Hip-hop champ
WWE's John Cena brings the rhymes into the ring
By DAMON C. WILLIAMS
williadc@phillynews.com
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/living/10745161.htm
