The Real Story Behind D'Lo Brown's Theme Music

WWE Legend D'Lo Brown tells the real story behind hearing his theme music for the first time from composer Jim Johnston.
Watch the full interview with D'Lo Brown on my main ‪@ChrisVanVliet‬ channel here: • D'Lo Brown on Nation o...
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#Dlobrown #wwe #attitudeera

[@bugginout8602]

Everybody in the Attitude Era looked different and had their own unique gimmick that helped them stand out. The music went perfect with their gimmicks

[@Supperdude9]

WWE went all out with entrances, that a guy entering the arena was such a larger than life event. WCW entrances always paled in comparison to me, with the exception of Goldberg's. IMO. The titantron video also sold it. It was like a music video.

[@mlaws11291]

They've been trying to find Jim's replacement since they fired him and they still haven't. They're better off using a record pool with indie/lesser known artists at this point since I'm sure WWE isn't gonna shell out the money for licensed music

[@alphanerd7221]

"looked different" Like 5 jacked guys well over 6' with long blonde hair.

[@natebaxter9551]

​@@alphanerd7221Rock, Taker, Austin, Angle, Kane, HBK, HHH. None of those dudes looked alike. And that's just WWF.

[@alphanerd7221]

@@natebaxter9551 Sure, the Rock and Stonecold, so original, two bald or nearly bald guys in black trunks and black boots with bad attitudes insulting people and ignoring what they have to say back. "It doesn't matter..." "what.?" Pease in a pod. "Taker...Kane," So different. You are making it worse.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

Jim Johnston is a genius. If Jim isn't in the WWE Hall of Fame before he passes (God forbid), then the WWE are dimwitted jabronis. Johnston has created some of the best themes of all-time to Stone Cold's to Ultimate Warrior's.

[@BenthovenMusic95]

I'll vouch for Jim Johnston in the HoF

[@rainmaker5692]

Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing him in HOF anytime soon. He doesn’t want to do it

[@liquidgeorge]

Jim Johnston is literally one of the most important people in the history of the company.

[@Blackfeet]

He even found Nicki Minaj and produced her demos before trying to sign with G-Unit but ended up going with Cash Money back in 2005/06

[@liquidgeorge]

@@Blackfeet That’s an interesting nugget of trivia. I never knew that!

[@jonnyturtleneck7153]

Music is everything. And that’s why Jim Johnston is on my Mount Rushmore. Jim Johnston made you loving wresting possible.

[@CVVCLIPS]

He’s the 🐐

[@willglenn8638]

​@@CVVCLIPSChris it would be awesome if you were able to do an interview with Jim 😀

[@alphanerd7221]

He made rote generic pop tracks that had to play for like 30 seconds.

[@flashfunk0373]

@@alphanerd7221it was CFO$ my guy, not Jim. Jim actually made full length songs.

[@alphanerd7221]

@@flashfunk0373 No they just looped them.

[@retroclub4182]

You looking at the real deal now

[@lilrog91]

Wooooooooooooo

[@hyperchord]

Better recognize!

[@mrgoodcat2123]

One of the best themes ever i have it on my spotify

[@MichaelSheaAudio]

I always say "you lookin like a slim jim now" 😂

[@BeastNationXIV]

"Gonna kick your sorry ass out on the street!"

[@bobbymaycry9748]

Lo-Down Frog Splash is one of the best Frog Splashes. D'Lo had some great matches against X-Pac.

[@scottdecowski4913]

Jeff Jarrett & Val Venis too, D'Lo's chest protector gimmick is iconic too

[@bobbymaycry9748]

@@scottdecowski4913 Hell yeah. Not sure I liked what Jarrett did in Impact wrestling 'as co-owner constantly booking himself as champion' but his wrestling style is nice and bonking people with a guitar never got old. Great theme in Impact too. He still seems in good shape at AEW as well. Val was a good worker too but he was so rarely on a televised match that it was difficult to ever find a 'best of Val Venis'. He was just a good worker who did low-card matches.

[@scottdecowski4913]

@Bobby May Cry Val Venis vs Rikishi for the IC title in a cage match at Summerslam 2000 is a personal favorite. Val was solid but not a main event talent

[@giovanniaroca5755]

​@@scottdecowski4913 Fully Loaded 2000

[@liquidgeorge]

D’Lo vs X-Pac rivalry for the European Championship was AMAZING. What a time to be alive.

[@thedefinitive6296]

Danger at the Door is one of the all-time great themes, but we're talking about an era that was full of them. I remember lifting weights with my dad in our basement and we'd have the WWF/WWE albums playing just rocking to that shit. The theme songs nowadays just don't hit the same. Johnston, like Jim Ross, was a massive part of what made that era so special and distinct.

[@drscruffylupagus]

Even as a kid watching a full episode for the first time, as soon as D-Lo came out I was a fan. Best European Campion ever.

[@AB-nk5wv]

The chest protector was a heat magnet

[@halfblooddutchprince]

The Low-Down is my all time favorite finisher!

[@RonaldDorsinator]

sky high too

[@PLUX4]

Jim Johnston is the king of music production. Probably one of the best, if not, the best in the wrestling business.

[@jonnyturtleneck7153]

One of the best is an insult. He’s clearly the best. Nobody’s close. He made wrestling fans.

[@ITSHIM1294]

One of? Lol

[@liquidgeorge]

He’s the best by far. Nobody will ever touch Jim Johnston’s genius.

[@CaitoJunior-mb2rt]

​@@liquidgeorgeFACTS🚨💯

[@reggiewolfpac]

Danger at the door that's one of favorite theme songs you looking at the real deal now!

[@whisperienced]

In my opinion wwf entrance themes were a major factor in the monday night wars. it set the tone and made everyone stand out. You can go down the list, Edge's theme, The Brood, Kane, Ministry, Corporate Ministry, Mick Foley, Val Venis. If you were a fan at that time you know immediately what their theme is from the first note. WCW had a bunch of generic themes and knock offs of rock songs.

[@3Rayfire]

And even then, you had a few iconic bangers. Goldberg's Invasion stands to this day. The nWo and Wolf Pack themes were outstanding. Hogan just came out to Hendrix's Voodoo Child. DDP just flat out had Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit as his theme because Time Warner actually owned so many of those songs on the music label side, BUT the Self High Five part is what made it Diamond Dallas Page's theme. I always liked Lex Luger's WCW theme too. A lot of those themes though were ASSSSSSS. Like Rey Mysterio and Dean Malenko's themes were garbage. Eddie's theme was a very badass remix of Lowrider, so there is that. But EVERY Attitude Era WWF theme was an instant classic.

[@whisperienced]

@@3Rayfire you're right there were a lot of great wcw themes just not as many as WWF.

[@Andros1921]

The fact that even his gear had a storyline, tells you how much detail went into everything.

[@Jabbaro123]

D lo had one of the best themes back in the days of the WWF.

[@mrkeyz321]

Jim Johnston was genius when he made "know your role" (very first If Ya Smellllllll) for The Rock, I mean PURE GENIUS!!!! Everytime I hear that song I instantly think about the attitude era!!! The gold ole days 🤨🤨

[@PrinceH8907]

Facts. Remember it was first "do you smell" for know your role, then it changed to "if you smell" in the later versions

[@mrkeyz321]

@@PrinceH8907 that's right, and when he finally made know your role (1st If Ya Smellllll) that's when The Rock really started to lay the smackdown, even though he already was!! Lol...I personally think he should go back to it and ditch "electrifying"...know your role is my favorite Rock song off all time!!! It's simply electrifying with its electricity and also captivating!!! 🤨🤨

[@PrinceH8907]

@@mrkeyz321 kids today don't even know Smack Down came into being because of the Rock lol

[@3Rayfire]

The crazy thing is the song evolved with the story. Remember, Know Your Role was originally the Nation of Domination's theme. "WE ARE THE NATION, OF DOMINATION.....NATION OF DOMINATION" it was Farooq's theme and the group's theme. Then Rock comes in going heel, starts finding his footing, then his ego Explodes, then he gets a Custom Version "Do You Smell what the Rock is Cooking? Nation of Domination", then as the Nation shifts from being Farooq's "militant faction" to "The Rock's Gang" The Nation of Domination is dropped and replaced by The Rock's catchphrases. "Know Your Role....and Shut your Mouth" So as The Rock became a more and more self centered ego maniac, he absorbed more and more of the group's theme music, until it was all about him. Which is why D'Lo and Mark needed a separate tag team theme in the first place. Kama went from Kama the Ultimate Fighting Machine, to Kama Mustafa the militant, to the Godfather, the Pimp. I imagine the Ho Train was an easy song to make.

[@Jinzo9988]

The head shake is just classic. I distinctly remember it putting a smile on my face every single time back in the day, followed by a head shake of my own. Something so simple, but fun.

[@matthewtaylor4749]

Dlo brown is underrated they should have pushed him to the top he was one of my favorite wrestlers back in the attitude era.

[@WhoCaresAnymoreTho]

The low down version when he teamed with Chaz was a banga

[@ComicBookGuy420]

I really loved his team with Godfather, and Lo Down was great too, but the Nation of Domination was my favourite part of the faction war

[@equinoxphantoon8974]

The Tag team theme D'Lo is talking about went unused and called "The real deal V2." D'Lo's solo song is Danger at the door.

[@PontFlair]

Which theme of his went unused? He had a few. His theme when he tagged with Mark Henry and his theme when he tagged with Chaz. Then there was the "I think you better recognize" theme of his too.

[@equinoxphantoon8974]

@@PontFlair The theme that went unused when he was tagging with Chaz is known as Lo-Down v1. The unused theme for D'lo and Mark Henry was The Real Deal v2

[@PontFlair]

@@equinoxphantoon8974 I'm gonna check em out

[@PontFlair]

*@equinoxphantoon8974* both of those themes were on TV. And one of them was on TV and in an N64 WWF/E video game.

[@McCHitman]

@@equinoxphantoon8974As a teen I always wondered why D’Lo’s theme on Wrestlemania 2000 on N64 had an actual verse that wasn’t present in D’Lo’s theme on tv.

[@randomthemeruser]

1:40 he is correct. Mark Henry even walked out to it one night, was basically a “Danger At The Door” instrumental

[@charlesrocks]

D’lo Brown v Jeff Jarrett at Summerslam in Minneapolis was a legendary match

[@dariog36th]

They dropped the ball on making Jeff Jarrett the IC and European champion. Russo knew Jarrett was leaving and still made him champion and at the same time extinguished the momentum D’Lo had.

[@gabehills2489]

It was the only match of the evening I cared for.

[@BrianAwesome]

​​@@dariog36th Jarrett shoulda 1) kept both belts, 2) gone to wCw with them, 3) Have D'lo show up on Nitro 4) Have a non Title Match on Thunder 5) Then have D'lo win both belts back, by WrestleMania 2000 at the latest 🔥

[@dariog36th]

@@BrianAwesome lol yeah that was never gonna happen lol. WWF and wcw did not have a working relationship so no. Vince McMahon paid Jeff Jarrett almost a quarter million dollars to ensure he didn’t show up on nitro with the IC belt.

[@aaronstrickland3582]

Whut year did ‘dis match happen❓❓

[@billyeveryteen7328]

Even to this day, nobody can deliver a sitout spinebuster anywhere near as beautifully as D'Lo could. The single foot pivot flourish? **chefs kiss**

[@NEMtvOfficial]

Knowing now that its D Lo Brown doin the laughing and sound effects on that track only makes it sound better and more nostalgic 😅

[@UltimateShadow10]

God I miss Jim Johnston.

[@awkc63]

D'Lo and Gangrel were so underrated. They should've accomplished more then they did. Glad though D'Lo got the I and European title.

[@AHalevonEric]

Danger At The Door is one of my favorite hip-hop songs. Top 5 easily, I'm not kidding.

[@RBRSC]

They do seem to be kind of going back to that with some of the bigger guys now too. Seth, Cody, Roman, Miz all have an intro "hit" of some kind before the theme proper kicks in. (Along with Lesnar who has an actual Jim Johnston theme, and Edge's that just happens to fit that mold)

[@Mr92094]

Not the full theme but the “You think you know me” is from JJ from his very first theme

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

How is Jim Johnston not in the WWE Hall of Fame? D-Lo came off great in this interview. Is he still with Impact behind the scenes?

[@jolemays3218]

The nation of domination 1998 theme probably was the best

[@WarGhoulKharas]

D-Lo has one of the oddest shaped heads on a human I've ever seen.

[@Pootie_Tan]

Accie Connor was my second favorite wrestler behind Val Venis during the attitude era. Val spinning that towel during his sexy entrance music was hilarious 🤣

[@Wrestlingmann]

D'Lo and Jim Johnson belong in the HOF

[@VeggieGamer]

It legit is one of my all-time favourite entrance themes! No joke! "Ya lookin' at the real deal now!!"

[@xxxxz4862]

This was the shxt in WWF No Mercy for the N64. Good Times...

[@BrianAwesome]

Jim Johnston, is the Bruce Falconour of Wrestling Themes

[@barringtonfisher87]

I still remember the Summer of 99, D'Lo was so over. Watch his match with Jarrett at summerslam 99, the crowd were insane.

[@BeastNationXIV]

Of course, the D-Lo theme concepts I'll always love are the "You better recognize" versions Jim did right after the Nation disbanded. Speaking of which, The Rock has to tell the story of how Jim Johnston transformed the dry, straight forward NOD theme into that smooth, mellow "Know Your Role (Nation leader)" theme of May 1998 particularly for him, and how much he was involved in that process. And what he thought about the version Owen got, and the one with the running guitar solo that was made for the whole stable. Same with Taker if he has a Jim Johnston story about the 6 themes he had starting in July of '98, 5 of them which were prototypes. All bangers leading him up to SummerSlam. Jim Johnston really did compose the type of theme music that hit like the old school songs our parents listened to. You 'recognized' the wrestler from that first chord or two of their theme music (or the 1st sound byte/signature sound), and there was no mistake he composed it either. Even on the generic sounding music that he started to do in 2005 and so on. No other creator could do it authentically without trying to copy Jim during or after that era. Not Dale Oliver. Not the CFO$. Not the guys they have working for the WWE Music Group who are turning everything into a fusion of generic pop rock and trap beats. Not the folks who remade some of Jim's obscure themes for known starts and put them out on Uncaged albums, where older folks like me who grew up hearing the actual themes now have to tell young fans that the albums don't have the real version. Nobody. The bottom line: "WWF - The Music" volumes 3 through 5 are still the best albums in WWE's whole catalogue. That's not even me being nostalgic, it's just true. Some volumes of the Uncaged project come close, but still can't touch those 3 WWF the Music albums. And yeah, I nerded out in here, but it's whatever. I'm one of the guys who loved certain unreleased tracks so much that I remade some of them myself because WWE was stringing us along with fake-out versions, bad remixes nobody asked for, and holding onto certain high-demand versions for 20 years just to sabotage releases. Now that I'm done being a mark, Im'a go watch the other CVV clip in my recommended section (D'Lo Brown On The Rock in the Nation of Domination). 🤣

[@retepoteil]

Always was a fan of dlo

[@jonathanscrutchensYT]

My favorite wrestler and theme I actually look up to him and I told him that when I was an extra at impact and he was honored

[@aglo8371]

His theme and Steve Blackmans theme with the guitar hold a special place in my heart

[@gk2370]

I'm happy to know he's still getting paid through merchandise after no longer being in WWE. I find it odd D'Lo is still getting paid for video games, because I only saw CAWs of him and not as an official characters since the last 2 console generations

[@RetroTube1982]

I actually liked his "you better recognize" theme better

[@hmwpyro18]

Attitude Era was great, in that you didn't need to be a top main event guy to get over. Sometimes it was the lower-to-midcard guys that were the highlights.

[@Maxtrash69]

0:19 it exists for me. Its the rules for getting over. Great name + great music + personality + right finisher = memorable wrestler

[@amp_unlimited]

D-lo had one of the coolest move sets of all time 💯

[@captainsleezeball7890]

This man was the greatest wrestler to me as a kid his move set was so underrated rated the Sky High was the best finisher ever.

[@jodix1294]

One of the hardest WWF songs. Bring it on! Whatchu gonn do bout it

[@KickDoeLock]

D-Lo. Till this day I have your theme songs. Both versions on my I cpu right now. I’ve had this cpu since high school in 09.

[@jays447]

1:30 "you should know who's coming to the ring within 2 seconds of hearing the beginning of your music." Foreal. Nowadays, almost everyone's theme song sounds the same, fans gotta look up at the tron for the name to see who's coming out.

[@Extinguisher10]

D'Lo was one if my favorites!!

[@revrun86]

D’Lo had one of the sweetest jumping calf kick

[@RipperXIX]

One of my favourites from the Attitude Era. D’lo was the real deal to me

[@sergtchannel]

I've always thought that a wrestler can get a crowd going, or excited or ready for what's to come by an entrance theme. Or by just a guitar strum, a gong, glass shattering, you just knew who was coming out. Nowadays, yah you have that somewhat, but not like back in the day. D-Lo's music scratch at the beginning of his theme is iconic!

[@grozwald]

Fun fact: D'lo was a former accountant. This explains the lyric "HERE'S YOUR RECEIPT!" File it properly.

[@Mr.G_717]

Receipt is also wrestling slang

[@warrenwashington609]

D'Lo was one of my favorites. He came in wanting the smoke!

[@TruthWarriorB88]

Still hooked on the theme, to this day. 🎧🤣🤣

[@marvellis6762]

Jim Johnston along with very few others are the fabric and cornerstones of the WWF/E. A master at delivering via sound

[@Jaguar2kicks]

D’Lo brown was ahead of his time!

[@drevandamva]

D lo is SUPER underrated

[@Blackfeet]

D'lo Old 😢 😢

[@pha1len106]

Danger at the door v1 and V2 was fire 🔥

[@Vic_Estay]

Last year, a gem of an action figure went on sale, category "Lengends", by D'lo Brown, an outfit from The Nation of Domination, and an accessory is the protective jacket

[@tonyrivera6575]

Probably 3 or 4 wwe/f songs that I listen to even in car and his is one of em

[@johnnyfletcher1961]

I’ve always liked D-lo. He was cool asf.

[@DKM977]

Always loved D'Lo. His European title run was great. Wished it lasted longer though. Him being billed from a different European city each time he was introduced was so funny.

[@christopherroberts8530]

D-Lo Brown's theme was 🔥🔥🔥

[@derekchapman2192]

The head shake was 🪙

[@DEEDUBZ]

D'LO IS THE MAN, BRO!!

[@jarviswood5]

Times are different back then if you had like that Austin glass shatter or the rock if you smell you was over before you took a bump

[@President_Shin]

His theme was crazy

[@SWEATBX1300]

Looking at the real deal now....🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥d lo was my boy

[@jamesniagu274]

Loved DLO

[@nishadprinja8710]

You should have Jim Johnston on the show for an interview. I feel like this clip clearly points to that happening. 😮

[@MrBlazinerday]

I found out about his tna run after the fact and looked at some of his matches in tna. He was a different and much better wrestler in tna.

[@Mr.G_717]

Love this theme

[@BGriff-]

Im so happy to hear about the residuals.

[@brandonthompson6094]

Tazz "What a Rush" intro is underrated

[@eSportDjango]

"Pack your bags because your ass is dead meat" is a big time playground line

[@heyvitch]

My bands first show we ever had in 08-09 opened up with a sample of d'lo browns theme 😂😂

[@Lhb428]

Jim Johnson and Vince Russo were diamonds and you know diamonds are forever

[@dussstinnn]

That's crazy that dlo still gets royalties from wwe. Now that's earning it!

[@Flobastino241]

Jim Johnston needs to be in hall of fame

[@Foodswelovetoeat_]

He was so underrated

[@rick8602]

I wonder why.....?

[@alphanerd7221]

@@rick8602 Becuase he was in the second worst accident in WWF history.

[@robertmoore4424]

That fourth nation theme was fire when dlo came out

[@user-tv3ry3yc8n]

I just love the head shake

[@Mr79.]

D’Lo Brown for the HOF 🫨

[@DEEDUBZ]

100%

[@rosefarrell2440]

Loved D-Lo!!! So misused by WWE after the Droz accident. He was so over that pop when winning the IC title was mega and at Summerslam 99.

[@balamohammed5947]

with triple h and the rock now at the head of wwe, i hope he finally gets his HALL OF FAME Induction.

[@SupremacyGamesYT]

True in top 25 themes at least for me.

[@MrAntoniocarter]

Wrestlers with a generic theme song: I guess they look at me as a low card wrestler Wrestlers with a great theme song: Yea I'm going to places with this one

[@XMetalChefX]

You could name 100 MIDCARDERS that made an impact every week in AE.

[@aka__pro.6564]

Bring it on! Whatcha gonna do about it? Bring it onnn!! Is that whathu got?

[@derekchapman2192]

I even played with his character on the smackdown series

[@jims9438]

I always liked D'Lo. Great entrance, great moveset, great wrestler...I don't know why his push seemed to fall off towards the end of 99

[@SorenFlaherty-rq1gx]

My father and I are huge fans of you, you looking at the real deal now.

[@Brown87]

I was absolutely fanatical about the WWF from around 1999 until roughly 2005; if I was a young guy in 2024, there isn't any way possible that I would be interested in watching WWE 😐

[@Boo-yaa86]

Music was great in that era I do t no what happend now

[@redroversk]

He's got a Target exclusive WWE figure coming soon, 2 versions

[@anthonymarshall8311]

Jim Johnston is the John Williams of Pro Wrestling themes. CFO$ would be like a J. Dilla... Def Rebel is probably like Pauly D or something, those guys make Butt Rock.

[@edospina97]

I wish he was in more WWE 2K games.