Once Upon a Time

[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