Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is pretty much the definition of a Renaissance man, progressing from a star athlete in football, to pro wrestler, to one of the most bankable movie stars on the planet with a whole array of side hustles in everything from workout gear to tequila. And the multi-hyphenate can now list “rapper” among the many feathers in his cap.
Johnson has made his rap debut with a feature on rapper Tech N9ne’s new track “Face Off”, which also includes bars from guest artists King Iso and Joey Cool. Check out the song and video above. Of course, Johnson has already shown off his chops as a vocalist, having featured on the soundtrack to Disney’s Moana. And apparently it was hearing Johnson’s singing as Maui that proved to Tech N9ne that he “had the rhythm” needed to feature on “Face Off.”
“I love music. Anytime in my movies I can implement some musical elements, I always love doing that,” Johnson told Variety. “A lot of my friends who are hip hop artists—like big names—I’ve been asked a few times. But it just has to feel right… When Tech texted me, I knew I could make this work. We’re aligned, just in terms of our work ethic and desire. When Tech and I first met years ago on the set of Ballers, we were talking about this idea about being the hardest worker in the room. He said something that I really appreciated: basically, ‘There could never be enough food in this room or on this set that could make me full because I always want to be hungry.’ I just love that.”
That hunger and ambition form the backbone of Johnson’s bars on “Face Off”, with lyrics such as “It’s about drive / It’s about power / We stay hungry.” It’s the kind of get-up-and-go amp-’em-up anthem that Johnson regularly includes in his Iron Paradise workout playlist.
Johnson revealed that he recorded his verse in “one take” while knocking back tequila for courage. “I was drinking Teremana, so I had already been a bit lit and was ready to go,” he said. “We sent it to Tech and his engineers and the text I got back from Tech, in all capital letters, was ‘Fuck yes!!!!'”
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