[Intro]
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
Once upon a time, once-once upon a time
And once upon-once upon (Cuban)
[Chorus]
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
[Verse 1: Cuban Link]
Remember me? That crook from them BX streets
That cooked that "Off the Books" beat without a chef's degree
I done went toe to toe with the best emcee
Big Pun number one, may he rest in peace
Let's see, I been doing this since niggas used to backspin
Before the game went digital, I was trackin'
Real or real rappin', spittin' like a MAC-10
One shot, one came the Lyrical Assassin
Back then, Latin rappers had a light buzz
They was nice but they wasn't doing it quite like us
We used to write stuff to get them niggas hyped up
Battled in cyphers, way before the fight club
Ayo, I'm pure with the hands like MacGyver
I'm liver than a .45 revolver, run you over like a truck driver
So pump rides and make you feel the vibe
And you can feel I'm fine right between your eyes when I'm feelin' live
It's all love, I'm even shoutin' out the haters
'Cause the love got me up but the hate made me greater
I'm as real as I portray to be, I'm an originator
And I'm still droppin' flavor that's hotter than the equator
[Chorus]
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
[Verse 2: Big Punisher]
Yo, I'm all about business and enterprisin'
Advisin' financial advisors on franchisin' to widen their horizons
Divisin' ideas with master-minders
Movin' on a stash with Diamonds
First we get the cash, then we laugh like mynas
Don't get me wrong, I'm a funny bastard
But when it come to money, done, I'm not the one to laugh with
I'm after for what cash can bring me, brothers
Me and my demon lovers blast and laugh like hyenas
Back to Ringling Brothers
Believe them others you're the best
Yes, and still I'm investin' mils on a hunch over lunch
Puffin' on a Chesterfield
Who want test the real scandalous?
I'm at the Sands in Los Angeles
Plannin' hits with anonymous philanthropists
Spanish kids, close to God like evangelists
Choppin' niggas up and makin' sandwiches
[Outro]
Once upon a time in The Bronx, New York
When the Gods of hip-hop ruled the grounds you walk
Among them, a few Spanish kids there to talk
And grow roots in the Earth where y'all scared to walk
Once upon a time, once-once upon a time
And once upon-once upon
