Music Review: John Cena - You Can't See Me

Let's see if we can track the origins of how this album came to be. (Not meant to be complete but the general chain of events) It starts on WWE: Smackdown a few years back, Kurt Angle is in the ring offering to give someone a shot at stardom, out comes one John Cena, sadly, while he shows some spark, he doesn't really grab the crowd, Halloween roles around and all the wrestlers are in costumes, in comes Cena done up like Vanilla Ice and gives a goofy little rap, the rap thing becomes a part of the gimmick, gimmick becomes popular, then talks of an album comes up. That brings us to the present where a wrestling gimmick inspired a rap album. The big question is it any good? Also, will he have any credibility in the music industry? Hmmmm.

When I got this disk in my hands, I was afraid it was going to be laced with wrestling references and other such nonsense. I am a wrestling fan, but in order to have any chance at being taken seriously as music, it can't be filled with headlocks and bodyslams. The cover didn't help matters as it is looks just like Cena's WWE Championship belt with the WWE logo plastered front and center. The future does not look good.

I slipped the disk into the car stereo, turned up the volume and waited for the worst. As the tracks played I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it wasn't all that bad. It is kind of hard to describe what I thought while the beats played on. On one hand I was impressed, Cena has some actual skill, on the other hand he is very green. I was also glad to find that there weren't any gratuitous wrestling references.

Now I am not the biggest hip hop fan in the world, nor do I have any claim of extensive knowledge of the genre, but I know what I like, and this, this I sort of like. Cena has a good flow and timing. The beats have an old school feel to them. Also, Cena hasn't come alone, he brings along The Trademarc and, on a few tracks, Bumpy Knuckles. Both of those guys help to cover up his weaknesses, add a few more voices to the mix.

Continued on the next page Page 1 — Page 2

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Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

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  • 1 - sam

    Jul 21, 2005 at 10:03 pm

    cena u rule i am, your biigest fan go cena

  • 2 - steve young

    Aug 03, 2005 at 5:24 pm

    Hi John,
    This is Steve and I reckon that you're the most greatest wrestler that's ever lived. I love you're entrance music and you're WWE belt! LOL! Love you're movie Bad Bad Man and I can't wait to seethe second movie! Hope you get this message and please can you reply as soon as you have read this or as soon as you can! CHEERS!!!!!

  • 3 - destinee

    Aug 03, 2005 at 9:22 pm

    I LOVE YOU I AM 11 BUT I TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE BOY FRIEND


    LOVE DESTINEE DAVION CENA

  • 4 - heartbreaker

    Aug 05, 2005 at 5:15 pm

    i need your email please give it to me

  • 5 - Chris Beaumont

    Aug 05, 2005 at 5:50 pm

    Who, me?

  • 6 - Matt

    Aug 10, 2005 at 4:38 pm

    johnny johnny johnny i love ur music man its awesome

  • 7 - john cena

    Aug 12, 2005 at 11:56 am

    hey my fans i luv all ma fans i am releasing my nex movie and it is goin to be hot ya all wanna talk to me iiiight call [edited -- no phone numbers or email, please] or samething in hotmail PEACE and i am talking to all people who came to this web i needed to answer back PEACE UP

  • 8 - meema

    Aug 12, 2005 at 11:59 am

    oooooooooh i talked to cena whooooooooooh i wanna tell all ya dial the number and u will get to the hottie i am going to email him

  • 9 - meema

    Aug 12, 2005 at 12:01 pm

    well i called him and i waz online i waz talking while writing so ooooooooooooh call him ya sure gonna luv the talk

  • 10 - Russ P.M

    Aug 13, 2005 at 11:00 pm

    Can I have your email address?

  • 11 - bryan

    Aug 15, 2005 at 7:13 pm

    john cena you're awsome inside the ring and in music U rock and fozzy sucks

  • 12 - Janelle Brown

    Aug 15, 2005 at 10:48 pm

    John your my HERO! your the best wrestler in this whole world! I was watching WWE and you won a match against two guys! that rocks!!! If you see this I'd love to have your autograph... but only if u want to send me one

  • 13 - Stella

    Aug 17, 2005 at 12:30 pm

    Yo wuz up John Cena or J.C. UR my fave wrestler ever. The way u beat the crap out of Y2J and Carlito was the hottest of the hot.I can tell u that i am your biggest fan,i Know everything about u.Your full name is Johnathan Felix-Anthony Cena.ur so fine I am not playing.I love your cd.My fave song is Right Now and Bad bad man.You r the HOTTEST MOST SEXYIEST guy in the world Love Ya

  • 14 - mike

    Aug 22, 2005 at 1:58 am

    john cena ur muscic is so shit man. ur music gives me a fuckin headache.

  • 15 - Teazer

    Aug 23, 2005 at 8:55 am

    i am going to be a wrestler, and when i am famous i will always remeber that you were once my favourite wrestler, i hope you will still be the champ and we can form a tag team i am also a rapper now im left to be a wrestler then a champion, i know you are a hulkamania just like i am

  • 16 - Eric Olsen

    Aug 23, 2005 at 9:10 am

    I concur that there aren't enough rapping wrestling champions in the world, and I salute your efforts!

  • 17 - akoi

    Aug 23, 2005 at 10:20 pm

    cena yo so cool in the ring when wear some of other thing like t-shirts and others .do not let y2j take your championship away from you.
    poeple love you because you make them feel like you are their brother and you give them what their want to see.
    you are my fave superstar in wwe and not listen to what bad poeple say to you.love yo
    see ya
    oh by the way i love your raping and you can't see me and my time is now
    you right it is your time. bye

  • 18 - grant

    Aug 30, 2005 at 11:02 am

    hi john cena you r my fav wrestler and i like your music you r a good rapper andwhat is your real name john

  • 19 - grant

    Aug 30, 2005 at 11:06 am

    john plzz chat with me im 12 and u r the best wrestler in the world

  • 20 - Phillip Winn

    Aug 30, 2005 at 11:16 am

    If someone posted here claiming to be John Cena, how would you know it was him?

  • 21 - Chris Beaumont

    Aug 30, 2005 at 5:00 pm

    The comments this is attacting amuses me to no end!

  • 22 - Stephanie

    Aug 30, 2005 at 11:59 pm

    what's your e-mail or phone number? I like you so much... you're the reason why wrestling is here today and the reason why I watch wrestling every monday night at 9:00 p.m.

  • 23 - Shihan

    Sep 01, 2005 at 12:48 pm

    Hey John man i luv u and ur music man i wish i could contact u man i really luv u!!!

  • 24 - albendi

    Sep 02, 2005 at 4:43 pm

    Yo hey john cena ur the best i love to talk to u on msn well i dont have i think that my brother was talking with u i dont no so i just wanna say that i love ur songs its great it rocks well if any of u have email of john cena plzz write here ok cena ur times up my Time is now u cant see me my time is now lolz

  • 25 - mary rose

    Sep 03, 2005 at 3:36 am

    john cena is so cool. he's so popular here in the philippines! i hope he can come here! I LOVE him so much!

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