There is no doubt in my mind that as a big fan of professional wrestling and growing up on Hip-Hip there have been huge similarities. Growing up watching and living through the various eras of music and ‘sports entertainment’ [Pro Wrestling] has enabled me to look back and see the evolution of both of my passions because I have been able to see stars ascend up the ladder over the past 26 years of my life.
Make no mistake. There is an uncanny similarity between both and the struggle to ascend to heights of these fields and be ‘the man’ has unmistakably become more difficult due to A&R, promoters, or the powers that be that wrestlers and rappers rely on. We may no longer be in the ‘Golden Era’ of either Hip-Hop or Pro Wrestling, but in the last few years, there has been an emergence in both fields due to the youth movements that have transpired in the past few years.
As SummerSlam kicks off we will be looking at the vast similarities between wrestling and in this case taking a special look over Chicago’s Hip-Hop scene. We will be looking into some terminology important to wrestling and how it applies to the music form and culture we all love Hip-Hop. Lastly, I will be comparing Chicago Hip-Hop artists to their professional wrestling counterparts.
Early Influences
To start off let us begin with the genesis of rapping and wrestling. The majority of rappers and wrestlers usually start off at a young age honing their craft. Wrestling schools begin training at the age of 18 while in Hip-Hop many artists begin performing early at venues and getting better with their stage presence. This is largely influenced by the passion one may have for these specific professions as individuals that go into these fields express their intent only after growing up on and falling in love with Hip-Hop and wrestling cultures.
The genesis is the early moment when you fell in love with lyricism and wrestling. The moment you first heard a Nas or Biggie come to prominence. The moment you saw Hulk Hogan battle Ultimate Warrior for the title at WrestleMania. Moments like Stone Cold and The Rock going back and forth on the mic. Hell, it could even be the moment you saw CM Punk cut his infamous Pipe Bomb or the moment you grew to appreciate a Tupac for his interviews and involvement with activism and social justice in communities affected by violence.
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Ring Psychology
Connecting to the crowd is a big make or break for any artist or wrestler. The more charismatic and better the stage presence is the more likable or interesting you become to the crowds you are performing. The initial performances at the beginning of artists and wrestlers are usually the hardest as they not only try to control any nervousness they may have but as well as begin to gain a feel to the stage and ring they perform in.
There is an important psychology and method to the madness. In wresting ring psychology is a method of storytelling in the ring. In Hip-Hop psychology plays a mental role with the connection one has with the crowd and an overall feel of the progression of the show. For example, psychology in both aspects in a wrestling match or performance all relies on the overall results or performance. Artists or wrestlers might start off slow but eventually, the plan is to get a better feel for their performance and begin to win the crowd over. Artists like wrestlers might initially not get the connection of the crowd but with more performances or moves they make they can begin to turn the tide to their favor. In wrestling, a specific wrestler might be getting beaten for the initial start of the match but slowly he begins to fight back and gain momentum, that’s the ring psychology we are talking about and it is very similar to Hip-Hop.
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FEUDS
Feuds or beef have been an instrumental force behind Hip-Hop and wrestling. The golden age of Hip-Hop and Wrestling were seen as the mid 80’s to mid 90’s. In the mid 90’s we witnessed the infamous West Coast versus East Coast feud that catapulted the careers of a Biggie and Tupac. At the same time in professional wrestling, we were witnessing the rise of the Monday Night Wars as the WCW (World Championship Wrestling) engaged in a war against the WWF (then World Wrestling Federation, now WWE) for wrestling supremacy after the exchange of talents and cheap shots. As we all know, nothing would be the same in both cases.
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Feuds in wrestling have also occurred in the same stables/crews as one wrestler who wants a better position or exposure leaves against the wishes of the bigger group. One of the best examples in wrestling is the infamous Nation of Domination, a black power themed wrestling crew that saw the ascension of The Rock as he overthrew the then leader of the Stable, Farooq, to gain a better position and popularity. A most recent example is Seth Rollins taking a steel chair to the back of his Shield brethren (Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns) as he aligned himself with corporate powers in the company to begin his solo run. Other examples of feuds in Hip-Hop can be Game vs 50 Cent, Biggie vs Pac, Ice Cube vs Common, Drake vs Chris Brown, the list goes on.
Markets
In professional wrestling and Hip-Hop different markets (cities) have always played a crucial role to the popularity and support artists and wrestlers get from their fan base. In Hip-Hop the big cities (markets) like LA, NYC, and Atlanta have dominated the game. In wrestling cities like Philly, Chicago, NYC, Memphis, Atlanta, Boston, and LA have the biggest loyalists of wrestling. Interestingly enough in the past few years in Hip-Hop our city of Chicago has been changing the tide as the market and city with the most innovative talent. In wrestling Chicago has been one of the favorite cities for wrestlers due to the passion and respect this city has for wrestling culture.
Gimmicks and Characters
A gimmick is defined as a “unique or quirky special feature that makes something stand out from its contemporaries”. In wrestling, a character and gimmick come hand in hand with the success of the performer. The perfect gimmick makes all the difference. From a marketing perspective, we are talking about how someone is packaged or presented. How someone looks, the clothes they wear, the way they act or talk is all a part of a wrestlers gimmick, which is essential to a character.
The most successful wrestler has gone through various gimmicks and characters before they found their niche. Stone Cold in WcW played a pretty boy technician or mat grappler from Hollywood LA as a part of the Hollywood Blondes, a tag-team he formed part of. Stone Cold Steve Austin, originally from Texas had to fake an accent as a part of this gimmick. Once he was released from WCW and entered ECW under the supervision of the legendary Paul Heyman was when we were able to see the genesis of what would become the Texas rattlesnake as he unleashed his anger against his former company in his promos. Once he entered WWF he initially found little success because he was packaged and brought in with a grappling gimmick and was given a manager to speak for him when he was good behind the mic already. Slowly but surely he was able to break away from the character he was initially given and became every man that fought against the system at all cost. Another case can be found for Undertaker and Kane which since their debut have been playing deadman and man from hell, the Brothers of Destruction.
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In Hip-Hop gimmicks and the way artists are packaged are also important. Wu-Tang’s GZA had little success under his Genius gimmick until he joined the ranks of the legendary Hip-Hop group. The underground Hip-Hop icon MF Doom had a similar case in which his initial start was a bust until he switched his gimmick and switched to the character we now love and the addition of his mask is a part of this change of character. One of the most popular rappers in history, Tupac has been often considered to have had a gimmick of his own. While many close to him saw him as an intellectual leader of masses they became confused with the studio gangster that he portrayed in the media. Gimmick or not, the Tupac character did evolve from the heavily conscious debut album he had to the Death Row Records Tupac we still praise. Kanye of all people has a gimmick as he went from the conscious Kanye we knew in College Dropout to the brash, vocal, and edgy rap god YEEZUS. A part of a rappers gimmick could also be a quick name change. While some rappers and pro wrestlers go by their birth names, some have chosen to select names they most identify with.
As we can see the evolution of character as well as the progression of an individual’s overall package and gimmick has been very important to the popularity of an entity and their character development. A part of the character development is whether or not a rapper or individual wrestler is baby face or heel or in other words good guy or bad guy. Some wrestlers that are heels specifically chose to play heel characters because they know they thrive in pissing other people off. The baby faces are usually the fan favorites that capture the crowd but that folks want to see fail time and time again. It’s very similar to Hip-Hop, sometimes rappers do some questionable things that end up getting them some heat (wrestling term for hatred) and become heels, while rappers can also become baby faces by doing something favorable that their fans can appreciate and that can be dropping music or music videos that fans appreciate, it can be as simple as taking a stance on social justice or activism.
MANAGERS and Hype Men
In wrestling and Hip-Hop a manager and hype man are instrumental to the success of a performer. A manager in music advocates for better pay, for his artists to get booked at more venues and get exposure. In wrestling a manager is the mouthpiece for a wrestler that might not be good behind the mic and advocates for his wrestler to get matches with popular and established stars, pretty much better pay, more exposure and visibility.
There are also hype men in both fields. In wrestling a hype man is someone who follows a wrestler to the ring to back them up or cheer them on during a fight. Most managers are considered hype men in pro wrestling but it is not always the case. In Hip-Hop a hype man not only helps pump up a crowd but does as much as he can to back up and support the performer he is assisted by any means necessary.
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Promoters [Blogs]
Promoters are crucial to both wrestling and Hip-Hop culture. Promoters are in charge of booking talent and paying them. Often times the early bookings are all about paying dues and doing free shows to put yourself out there and gain some visibility. In wrestling and Hip-Hop alike there are also crooked promoters that end up lowballing talent and paying them pennies when they were guaranteed dollars to perform.
Promoters in wrestling are seen as the big companies with the most popular professional wrestlers. In Hip-Hop blogs are the promoters of the world as they try to promote some of the biggest acts around for the profit, visibility, and to gain popularity for their blogs or websites. Wrestling has had the likes of WWF (World Wrestling Federation), WCW (World Championship Wrestling), WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling), ROH (Ring of Honor), TNA (Total Nonstop Action), AAA (Asistencia Asesoria y Administracion), NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling), among many other independent and corporate-owned companies. In Hip-Hop we have blogs like Pursuit of Dopeness, FSD (Fake Shore Drive), 2DBZ (2 Dope Boyz), GoWhere, These Days, Ruby Hornet, among many others that work effortlessly to try to put over and assist talents and performers we work with.
The Card
The ultimate goal of any rapper or professional wrestler is to one day be a main event performer at a WrestleMania type event and in music The Grammys or a big venue. It has always been about progressing up the system and gaining a better status as a performer and we see this in wrestling and Hip-Hop through the card. The card is the line up for an event. We have opening acts, we have fillers, we have a mid card, and we have a main event performer. The goal is to one day be the go-to guy and main event and sell out to a packed crowd.
The opening act is usually the rookies. Someone who is just gaining experience that is used to open up shows and get them a better experience. An opener is also someone that folks know can capture a crowd very quickly due to the high energy and chemistry that the performer has with an audience.
Fillers are pretty basic. In wrestling, they might be promos. A promo is when one wrestler gets on the mic and talks some smack. That’s generally what it means. In Hip-Hop fillers are used by emcees of Hip-Hop shows to engage with the crowd either through comedy or crowd participation.
The mid card is usually artists or wrestlers that have the experience but might be missing something to be main event performers. It could be a connection with the crowd, maturity, stage presence, their gimmick, presentation, experience or a factor of many other things. In wrestling like Hip-Hop it is very possible for a performer to remain in the midcard for an entire career. In wrestling, a professional wrestling could be stuck in mid card purgatory just because the support internally for a specific performer may be overlooked. From a Hip-Hop perspective, the way to ascend the mid card is to get as much support as you can get from your fan base but as well as blogs. The more you are in someone’s radar the greater possibility you have to ascend to the bigger stages in your career which is very similar in both Hip-Hop and wrestling.
We all know the main event performers when we see them. They sell and pack venues. They are the reason why people come to see shows. Their name is bigger than anyone else on the card/bill of the night because they have all the assets that have made them main event performers. They were once openers and mid card players but now they are kings of behind a mic or in a ring that all have put in the time, have attained the experience, and have exemplified the charisma needed to be the top guys in their profession after years of honing their skills.
In Hip-Hop these are the indy darlings that were able to attain mainstream success. Artists that were able to capitalize off their buzz and gain bigger fan bases through exposure in magazines, television, being co-signed by respected figures, or even artists that finally got the record contract they had worked a lifetime to attain. These are the artists that now form a part of the big music machines known as record companies.
Wrestling the indies for professional wrestlers comes in a similar fashion. Wrestlers get trained and start having their first matches. They continue to fight independent circuits and develop their skills as performers in the ring or behind the mic and progressively join bigger wrestling companies where they get bigger visibility and are able to get a bigger following and fan base. As their buzz too grows so does the co-signs by older established wrestlers that advocate for these guys to make it to the big time. These are the independent wrestlers, the indy darlings that all the blogs and wrestling sites clamor for. These are the artists that through momentum, blood, sweat, and tears are able to ascend to the top of their fields and are finally picked up by the biggest wrestling companies, machines like WWE, TNA, AAA or even New Japan.
These are artists like Chance The Rapper, Vic Mensa, J. Cole, Big KRIT, Drake and even Kendrick Lamar. Artists that the independent and underground scene raved about and that through more endorsements and publicity became XXL Freshmen, poster boys for magazines, and were able to main event the Lollapaloozas and get co-signs from a Jay-Z, Bun B, Kanye West and Doctor Dre.
Wrestling is very similar and is filled with starts that also worked hard to break through the glass ceiling. These are wrestling performers that were once mid card performers and are now main event players in the future of various wrestling companies. These are the CM Punks, The Rock, Stone Cold, Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, HHH, Brock Lesnar’s of the world that was pushed and promoted to the greatest heights as rookies and were able to become some of the most important faces in wrestling history.
Wrestling and Hip-Hop is a constant struggle to remain at the top. A struggle against the politics of labels and wrestling companies and breaking the glass ceiling behind being employed wrestlers and rappers and doing what these companies want you to do against what you envision for yourself. The key is to always push forward and to reach greater heights than anyone else before had ever accomplished. To truly pass the torch to the next generation of emcees or wrestlers and to educate on the importance of giving back and building something better than you found it.
Although we no longer are in the golden eras of either wrestling or Hip-Hop, I can honestly say the future is bright. There are budding artists and wrestlers that are all rising through the ranks and taking their professions back to the golden era and back to prominence. These are the stories of Hip-Hop and professional wrestling.
Chicago Hip-Hop
As a professional wrestling fan from the city of Chicago, I have come to witness the boom within both the Hip-hop scene in Chicago as well as a resurgence of professional wrestling in the last few years. We as a whole have come to witness the rise of Chicago artists into national prominence, which has never happened, even with the likes of a Common, Kanye, Twista, or Lupe. In that same vein, we do have the rise of professional wrestling in various markets being driven by local promotions showcasing their prominence against bigger promotions, and in this way, they too, are leaving their mark in their industry. Specifically, outside of WWE, the independent wrestling scene has really come to its own and smaller companies outside this country have come to the forefront as premiere companies to wrestle for. The independent wrestling scenes in the US, Mexico, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Japan have become pipeline systems to bigger wrestling companies throughout the world, and the quality through this duration has been at the best it has ever been.
Comparisons
As a fan of wrestling and Hip-Hop we have seen the famous stables and rap crews that impacted the industry. The Wu-Tangs, Diplomats of rap and the nWo and Four Horsemen of the industry that all left their mark. We also have the Nas, Tupac, and Kendrick’s of Hip-Hop that represent what a Stone Cold, Dusty Rhodes, and Daniel Bryan stood for as they fought against the glass ceilings that held them back. We have these things in our city of Chicago. We have Hip-Hop stables, crews, and individuals all fighting for their rightful place in history. The following Chicago rapper to wrestler comparisons is all comprised of current pro wrestlers and active members of the Chicago HipHop scene. This list since is 44 rappers and wrestlers, some that are household names, and some that are just beginning to leave their mark in the industries they represent. A playlist containing a compilation of some of the best work by these Chicago artists is located at the bottom.
Add 2- Daniel Bryan
Two legends, one behind a mic and the other on a wrestling mat. Add-2 is undoubtedly one of the best technically gifted and most proficient lyricists emcees to ever come out of Chicago, garnering national attention and signing to 9th Wonder’s JAMLA Records. Daniel Bryan (real name Bryan Danielson) made a career in the independent circuit before singing to WWE and creating an underdog legend that proceeds him to this day. Both also have had hand in developing the next generation. Add-2 through Haven Studio has given an opportunity to youth from the south side of Chicago to learn about the music industry and begin to making music, and in this process creating a safe environment to hone their craft. Daniel Bryan in his hiatus from wrestling took a role of mentor in helping develop young male and female wrestlers under his tutelage.
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Ajani Jones- Shane Strickland
Ajani Jones burst into the scene a little over a year ago with his Eternal Bliss project before signing to Closed Sessions and delivering his Cocoons EP under their imprint. His sound is distinguished through his jazz-infused and bouncy production. Ajani is a lyricist and one hell of a live performer. Shane Strickland is one of the most in-demand professional wrestlers in the independent scene. Shane is an energetic, high flyer, and is considered one of the best wrestlers currently not signed to WWE. You can see Shane Strickland on the Lucha Underground TV show on El Rey Network and dominate the independent circuit.
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Alex Wiley-Drew McIntyre
Alex and Drew McIntire at the beginning of their career was considered the future of their professions. Alex Wiley garnered national attention through projects like Club Wiley and his Village Party series. Wiley until this day is one of the most versatile artists in the city of Chicago, as he is able to spit over any type of production. Drew McIntire at the beginning of his career was pushed to the moon. He received big opportunities once he made his WWE debut before a slow decline that led to his release from the company and the rise of his career in smaller independent promotions. Both Alex and Wiley had to go away to grow and become a greater force and we are seeing that as Alex has come back to Chicago to re-establish himself as one of the brightest, young artists in the city. Drew McIntire has had a rebirth in his career and is growing into the wrestler folks believed he would be real early in his career.
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CMoneyWave- Kevin Owens
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CMoneyWave is rap game Kevin Owens. Both have been a part of tag-teams/duos, and both have had hellacious runs as solos. CMoneyWave (formerly CMoney or C$) since dropping his MoneyWave album has been relentless in his approach to continue to turn heads. As a live performer, he is high energy and delivers on the mic as the master class lyricists that he is. On the other hand, Kevin Owens (formerly Kevin Steen) made a name on the independent scene and companies like Ring of Honor before signing to WWE and rising through the ranks. Undoubtedly some of the best on the mic and both are just at the beginning of creating their legacies in their respective fields.
Chance The Rapper- Roman Reigns
The most polarizing figures in their respective fields. You either love them or you don’t, but make no mistake, Chano and Roman Reigns are the main event. Chance went from 10 Day to garnering three Grammys with his Coloring Book album. Roman Reigns went from being a member of The Shield to holding every title in WWE and main-eventing WrestleMania. There’s also a similarity in factions/crews, SaveMoney has been one of the most talented Hip-Hop crews to ever come out of Chicago, and The Shield became the most decorated stable in WWE history.
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Jason Saldana (Chicano)- Fenix
One in a generation performers are Chicago rapper/producer Jason Saldana aka Chicano and luchador Rey Fenix. From a music tip, Chicano has come into his own through expressing issues and things he’s passionate about pertaining to his Mexican-American identity through his music in releases like The Chicano LP, and singles like Mexicanas From The Southside. On the flipside, Rey Fenix has become this generation’s Eddie Guerrero. He has the critical acclaim many wrestlers work a lifetime towards in the early stages of his career and has captivated crowds at an international level through Lucha Underground on El Rey Network and through dominating the independent wrestling scene worldwide. Through captivating performances and through pride in their Mexican roots, both Chicano and Rey Fenix have been leading a charge in their industries through their own accords.
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Chris Crack- Cesaro
Chris Crack is one of the most underrated artists in the city of Chicago. The New Deal Crew spitter and half of duo Chris $pencer have been carving a name for himself in the Chicago scene through his lyricism over catchy soulful samples. He has been consistent in his music as he has delivered gem after gem of projects. His energetic live performances also make him one of the best up and comers to look out for in the city’s music scene. On the wrestling side, Cesaro is one of the most respected wrestlers in the industry. As a tactful technician, he continues to scratch and claw for every opportunity he continues to get and continues to fight for his spot in WWE’s main event scene.
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Vic Spencer-Minoru Suzuki
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Vic and Minoru have aged gracefully as they’ve become staples in their respective fields. As elder statesmen, there has been no slowing down, but have gotten more aggressive and relentless in nature as years go on. Vic Spencer has delivered classic albums over booming production and has garnered critical acclaim in the process. Minoru Suzuki has gone through all of his opponents in a menacing manner. Both Vic and Minoru are rough and rugged throwbacks that speak their mind and conduct business the only way they know how, and that is through their hard-hitting styles.
Defcee- Katsuyori Shibata
Defcee is one of the most technically sound and respected lyricists to come out of Chicago. Shibata before his tragic injury was a hard-hitting, technical wrestler that was leaving his mark in the wrestling world. For both Defcee and Shibata, much of their legacy has been developing younger talents. Defcee through YCA’s Wreck Shop has been able to foster up and coming Chicago rappers and poets from the beginning stages of making music to eventually getting his students to rock a stage and own it. Shibata is currently the head trainer of New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Los Angeles based Dojo where he trains young pro wrestlers in the NJPW Strong Style. Shibata describes this process as creating Samurais. For Defcee the pen has been a mighty weapon, as he continues to teach his own set of samurais in training how to become master warriors behind the mic.
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Erik Write- Pentagon Jr
Dark and gritty in nature, Erik Write and Pentagon Jr are two Mexicanos whose legend is just beginning to cement itself. Hailing from Hermosa on the north side of Chicago, Erik Write has been distinguished through his production, lyricism, socially conscious raps, and dope visuals. Pentagon Jr made a legend for himself in El Rey’s Lucha Underground before making waves in the American independent scene. For both Pentagon and Erik Write, this is just the beginning of a bright future for both of their careers.
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Femdot- Ricochet
The future of flight meets the future behind the mic. Femdot has been riding high since the releases of his 20/20 Hour and Delacreme 2 project under the Closed Sessions imprint. The recent DePaul graduate also put words into fruition as he was able to rock the mic at Lollapalooza, something he visualized for himself about a year ago. For Ricochet, he is the future of high flyers in pro wrestling, and he proved that in the independent wrestling scene and El Rey’s Lucha Underground. Now, under WWE’s developmental brand NXT, he hopes to showcase just why he is one of the most upstarts in his industry. For both Femdot and Ricochet, not only are they some of the most energetic performers but can captivate a crowd with every single move they make.
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G Herbo- Kenny Omega
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Consistency and growth are key in this one. Categorized as ‘the man’ of their respective fields, we have come to see the growth after many years of grinding out in the scene. There is also a lot of versatility in this comparison. On one hand, G Herbo can really rock any instrumental you put in front of him. On the other hand, Kenny Omega in the last two years has been on a relentless pursuit to change wrestling for the better by putting some of the best wrestling matches in history. You know that for a fact both of these guys deliver at what they do and continue to remind folks why they have acclimated every critical praise they’ve received up to this point of their careers.
GTek The ILL Meta4- Pete Dunne
Throwbacks to older generations, these two young performers are torchbearers for an old-school tradition they carry on. For the Chicago based spitter, GTek The ILL Meta4, his music has been characterized through his lyricism, dark/gritty production, an ode to a smash-mouth golden age of Hip-Hop royalty. For Pete Dunne, the Bruiserweight’s hard-hitting style has garnered him a cult following, critical praise, and led to the eventual winning of WWE’s UK based championship.
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Jamal Science- Kenta (Hideo Itami)
Hard hitting styles, old-school approach, and earning respect is how Jamal Science and Hideo Itami (formerly Kenta) have spent much of their careers. Jamal Science made a splash in the city’s music scene through winning rap battles that eventually led to creating music and learning much from the legendary Molemen Crew. For Itami (Kenta), he grew a cult-fandom through his hard-hitting style, innovative moves, and never die attitude that eventually led him from Japan to rising through the ranks of WWE’s NXT and eventually towards dominating in 205 Live.
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Joey Purp- Adam Cole
SaveMoney and Bullet Club/Undesputed Era’s finest. Once we look at the history of these legendary crews, we tend to overlook the workhorses that helped maintain their reputation. For me, Joey Purp is the best artist to come out of SaveMoney. Not only can he spit some bars for you, deliver some bangers, music for the club, and music for the ladies. From a live performance perspective, he is high energy, can captivate a crowd and receives some of the biggest pops (cheers) during his performances. He steps into any room and owns it. Enter Adam Cole, in the independent scene, garnered comparisons to the legendary Shawn Michaels. As a member of Bullet Club was one of the stable’s greatest leaders and in-ring performers. Now under WWE’s developmental system NXT, he became the first the brand’s first North American champion. The future is very bright for these two.
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Jofred Estilo- Shinsuke
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Jofred Estilo is the greatest Asian/Filipino rapper that I have seen. A pure lyricist that has grown into his own and has showcased what he is capable of following the release of his Tulpa project. The Chinza//Fly emcee has way more in store as he continues to evolve as a performer. Shinsuke Nakamura is the undisputed King of Strong Style. Shinsuke is a hard-hitting and stiff performer that created a following by knocking people out with his fatal blows. Through speed, strength, and some swagger, he became a legend in Japan before starting a legacy in the US under WWE’s NXT and SmackDown brands.
Kevin Coval- HHH
One is a legendary poet that helped push towards an evolution of penmanship and performance in the city of Chicago, and the other a legendary professional wrestler that made his mark as a member of D-Generation X before stepping back and taking responsibilities behind the scenes. Both have had hand in developing the next generation. Kevin Coval through Louder Than A Bomb and Young Chicago Authors has been able to not only foster the talent of Chicago’s brightest writers, poets, and rappers, but has provided a platform of expression that continues to captivate the nation. Hunter Hearst Helmsley aka Triple H is the leadership behind NXT- WWE’s developmental brand. Through this minor league system, he is able to not only train wrestlers from no prior knowledge of how to wrestle, to getting them to their first matches, and eventually on television and pay per views. For both Coval and Triple H, much of what we see in today’s youth would not be there without their guidance and vision.
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Kweku Collins- Juice Robinson
Kweku Collins and Juice Robinson are the embodiment of free-spirited. Kweku under Closed Sessions has grown into one of the city’s most eclectic upstarts through projects like Nat Love, Grey, and his EP – Say It Here, While It’s Safe. The Chicago based grappler Juice Robinson in the last few years has gone from missed opportunities in WWE’s developmental brand NXT, to dominating in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and becoming the first American to win its United States championship.
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L.A. VanGogh- Dragon Lee
Trifectas in their own right. One one hand, LA VanGogh has been making waves as a rapper, producer, and singer. He released one of the best projects in the last few years with EIS (Everything Is Subjective) Vol.1 and will further cement himself as one of the best artists in the country with the second part of EIS later this year. The Mexican CMLL youngster, Dragon Lee has demonstrated he is WWE bound in the near future through his recent success in New Japan Pro Wrestling and in his matches in the American independent scene.
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Mick Jenkins- Braun Strowman
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Heralded as two of the best upstarts in their fields. Mick Jenkins burst onto the scene with Trees & Truths, created nation-wide buzz with The Water[s] before signing to Cinematic Music Group and dropping a few projects under that imprint. Mick was always considered one of the best lyricists to come out of the city and now he has cemented that even more with the release of his latest single. He is capable of being in a top 5 conversation with the likes of the Cole’s and Kendricks. Now he is just focused on re-establishing himself in the city of Chicago after years away before his return. Strowman made waves through his main roster debut in the Wyatt Family before dominating as a solo act and capturing the Money In The Bank briefcase. Both Mick and Braun Strowman are some of the best big men in the industry and they will get an opportunity to showcase their talents at main even levels for years to come.
Musa Reems- Austin Theory
Young and ridiculously talented. Westside spitter-Musa burst into the scene through the trio Children of ILLIOS before releasing his solo efforts that included the Lately I Been Sol Searching series through Columbia College’s AEMMP Records. Austin Theory at his young age has not only established himself as one of the brightest upstarts to keep an eye on, he continues to reinforce that sentiment through winning top-tier titles in the American independent wrestling scene. Aside from the obvious talent, another similarity is in the pride they have from where they come from, as Musa proudly reps west side Austin community and Theory proudly reps Georgia and the Atlanta area.
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Navarro (fka Scheme)- Samoa Joe
Two dudes finding their purpose in life are Navarro and Samoa Joe. Navarro (fka Scheme) made a name for himself as one of the city’s most respected emcees and has lately found a love through mentoring teenagers to develop them lyrical capabilities. Samoa Joe made himself into a legend in Ring of Honor and TNA and now has become one of the main attractions in WWE through his abilities behind the mic and through his technical capabilities as a wrestler. Both display a rough and rugged, old-school style, and continue to showcase that as they grow older and wiser, they only continue to get better and evolve/adapt to the different styles that continue to emerge. Best believe they will continue to be respected staples of their respective fields for years to come.
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MFN Melo-Ishii
MFN MELO and Ishii are the reinforcers of their respective crews. MFN Melo has been the anchor of Pivot Gang and has come to the forefront through displaying his tremendous capabilities in a project like MeloDramatics, among various other Pivot Gang based releases. Ishii, the Stone Pitbull, has been a vital force behind CHAOS, one of pro wrestling’s premiere wrestling crews and has shown how devastating of a force he can be through his hard-hitting style. For Melo and Ishii, there is no one that can stand toe to toe against them. They are both just scratching the surface of bigger opportunities that are soon to come.
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Saba- AJ Styles
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The hardest workers in the room. The definition of a team player and individuals that have shown to improve others around them as they have elevated their own game. They are staples of their community and pound for pound the best. Aside from their obvious talent is the humility they display, as they continue to fight for more as the critical appraisal continues to come their way. For Saba, he has been one of the biggest names in the Chicago HipHop scene and continues to be one of the primary factors for which this city’s music scene continues to shine. As a rapper and producer, Saba has showcased that he can do it all, and has created a sound all of his own with his Pivot brethren. For AJ Styles, he crafted his legacy in ROH and TNA before jumping ship to Japan and joining The Bullet Club. Once in Japan, he showed why he was the best in the world before signing to WWE and showing company brass why he deserved to be in their company years before he started making his mark in Vince McMahon’s company. Saba and AJ are the faces that runs the place. They are the elite of their professions.
Joseph Chilliams- Velveteen Dream
Gyrating their hips in grand fashion while kicking ass and taking names are the likes of Pivot Gang spitter and producer Joseph Chilliams, and WWE/NXT wrestler Velveteen Dream. For Joseph Chilliams, he’s been the eclectic genius behind some of Pivot Gang’s biggest hits either on the mic or behind production. For those not familiar with Joseph’s music, the man has the best punchlines in HipHop as a whole. He combines wit and humor with a style he has made all his own, behind his own production. On the wrestling end, the Prince-inspired Velveteen Dream, not only has one of the best gimmicks in all of wrestling, but also is one of the most charismatic and entertaining upstarts in the industry. Both Joseph and Velveteen Dream are two you have to keep your eyes on for years to come.
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Noname- Charlotte Flair
Nomane is rap game Charlotte Flair. The most decorated femcee with the critical praise and the ability to out rap her male peers. Like Charlotte Flair, daughter of the legendary Ric Flair, she is considered in many circles to be the best in their profession regardless of gender. Through Noname’s Telefone, she cemented herself at a national level and delivered one of the top 10 projects that year. On the other hand, Charlotte flair has won every female title since transitioning from Division 1 volleyball player to pro wrestler.
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Rich Jones-Austin Aries
The greatest man that ever lived and Chicago’s biggest ambassador are wrestler Austin Aries and Chicago rapper, singer, even creator- Rich Jones. Both are the most versatile in their respective fields. Austin Aries off his recent WWE release returned to the independent scene where he started racking up titles. He already made a name for himself as one of the best technical wrestlers, mic proficient, skilled teachers, and even flexed some muscles on commentary. For Rich Jones, these past few years have been a culmination of a lot of hard work that has led to various big opportunities for him following the release of his project Vegas a year ago. These opportunities have given him top billing as one of the best artists coming out of Chicago and continues to push the boundary through social justice based efforts that benefit communities he is passionate about, as well as showcasing talent reaching national and international buzz, cementing his legacy as one of Chicago’s greatest musical ambassadors and as a man of the people.
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SID (Stef Is Dope)- Jon Gresham
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SID (Stef Is Dope) and Jon Gresham are two upstarts that have made huge strides in the early part of their careers. On the music side, Stef has been putting out music a bit over a year and already is one of the most lyrical cats coming out of the city of Chicago as he’s been able to start developing his sound and making rounds on local blogs. On the wrestling side, Jonathan Gresham, one of Ring of Honor’s latest signees has been making waves and catching a lot of attention as a result of his technical prowess on the mat and is already considered one of the best in-ring workers in the world.
Sage- Marty Scurll
Sage and Marty Scurll are two kings of the underground. Sage has been crafting lyrics and instrumentals while generating greater visibility for himself and the rest of SlumpGang777. Marty Scurll, a member of Bullet Club, was one of the pioneers of the latest wave of British wrestling and has one of the best gimmicks as The Villain. Sage, has been crafting a reputation in the city of Chicago as one of the hidden gems on the lyrical and production side. He has a sound all of his own and continues to garner attention towards the moves he continues to make. No longer leaders with a cult following, both Sage and Marty are leading a generation that the rest of the peers need to catch up to.
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SHOWYOUSUCK- Sanada
Overlooked but never deterred, these two are absolutely amazing performers. The Rad God, ShowYouSuck, is a staple in our city’s music community that has given it his all in every song and every performance. Now under the Air Credits collective, ShowYouSuck continues to dominate under a sound that has garnered him bigger opportunities, among them music festivals and touring. New Japan pro wrestler- Sanada is one of the best performers and is well in reach of world championship glory. While we know these two are some of the absolute best they should be talked about in the same breath as some of their industries top acts. With a punk rock attitude, HipHop swagger and through determination, humility, and an evolution of their craft, they have been able to redefine their careers and show just why their time is coming very soon.
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Suburban Kid McFly- TJ Perkins
With Pinoy pride pumping through their veins is Chicago rapper Suburban Kid McFly and pro wrestler TJ Perkins. These two present themselves as some of the most charismatic performers and carry themselves with a swagger that cannot be duplicated by any of their peers. As a member of Chicago rap duo Retrospect, Suburban Kid McFly created a reputation for himself as half of one of the city’s brightest and most talented rap duos. Now in his solo run, he has been establishing his sound following two Eps and continues to showcase his work ethic through his releases and live performances. On the wrestling side, TJ Perkins made a name for himself as one of the most respected technical wrestlers and out himself on the map through winning the inaugural Cruiserweight classic and becoming the first Cruiserweight champion after the championship was vacated years earlier. Now, both look to continue cementing their legacies in their respective industries through a class and style all of their own.
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Sulaiman- Zach Sabre Jr.
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A lyrical mastermind and a technical wizard are Treated Crew’s Sulaiman and Zach Sabre Jr, respectively. Sully has made a name for himself for his lyrical prowess and he might just be the best in the city through some impressive releases with collaborator and producer Doc Da Mindbenda. He also has showcased his greatness in rap duos through Disappointed with Vic Spencer and Local Nobodies with Mathien. The British sensation, Zach Sabre Jr, is regarded as the best technical wrestler in the world and his unique style has garnered him respect every country he has wrestled in, as he became pioneer in the buzzing British scene, and a force in the American indies. Currently, ZSJ wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling where he is developing into a formidable threat for the world championship scene for years to come.
Supa Bwe- Hiromu Takahashi
Supa and Hiromu, two wildcards that never settled for anything less than glory. Since Hurt Everybody’s split, Supa has stacked up some remarkable accolades while working his way to the top of the city’s scene and making national impact. For New Japan Pro Wrestling and under wrestling stable-Los Ingobernables de Japon, Hiromu has become one of the greatest decorated super juniors (Cruserweights) of all time, and just in two years time. Both Supa and Hiromu are rock stars, with punk rock attitudes that have done things their way and succeeded in their quest of becoming the best of the next crop of top talent in their respective fields. The legacy of these two will be decided behind the mic and wrestling mat as they continue to shatter glass ceilings and expectations set before them.
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Swade- Keith Lee
Two leading big men, both basking in glory. Swade, the Florida based implant in the Chicago HipHop scene, has shown that in less than a year’s time he has risen to the forefront as one of the best coming out of the city of Chicago. With the release of his project Have A Nice Day, not only did he showcase what he brings to the city’s HipHop scene, but also flexed some of his abilities on production of that stellar debut. On the wrestling side, Keith Lee in the last year rose to prominence of the American independent scene, capturing titles, respect, and making sure every one of his followers basked in his glory. Now in WWE’s NXT brand, he will get to showcase the rest of the world exactly what has made him one of the fastest rising prospects in WWE’s developmental system. As for Swade, this is the year he cements himself as one of Chicago’s elite upstarts.
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The Boy Illinois- Tetsuya Naito
The definition of cool (tranquilo) are The Boy Illinois and New Japan Pro Wrestling’s leader of Los Ingobarnables de Japon- Naito. For The Boy Illinois, this last year has landed him prime opportunities following the release of his project Windy. Chicago’s most dapper rapper not lonely has showcased what he can do on the music side of things, but continues to be one of Chicago’s most vocal in terms of community engagement and advocating for himself and others in the city. For Naito, the last two years have been a culmination of the hard work and dedication that has led him to winning the G1 tournament, NJPW IC and world titles, while cementing himself as the coolest wrestler in wrestling today behind his LIJ (Los Ingobernables de Japon) brethren. For both Naito and Illi, their success has come through a culmination of their work ethic as they have continued to evolve throughout the years and continue to earn the respect of their followers at a global level.
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TheWHOevers- Young Bucks
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Two respected duos that have been staples for their scenes. For theWHOevers, they have made a name for themselves through evolving their sound over the years and in being able to adjust to the various music movements as they have been able to flex their capabilities behind the mic and on production. The Young Bucks have been the best tag team in the world in the last five years. As members of The Bullet Club they captured every tag team championship imaginable and continue to make waves and garner the most money for any tag team in the world. For both these duos, their success has come through never settling less for what they deserve and in continuing to push the boundaries of great quality in their respective fields.
Towkio- Andrade Cien Almas
The radiant children of SaveMoney and Los Ingobernables. Towkio has become the eclectic pioneer in SaveMoney with his own sound that has set him apart from guys in his own crew like Chance and Vic Mensa. Formerly La Sombra, and now as Andrade Cien Almas, the Mexican wrestler has become the most captivating Latino star in recent memory, which has included an NXT championship reign and a leading role on SmackDown. Nationality is also another interesting characteristic for the two, as Towkio is of Mexican and Japanese descent, and Andrade Cien Almas is of Mexican descent and has a deep history of wrestling in Japan, where he captured the IC title for New Japan Pro Wrestling. Both have a bright future ahead of them as they continue to make waves globally through music and the wrestling industry.
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UG Vavy- Cedric Alexander
The charismatic rapper-producer UG Vavy has crafted a following of his own over booming production, catchy choruses, and captivating lyrics that have made him one of the most entertaining artists in Chicago to keep an eye on. Cedric Alexander is the current WWE Cruiserweight champion that grinded his way to the top after years in the independent scene and after a strong showcase in last year’s Cruiserweight Classic.
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Vic Mensa- Seth Rollins
Let me preface this by saying that HHH is Hova, two legends turned businessmen that have sought out and helped craft the next level of top-tier talent. With that being said, HHH believes the future starts with Seth Rollins, while the future of the Roc lies in the hands of Vic Mensa, which Jay-Z has entrusted with. Mensa is one of the best to have come out of the city, period. His passion towards activism and lyricism has made this kid respected, all while dominating the music scene. Seth Rollins has dominated any obstacle before him becoming the first NXT champ and became grand slam champ in WWE.
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WemmyMo- Lio Rush
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The new kids on the block that have been turning heads have been WemmyMo and Lio Rush. For both of them, it has been a tale of being in the right place at the right time in the early stages of their careers. With WemmyMO, he released one of Chicago’s best debut projects in recent memory and has captured various accolades two years into making music. For The Man of The Hour- Lio Rush, not only is he the most buzzed about upstart in the Cruiserweight division, but he has created a new and fresh feel to his division through his athleticism and charisma. Best believe, that both WemmyMo and Lio are going to be leaders of the next generation of leaders in their respective industries. This is the beginning of many great opportunities for the two.
Stranded Civilians- The Usos
New to the Chicago HipHop scene are Stranded Civilians (Aubry & Tony Santana). Earlier this year they dropped one of Chicago’s hidden gem projects with the release of True Saiyans that has put the duo on the map as one of Chicago’s promising acts. With an uncanny ability to deliver lyrical content and bangers, they have become in my eyes, Chicago’s Usos. The Usos can do it all as babyfaces and heels. They can deliver captivating moves and smash mouth wrestling with those devastating super-kicks. Simply put, these boys can switch gears when they have to, and do it with tremendous chemistry, charisma, and passion for their craft.
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Solo Sam- Bad Luck Fale
Athletes turned performers are Chicago spitter/producer Solo Sam and New Japan Pro Wrestling & Bullet Club og- Bad Luck Fale. For Solo Sam, he delivered one of the city’s most impressive debuts with his Itis EP, which was entirely produced by him and received national acclaim. The former D1 football player showcased his uncanny ability by dropping some gems behind the mic, and in production was able to create some of the freshest sounds in recent memory in the Chicago HipHop scene. As for the former professional rugby player Bad Luck Fale, he has become a staple in the Japanese wrestling scene and has been a vital force behind the emergence and longevity of one of wrestling’s most popular wrestling stable since nWo in Bullet Club.
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Valee- Kazuchika Okada
The most influential rapper and wrestler of the last two years have been Chicago’s Valee and Okada. On the wrestling side, Kazuchika Okada of New Japan Pro Wrestling has become the first Japanese wrestler to top Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s annual 500 list and has become the most critically acclaimed wrestler in history. His rise to prominence is what has led New Japan’s resurgence internationally and has made Okada the most imitated and respected wrestler in his industry. On the flip side, the GOOD Music signee Valee, has become rap’s most formidable force in recent memory. Not only has his innovative flows gone to change the industry, but continue to create buzz with every release by Valee. Both Okada and Valee are going to continue to be two soft-spoken badasses in their industries for years to come.
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Don of Cash Over Clout- AR FOX
Formerly Don Perrion, Don of Chicago rap crew Cash Over Clout, has been one of the most vocal members of the scene, providing some great hot takes in the process. From the music side, he has been gearing up to deliver his debut project that is sure to turn some heads. As for AR Fox, he made a name for himself in the American independent wrestling scene before forming part of El Rey Network’s Lucha Underground and making bigger international waves. As performers, both Don and AR are not only very soft spoken and energetic but continue to grind and cement their names as individuals to look out for in their respective industries.
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PLAYLIST:
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