HILLARY: Hip Hop and WWE have a long history.
With its larger-than-life personalities, flashy
style and sheer competition, the hip hop community
has found plenty of inspiration inside the ring.
According to Genius data, there have been
over two thousand references to the franchise,
from Mr. T
and Randy Savage...
HILLARY: ...to Triple H and The Rock.
THE ROCK: If you smell what the Rock is cooking!
HILLARY: We decided to take a look at some
of the most memorable moments.
First up, Ric Flair, who Genius covered back
in 2017.
HILLARY: Flair’s vibrant personality and
signature “woo” put the two-time Hall
of Famer into the history books as one of
the greatest wrestlers of all time.
The Nature Boy was known for his ostentatious
personality inside and outside of the ring.
RIC FLAIR: I dress myself in cashmere.
Yeah.
I dress myself in $100 pleated slacks.
I dress myself in alligator shoes.
I wear a $15,000 Rolex.
HILLARY: His robes were a staple early in
his career, and inspired Ghostface Killah.
Offset and Metro Boomin also paid
homage to Flair’s fashion on their 2017
track, “Ric Flair Drip” and recruited
him for the video.
RIC FLAIR: Wheeling-dealing, limousine-riding, jet-flying, drippin' son of a guns!
HILLARY: Next up, the Undertaker.
HILLARY: The Deadman’s demeanor and signature
eye roll cemented his status as a WWE fan favorite.
Bad Bunny references The Phenom’s
entrance on his 2017 track, “Tu No Metes Cabra.”
HILLARY: Bunny’s love for WWE continues
with his reference to Stone Cold Steve Austin
and enlisting help from Ric Flair for his
“Chambea” music video.
In an interview, Bunny talked about
growing up watching the sport and the significance
of meeting the greats saying quote:
HILLARY: And both Bad Bunny and J Balvin paid
homage to WWE greats on Cardi B’s 2018 hit,
“I Like It” with Bunny referencing the
late wrestler, Eddie Guerrero.
HILLARY: And Balvin likening a woman falling
over him to Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka’s
signature move.
HILLARY: Artists like Denzel Curry, 21 Savage,
Lil Uzi Vert and Post Malone have referenced
the sport in their bars too.
HILLARY: In 2018, Curry performed a wrestling-inspired
show with the Flatbush Zombies in his hometown of Miami.
ERIK ART ELLIOTT: It’s very few times you
can have something else related to music that’s
so synonymous like wrestling.
A lot of people watch wrestling or they listen
to hip-hop but I feel like we’re actually
fans of the culture of wrestling.
We grew up watching that shit.
This is like literally a dream come true.
HILLARY: Post Malone’s “Go Flex” is
a tribute to Stone Cold Steve Austin.
And as a WWE fan, he’s made friends with
the stars, and even brought The Undertaker
on tour—there might even be a collab in
the works.
POST MALONE: Maybe we’ll do a song together.
Maybe he’ll talk some shit at the beginning.
That’d be super sick, super tight.
HILLARY: Open Mike Eagle, Murs and Wale add
to the list of hip hop superfans.
Wale’s WaleMania is celebrating its fifth
year, bringing big personalities together
from both industries.
And the admiration is mutual.
Apart from the countless references in hip-hop verses, the WWE community has equally
embraced hip-hop.
One of the earliest instances of
the two worlds colliding came in 1989 when
Run DMC graced the ring with a special Wrestlemania Rap.
HILLARY: Since then, countless artists like
Salt n Pepa, Puffy,
Wiz Khalifa and Snoop have all stepped into the arena.
The latter even became the first musician
inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame.
In 2000, The Rock was featured on
Wyclef’s “It Doesn’t Matter” delivering his signature line.
THE ROCK: Yo, this is The Rock kicking it with the Refugee Camp
and you’re about to smell what the Rock is cooking.
HILLARY: That same year, rappers and wrestlers
joined forces on WWF Aggression,
reworking the themes for the sport’s best athletes.
The album featured Ol Dirty Bastard,
Snoop Dogg, Method Man and more and
even debuted at no. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart.
HILLARY: And one of the most renowned wrestlers
got their start on the WWE mainstage as a
bad boy, sporting large chains and jerseys.
John Cena, who dubbed himself the
‘Doctor of Thuganomics,’ entered the ring
with raps for his opponents.
JOHN CENA: Man I can’t believe how outta shape you getting. You’ve been talking for 30 seconds, you already sweating.
HILLARY: In 2005 he released his debut studio
album, “You Can’t See Me”, which peaked
at no.15 on the Billboard 200.
HILLARY: And who can forget my favorite, Cena tossing Murs in that garbage?
HILLARY: What are some of your favorite WWE
and rap moments?
Let us know!
I’m Hillary with Genius News bringing
you the meaning and the knowledge and the eybrows behind the music.
