John Cena Shares What Inspired His Rap Career

WWE superstar turned actor John Cena recently shared his deep love for hip-hop during a visit with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay. Reflecting on his upbringing in West Newbury, Massachusetts, Cena revealed a rebellious streak in his predominantly white hometown. “I was one of five boys and 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 mentioned around the six-minute mark. “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 I was like, ‘Well, f—k that.'”

Cena discussed his iconic entrance song “The Time is Now” and his sole rap album You Can’t See Me. He shared that he created his own rap music because he wasn’t satisfied with the “stock rap music” offered by WWE at the time. “WWE was a rock and roll company. They didn’t have any depth for hip-hop, and I listened to my own music thinking, ‘I could do better than this,'” Cena explained. “I called up a friend who knew a friend with a studio. We got some beats and made an album. That was it.” His debut album, released in 2005, peaked at No. 15 on the 200 chart.

Cena also revealed his top three athlete-rappers and his Mount Rushmore of Rap. He named Shaq, Kobe, and Master P as his top three athlete-rappers, while Rakim, Jay-Z, Nas, and Eminem were featured on his Mount Rushmore of Rap. “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.”

Cena’s signature “You can’t see me” hand gesture, often showcased in the ring, was inspired by the G-Unit’s Tony Yayo. In 2022, the Queens rapper posted a clip of Cena explaining its inspiration 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 online.