Cena Rumbles with Rappers Over Theme Music

Posted Oct 28th 2008 2:45PM by TMZ Staff

The guys of '90s hard-core rap group M.O.P. say John Cena and the WWE jacked one of their songs for John's entrance music and they're alleging some pretty slippery moves in the process.

Jamal Grinnage and Eric Murray -- that's Lil' Fame and Billy Danze -- want to put the kill switch on Cena's song, "The Time Is Now," saying it borrows heavily from their hit "Ante Up." In a federal lawsuit, they claim WWE's lawyers actually found some person to sign off on the license who was only a receptionist and didn't have authority to do so.

The biggest point of actual musical contention is one non-English line -- "BRRR Abado" -- that appears in the original song once, and in JC's song three times.

The suit asks for destruction of Cena's song and $150K from the defendants. No word from Cena or WWE yet.


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1. WHO ? AND WHY DO I CARE ?

Posted at 3:22PM on Oct 28th 2008 by jrad247

2. My time is up your time is now.
I can't see you your time is now.
Something something something something
I can't see you your time is now.

Posted at 3:33PM on Oct 28th 2008 by Don

3. I agree with this.. but they should've done it years ago

Posted at 3:43PM on Oct 28th 2008 by kl

4. WWE will just change his theme - he's been out a few months, and a new theme could help freshen his character. This will get settled out of court.

Posted at 5:08PM on Oct 28th 2008 by Stevie

5. they should have done this back in 2005 when the cd came out whats the point of doing it now?

Posted at 5:16PM on Oct 28th 2008 by nik

6. They should have sued back when the cd came out. Lawsuits like this one are stupid, frivoluous, and a waste of judicial time. As for him using a similiar or the same word in his song? Please, if people sued over that there would be no music left! A new song might help his image, this song is getting a little old and stale. WWE will probably settle out of court, this is a stupid lawsuit.

Posted at 6:38PM on Oct 28th 2008 by bellemorte

7. John Cena is the greatest !!

Posted at 6:59PM on Oct 28th 2008 by Hello

8. They are probably broke off the asses and that's why they are suing now. And yes, it'll probably get thrown out...either because these guys are just ridiculous or the limitations on this issue has expired. And YES John Cena is the best...EVER!! I so love him... ;)

Posted at 9:52PM on Oct 28th 2008 by Kellie

9. With the past record of WWE fighting any and all legal challenges, the people who filed the suit had better be ready for what is called in the wrestling business, a Texas Death Match.

Posted at 11:40PM on Oct 28th 2008 by StoneColdQ

10. jrad247, if you don't care, maybe you shouldn't post.

Posted at 11:53PM on Oct 28th 2008 by .

11. I should explain: A Texas Death Match goes till one guy go any further. This kind of match is nowadays called a Last Man Standing.

WWE will fight this and try to win by making it a very long term and costly fight I predict.

Posted at 11:53PM on Oct 28th 2008 by StoneColdQ

12. Not a Cena fan but this lawsuit should've been filed when the song was originally released in 2005! Why did they wait so long to say something! While I don't like the way WWE does its business at times, they should win this one.

Posted at 4:07AM on Oct 29th 2008 by egriffin

13. I agree, if they wanted to sue John and the WWE they should have done it when the song first came out. They probably need the money. As for changing his theme song, they probably will since he has been out. This case will most likely get thrown out. If people were gonna sue for one stupid word, they would be suing everybody that ever made a song.

Posted at 11:22AM on Oct 29th 2008 by emily

14. This is stupid and will more than likely be thrown out before it even gets heard if not they won't win and WWE will. Two words? OMG. They're greedy is what's happening.

Posted at 2:03PM on Oct 29th 2008 by 1990hornet

15. Yep, this is kinda stupid. Yes he did borrow that f/M.O.P.--but he credits the sample in the album jacket. They really shouldve done this sooner. Something is definitely up...

Posted at 8:54PM on Oct 29th 2008 by Tori

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