It should come as no surprise to those who follow him that MVP is a connoisseur of good music. The former WWE United States Champion and the first ever IWGP Intercontinental Champion has long been vocal about his diverse and refined musical tastes, with a particular passion for the legendary band Steely Dan.

For those who want to dive deeper into his fandom, a fantastic interview with MVP by Vin Forte.

A Fateful Deep Dive

While MVP had been familiar with Steely Dan before 2011, it was a harrowing experience that year that solidified his passion for their music. During the Fukushima reactor meltdown in Japan, MVP found himself confined to a hotel. It was during this time that he truly immersed himself in the band’s extensive catalog.

According to MVP, “I was already a casual Steely Dan fan. But after that time being stuck at the Tokyo Dome Hotel for those few days it was, I think, Citizen Dan: A Decade of Steely Dan, that compilation was what caused me to dive back into the entire Steely Dan catalog.”

The Hip-Hop Connection

One of the most fascinating aspects of MVP‘s appreciation for Steely Dan is his understanding of their influence on hip-hop. He recognizes that many younger audiences may not be aware that they’ve been listening to Steely Dan for years through samples in popular hip-hop tracks. He has even taken it upon himself to educate younger talent in the wrestling business, pointing out the iconic samples in songs they know and love. This connection between the intricate jazz-infused rock of Steely Dan and the rhythm and flow of hip-hop is a testament to the band’s enduring and far-reaching musical legacy.

“I have an awesome memory of the very first time I saw Steely Dan live in Redmond, Washington. Being near the stage and upfront, everybody was dancing and they were playing “Kid Charlamagne” and when they got to the part, did you realize that you were a champion in their eyes? These two really young white guys, much younger than me, to my left, they looked at each other and right on point, they went, yes I did! So I packed it up and brought it back to the crib, and I just started laughing out loud,” referencing the Kanye West song, “Champion.”

For any fan of MVP or Steely Dan, the full interview is a great read. It offers a unique glimpse into the musical tastes of a wrestling superstar and highlights the unexpected places where a love for great music can be found.

MVP previously called Steely Dan the “Cuervo Gold” standard of music, in an interview with Dominic Deangelo.

The Stunner had a great conversation with MVP that we will be releasing soon, on our forthcoming podcast, “Hit My Music.” Here is a little preview from our socials:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DNA5r0SR2FB/