The album opens with "The Time is Now," which serves double duty as the CD opener and John Cena's entrance music when he wrestles. It is an OK track, except during the opening I keep expecting some to yell "Viva Cuervo!" I don't know why, well maybe it's the horns. "Bad, Bad Man" was the first actual single from the album, featuring Bumpy Knuckles on the chorus. It is complete with a video parodying the A-Team. This one is also pretty good. The track to avoid is "Right Now," some advice to John, don't play mellow, it is not your strong suit.
I'm not going to run through all of the songs, but I will say it was surprisingly entertaining. Of course, I was going in with low expectations, and more of a curiosity than a desire for high quality music. I don't fell that this will buy him that much credibility in mainstream music, and I am not sure how well this will play outside of the wrestling audience. It has got to be a tough one to market. I was glad to discover the absence of wrestling references, outside of the cover. Cena does have some mic skills, and he shows that he could potentially hold his own. It will be interesting to see if he pursues this career path in parallel with his wrestling. Could become something like fellow wrestler Chris Jericho, who has a rock band called Fozzy which has released three albums so far.
Bottomline. The album features 17 songs, most of which are decent, some of which are kind of lame, but overall it is worth a listen. It is a decent attempt at a genuine hip hop album. It has an old school flavor to it. I think the biggest roadblock to potential success is the credibility, or lack thereof, in the hip hop community, and the somewhat limited audience of wrestling fans. Not exactly a must buy, but one you also aren't likely to regret if you don't have terribly high expectations.
Mildly Recommended.
Visit me at Draven99's Musings.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - sam
cena u rule i am, your biigest fan go cena
2 - steve young
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
I LOVE YOU I AM 11 BUT I TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE BOY FRIEND
LOVE DESTINEE DAVION CENA
4 - heartbreaker
i need your email please give it to me
5 - Chris Beaumont
Who, me?
6 - Matt
johnny johnny johnny i love ur music man its awesome
7 - john cena
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
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
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
Can I have your email address?
11 - bryan
john cena you're awsome inside the ring and in music U rock and fozzy sucks
12 - Janelle Brown
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
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
john cena ur muscic is so shit man. ur music gives me a fuckin headache.
15 - Teazer
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
I concur that there aren't enough rapping wrestling champions in the world, and I salute your efforts!
17 - akoi
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
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
john plzz chat with me im 12 and u r the best wrestler in the world
20 - Phillip Winn
If someone posted here claiming to be John Cena, how would you know it was him?
21 - Chris Beaumont
The comments this is attacting amuses me to no end!
22 - Stephanie
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
Hey John man i luv u and ur music man i wish i could contact u man i really luv u!!!
24 - albendi
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
john cena is so cool. he's so popular here in the philippines! i hope he can come here! I LOVE him so much!