"The Champ is Here!!!"
Former 16 time WWE champion, moviestar and mainstream rap sensation John Cena sat down to answer a few questions for @HornetMusic. If you've ever wondered how hard the music business is, add to that being the main attraction of a company that has you on the road 300+ days of the year. John was nice enough to shed some light on what its like in the world of wrestling and the rap music industry.
Whether you like him, or don't like him, he has your attention. And that, in itself, is the definition of entertainment. Catch John and all the other WWE stars on Raw and Smackdown. Or go to the website: http://www.wwe.com
That being said, here we go...
HM - Who are the influences that helped carve out the musician you are today?
JC - Hip hop music as a whole. Most people say that they listen to a little bit of everything, but I only listen to hip hop music...
HM - As a wrestler, how hard was it to break the stereotype and add validity to your name in the music industry?
JC - It was extremely difficult to cross over and break the stereotype. The biggest challenge was getting people to listen to the record.
HM - How do you manage to keep your head above water, being the main event attraction for WWE Raw and promoting you CD?
JC - I have learned that if you take sleep out of your schedule everything works itself out.
HM - How hard was it to get a record deal outside the WWE, and how did you attain it?
JC - The record deal was made in conjunction w/ WWE. "You Can't See Me" was originally intended to be an independent release, but I took a chance and played the record for Vince McMahon, he liked it and it led to a deal with Sony.
HM - What advice would you give to the independent artist trying to make it in today's music industry?
JC - Definitely stay true to yourself and be original.
HM - With the history of rap music containing the contrasts of artists like Vanilla Ice and Eminem, do you feel that race has played any part in your success as a rap artist?
JC - Absolutely not! Being a wrestler has played more of a part because of the huge WWE fan base.
HM - Of the exposure to main stream music, and the people you have work with, who has left the biggest impression on you, and why?
JC - Freddie Foxxx, a.k.a Bumpy Knuckles. He is a true hustling musician, and does not sacrifice his style for anyone.
HM - What is the one thing you have learned from the music industry that you wished you had known when you first started?
JC - That, you cannot count on anyone.
HM - What do we have to look forward to from the future of John Cena's music career?
JC - Personally, I would like to do a compilation album featuring myself w/ an all-star hip hop cast. Sort of a mixed tape. I really want to bring WWE and hip hop music together.
From the nest...
jh