass., told the Daily News
recently. Some fans don't like it, but Cena shakes off criticism as
adeptly as he has rival Kurt Angle's one-liners. Maybe that's
because he rolls with certified hip-hop music heavyweight Freddie
Foxxx.
Foxxx, the longtime Bronx, N.Y., b-boy whose street rep may match
Cena's ring rep, has taken the talented wrestler under his wing,
providing lyrical insights and coaching. He's helping out on Cena's
as-yet untitled solo album, now being recorded and mixed.
"We linked up last year," said Foxxx, who was in on the
interview. "He wanted to work on an independent album, and he knew
me having the credibility that I do, that I could direct him and
keep him focused on what's on the street. I turned him on to
[street] mixtapes and other things, in reference to what's hot."
Cena has earned his spot in the pantheon of rising wrestling stars
with a combination of charisma, New England swagger and fundamental
wrestling skills. But Cena's ascension has perhaps been hampered by
his embrace of the hip-hop culture.
"It was real hard the first two years... I got booed out of every
building," Cena said. "Fifteen, twenty thousand fans a night,
getting called every name in the book. It was such a negative. The
crowd was so against [Cena's character] that it made me second-guess
it. But I said forget [changing]. This was me."
MTV and the WWE's predecessor, the World Wrestling Federation,
forged an immediate alliance when the cable music station began in
the mid-'80s. That led to a slew of wrestling and music cross-
promotions - everything from a WWF album and the
early "WrestleMania" events to music stars such as the
aforementioned Lauper and Captain Lou Albino entering the squared
circle.
More recently, the WWE and MTV have continued their collaboration
with the "Tough Enough" reality series, where the winner gets a
guaranteed WWE contract. "Tough Enough" just wrapped up its third
season.
But while MTV gravitated toward hip-hop music and culture beginning
in the late '80s, the WWE lodged itself in the big-haired,
early '80s rock era. Sure, the wrestlers updated their looks as
prototypical, new-millennium athletes - with attitude to match. They
were hip; they just weren't hip-hop.
Then Cena came along.
"We wanted to work [rapping] into what John Cena was doing. You want
exclusivity if you can find it," said Jim Ross, a WWE executive who,
as the former head of talent relations, has overseen the signing and
development of just about every current WWE wrestler. He sees
nothing but good things for Cena.
Cena "had the it factor, he told the Daily News. "John maintains
your attention... he's physically gifted, in great shape and trains
hard."
Ross, who is currently the executive vice president of business
strategy for the company, remembers "scouting John while he was
working for [independent wrestling organization] UPW."
Once Cena was signed, Ross continued, "I had some very engaging
conversations with John, but I had no idea he could rap on the spot.
We were on an international trip, and John got on the PA system on
our chartered bus and did some freestyle rapping.
"I remember thinking that this guy was actually pretty good - not
like two or three drunks at the karaoke machine."
The real John Cena enjoys hip-hop and the role of the underdog, but
acknowledges that it can be a daunting task to represent the WWE as
an elite titlist while trying to change the culture in the industry.
"I'm bringing hip-hop legitimately to the WWE... no one really did
it before me," Cena said. "WWE never gave hip-hop a chance. It was
always rock and wrestling."
Cena takes hip-hop and all that goes with his position very
seriously. And don't let looks fool you: While he may look like just
another young, rich, white suburbanite who digs rapping on the
weekends, he has considerable mike skills that are only getting
sharper.
And Cena has a rather diplomatic stance for the naysayers who may
knock him for not being "real" enough. Dealing with adversity "is
part of being an emcee," Cena said. "You've got to have passion for
it. [Corniness] shows real quick, and I put a lot of effort into
what you see on TV. It's not for the sole purpose of getting a
check."
Taking lessons from one of hip-hop's true architects can only help,
but even a master like Foxxx needs some sort of framework. Luckily,
Cena came with a healthy respect for and knowledge of hip-hop
culture.
"Cena knows about hip-hop history past the BBQ [a famous 1989
freestyle session in New York City that featured Nas and many
others]... he met Melle Mel and all the legendary cats," Foxxx
said. "I knew his love for hip-hop was authentic. John really loves
rhyming. I help him structure his songs, how to put it together and
how to use certain lingo."
But questions remain, although when considering Cena's lyrical
quotient, one should also keep in mind that he has to perform in
front of thousands of fans during weekly "SmackDown!" tapings and on
tour.
The rhymes we hear on TV must fit within the parameters the WWE
sets. So forgive Foxxx for seeing something in Cena that ardent hip-
hop purists may not.
"I think he's doing well... the thing that makes him so good is that
he does have a passion for it, for spitting," Foxxx said. "It's like
anything else. There's a before-and-after picture in everything.
Some [emcees] are kind of selfish, and won't open their mind to new
things. But Cena is someone who will go into the studio with me and
say, 'Foxxx, tell me what's wrong or what's right with my rhyme.' "
Cena has the showmanship aspect of hip-hop locked down. He can be
seen on numerous WWE DVDs, including "Before They Were Superstars 2"
and "WWE: John Cena: Word Life." Cena's lyrics can also be found on
the songs "Untouchables" (on the CD "WWE Theme Addict: The Music,
Vol. 6") and "Basic Thugganomics" ("WWE Originals").
The latter may have given Cena the confidence he needed to pursue a
rap career.
Along with the assist from "Bumpy Knuckles" himself.
"Everyone besides Freddie prejudged me... but sit down with me and
you'll see I'm passionate for hip-hop," Cena said. "I'm trying to
spread hip-hop to a demographic it hasn't hit yet. I deal with the
whole audience. WWE is reaching 4.5 million [viewers] every week.
"WWE was marketed since day one as a rock and roll thing, and now
[fans] are rocking John Cena T-shirts. And in the hip-hop community,
it's cool to watch wrestling."
credit: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10745161.htm?1c
