You Can't See Me: The Review

On May 10th, 2005 the world heard arguably the greatest rapping wrestler album ever. The album has Cena himself rapping with his cousin Tha Trademarc over 17 songs with features from Esoteric and Bumpy Knuckles. It also debuted at 15 on the Billboard 200 charts and would go on to sell over a million copies. Pretty impressive resume, but how good are the songs? I’ll be ranking the songs based off beat, lyrics, and flow/delivery. I’ll admit I’m a wrestling fan, so I maybe a bit biased. So, let’s get started with the first song!

Song One: The Time Is Now

John Cena’s main theme song since 2005. And its the perfect theme for him. It still keeps the rapping theme he was always going for, it’s upbeat, the beat with the trumpets are perfect for this track. While personally, I prefer his older theme (Basic Thugonomics), I understand why it had to be changed. While BT was a lot more hip hop and meaner, TTIN was nicer and uplifting. Cena was perfect in this song, you could feel him on this track. Only complaint I have is Tha Trademarc. He wasn’t the best, just felt disconnected to me. Other than that, almost perfect song, great way to start the album.

RATING: 4.5/5

Song Two: Don't F**k With Us

A bit more of a disappointing turn with this one. The beat was just doing too much, which is a shame because I really like Cena and Trademarc on this track. They had this mean battle rap sound to them which I would’ve love, if the beat didn’t belch at me, would’ve been that fire song, but it’s not. So it's a mid song, with a side of disappointment.

RATING: 2/5

Song Three: Flow Easy (Feat: Bumpy Knuckles)

Now, I really like this track. Knuckles killed his verse, Trademarc had nice bars that made me laugh out loud, and Cena’s slowed chill flow fit this beat perfectly. Not to the mention the beat is SO much better than DFWU. I’m presently surprised, I’m loving this song.

RATING: 4/5

Song Four: Right Now

First things first, I’m a sucker for sampled beats and this is a very good one. This song is a nice change of pace, since it’s about friends and family and how much you should love and appreciate them. It’s sweet, like Cena thanks his cousin for everything and Trademarc thanks his mother for all the support. I don’t have too many complaints. Maybe Trademarc wasn’t the best. Overall nice track, not perfect however. I would say listen to it though.

RATING: 3/5

Song Five: Make It Loud

John Cena killed this song, in a very good way. The intro sampled one of his promos and it makes the song hit so different. Like I can’t stress this enough. Trademarc was fine, his voice didn’t match the loud, hard beat though. Like Cena fit this beat like a glove. This is definitely a banger I’d say. The bars was so clean man. “Y’all just soft like some Cinemax porn” like that was nice man. John Cena carried this track, what else can I say. Another almost perfect song.

RATING 4.5/5

Song Six: Just Another Day

This a pretty decent song. A good compare and contrast song. Cena talking about he struggles with fame and recent stardom. Trademarc talks about being broke, with some funny broke bars. Mans talked about he’s so broke his wallet echos. His shoes so old he calls his them retros. Well I don’t know if that was intentional, but it was funny. I like the beat, but I prefer Cena and Trademarc doing something like Flow Easy. But it’s a nice song.

RATING: 3.5/5

Song Seven: Summer Flings

It ain’t hip hop without talking about being a man whore. I’m sorry but I rather not listen to Cena talk about big booty women and that she loves white chocolate. I’m super good on that chief. The beat was also super same-y to me. It ain’t my favorite. Ew song.

RATING: 1/5

Song Eight: Keep Frontin' (Feat: Bumpy Knuckles)

I love the songs darker feel. Bumpy Knuckles once again doesn’t disappoint with his clean verse. Surprisingly, Cena is the weakest link. With the 3 penis bar, totally took me out he otherwise decent verse. Trademarc shines on slower beats definitely. He killed this one. Unfortunately Cena brings down the song, otherwise, dope song.

TOTAL: 4/5

Song Nine: We Didn't Want You To Know

Cena definitely does better on this song, solid beat. Trademarc once again proves my statement right that he’s better on slower beats. I like the song, but it’s just something that doesn’t exactly make it a perfect song. Mainly the hook. Cena doing a melody doesn’t sound too right on this track.

TOTAL: 3.5/5

Song Ten: Bad, Bad, Man (Feat: Bumpy Knuckles)

One of the best tracks on the album. Cena, Trademarc, and Knuckles killed it. Trademarc proved me wrong, he can do very good on a faster beat. Speaking of, this beat is killer. It’s fast, booming, just all around great. Bumpy Knuckles ONCE AGAIN not missing with this perfect verse. I love it all. Fire song.

TOTAL: 5/5

Song Eleven: Running Game

A slightly better Summer Flings. Keyword slightly, however. I like the beat, I just can’t vibe John Cena sex bars. Even in like 2005 it would sound weird. Trademarc was passable. A verse that was nice enough, your typical man whore bars. Only reason it’s not a one or a two is the beat, and the bars was decent. “I got girls, girls, but I’m not Jay-Z” was my favorite.

TOTAL: 2.5/5

Song Twelve: Beantown (Feat: Esoteric)

A song about everyone’s favorite town: Boston! Cena was born in West Newbury, Massachusetts so it would make sense. Get ready for a lot of Boston bars, mainly the teams. Cena was solid, Trademarc was nice, Esoteric isn’t Bumpy Knuckles good but he did deliver on this track. The beat was really nice, with the multiple samples on the break, reminds me of a Nas track or something from that era. I like it, just don’t love it. I’m not from Boston so it’s not my cup of tea (get it?)

TOTAL: 4/5

Song Thirteen: This Is How We Roll

Mid. Mid. Mid. Whenever I listen to this I just think mid. Everything about this song is just mid as hell to me. Everyone brung their B- material and it shows. Not much to say, just average song.

TOTAL: 2/5

Song Fourteen: What Now

I like it. Trademarc is center stage and shines on this track. It’s a laidback track so of course it’s gonna be a good song from him. Cena takes a backseat but is still solid. Beat was chill, I like it. I like the song. It’s good.

TOTAL: 4/5

Song Fifteen: Know The Rep (Feat: Bumpy Knuckles)

Pretty cool song. It was here, it was good, it endned. Didn’t get me out my chair or anything. But it’s all good. Nothing too bad. The beat was dope, Knuckles did what he always does, Cena did a pretty cool verse. Trademarc was decent, be this is the third or fourth time he said “it’s gon be what it’s gon be.” He says it too much like, ugh.

TOTAL: 3/5

Song Sixteen: Chain Gang Is The Click

I really like this song. The chorus is my favorite of the whole album. The effect on the voice, the call back to Basic Thuganomics, it was really good. The beat was hard, Cena and Trademarc was sold, with Cena taking the award for better performance of course. Just a dope song with a dope beat

TOTAL: 4/5

Song Seventeen: If It All Ended Tomorrow

Wow. What a way to end it this album. I really loved this track. The beat, has to take the award for best of the album. It all felt so personal, like both men felt what they said. Trademarc talks of people doubting him, say he only got where he was riding off the coattails of all his friends, and most importantly his cousin (the famous wrestler, you know him.) and proving them wrong. While I haven’t listened to recent work, I hope he got his flowers, definitely. Cena tells a story of almost losing his life, somebody almost shooting and killing him. After that experience, he does whatever he wants, to have no regrets. I was compelled, I’ll be honest. I loved this song. Great way to end it.

TOTAL: 5/5

The Wrap Up

Best Song: If It All Ended Tomorrow

Skip This: Summer Flings

Best Verses: Bumpy Knuckles in Bad, Bad Man/John Cena in Make It Loud

Best Beat: Just Another Day

John Cena isn’t a bad rapper. Tha Trademarc isn’t a bad rapper. Overall, I really enjoyed this album. I just liked the battle rapper-type songs, the close, personal songs. Only songs I didn’t much was the sex songs. But there’s only 2 of the 17 decent songs. You can’t see him, but you definitely see this good album.