Once Upon A Time
Slum Village and Pete Rock Lyrics

I'm on a mission
I have a purpose and I'm driven to accomplish it.

I hold the pen and stay twisted
I'm in control of my creativity and it's influenced by my perspective.

The competition my street cats will stay listening (word up)
My peers in the music industry will pay attention to my work and recognize my talent.

Detroit to New York I still walk the walk
I'm respected and relevant in multiple cities and don't let fame change who I am.

Control dancehall, chillin in my b-boy stance y'all
I have a strong presence and influence in the hip-hop community and I'm always representing my roots.

Never was known to be an emcee
Although I'm not traditionally known as a rapper, I still have the ability to engage and entertain crowds.

I still rip and flip crowds into a frenzy
I have the skill and energy to hype up an audience and get them excited.

Reciting facts shit, and it's like herbs to bite
My lyrics are truthful and resonate with people like medicine or natural remedies.

Bum rushing mic tec playing slowly at night
I'm taking over the rap game and dominating the mic on a consistent basis.

Coincide with the mic take flight above shores (word of mouth)
My music spreads rapidly and is embraced by fans all over the world through word of mouth.

I separate mines from yours
My style and talent are unique and set me apart from other artists.

I look ya up and as I stare in your face
I'm confident in my abilities and ready to face anyone who tries to challenge me.

Your big mind's on a hum hum
You're worried or unsure about something and it's affecting your performance.

The one you got your idea from
You're unoriginal and copying someone else's style or concept.

Yeah I'm right here son, straight out the slum
I come from humble beginnings and have overcome adversity to become successful.

Makin tracks for dough, gettin paid to do shows
I'm in the music business to make money and I'm earning a living from performing.

So when I blow (what) the niggas respect my flow
When I become famous, other rappers will acknowledge and appreciate my talent.

Ay yo I'm nice with the pill and I rock with Slum Vill
I'm skilled at rapping and work well with the members of Slum Village.

Ay yo, you want flows? We got tons of them
If you're looking for great rap lyrics, we have plenty to offer.

Pete, Slum and Tim trying to bank shit like the Huntington
We're working hard to make profitable music like the Huntington National Bank.

Get that money and dip
We aim to make money and then move on to other projects or endeavors.

Flash the cash in front of them
We'll show off our wealth and success to those who doubted us.

Niggas gruntin' and shit
Other rappers may be jealous or angry about our success.

Sayin' nothin I'm done with them
We don't care about haters or negative opinions because we're focused on our goals.

Oh yo! Peeps ain't got a hold they gun on them
We hope other rappers won't resort to violence or aggression towards us.

Cause if one of them cats jump, we all jumpin' in
If anyone tries to confront us, we'll stand together and defend ourselves.

Believe that!
We're confident in our abilities and our plans for success.

We got somethin' for the some dumb
Our music is appealing and accessible even to those who may not understand hip-hop culture.

Bubble yum chewin that don't know what they doin' with this rap shit
There are inexperienced or unqualified rappers in the industry who don't understand the art of hip-hop.

Rap tactics automatic and the fact is y'all know you bored with the wack shit
We use proven rap techniques and know that audiences are tired of uninspired, poor-quality music.

We got that phat shit that auto and
We have great rap lyrics and beats that flow together effortlessly.

Track shit and when you hear it man I don't know how to act, shit
Our music is so good that it might be overwhelming and make you feel ecstatic.

It's like the first related verse and now we rock with the beat
This song has a cohesive flow and rhythm that's carried throughout.

Just another causality for S and the V
We're just another successful project from Slum Village.

It's like action is what we give and receive
Our music is high-energy and gets people excited and engaged.

Best do believe we got some shit up our sleeves
We have some great music that we haven't even released yet.

Shit to dance to, some shit to the trees
Our music is versatile and can be enjoyed in different settings like dance parties or while smoking weed.

Some shit if you dyin' and they help you breathe
Our music is therapeutic and can alleviate stress or anxiety for some listeners.

Make a handicap nigga exceed with speed
Our music can motivate and inspire people who have physical or mental limitations.

It's like totally with Toronto to V
We have a great connection and collaboration with artists in Toronto.

Doin this for DET in the place to be
We represent and honor our home city of Detroit through our music.

Can't forget the rest R,O,I, and T
We acknowledge other cities and places where hip-hop culture thrives like Royal Oak, Inkster, and Toledo.

Mac Nicholas baby, what else could it be?
We're proud to be a part of Mac Nicholas Studios where we create and record music.

Please, lace me with a scratch for the beat
We're asking for a specific sound effect or sample to be added to the music composition.

In the beginning, it was the S, never no name shit
Slum Village has always had a distinct sound and style that they've upheld.

Motherfuckers traveled for miles to Mac Nick
Fans and other artists go out of their way to visit or work with Mac Nicholas Studios because of its reputation.

We kick rhymes we know they never sound like yours
Our lyrics are original and authentic to our group, and aren't influenced by other artists.

To the mic lookin' like cheap thoughts
Other rappers appear unpolished and amateur in comparison to us.

Fuck this rap shit, I'm too smart for that
We're aware of the political and social stigma that some associate with rap music, but we know we're still intelligent and thoughtful people.

I do this shit for kicks with my crew, believe that
We're passionate about making music with the people we enjoy working with for fun and fulfillment.

The S is on the way to makin' emcees quick
Our group is poised to dominate the rap industry and make other rappers redundant.

I shoot the kinda rhymes to make the emcees duck
My lyrics are so good that other rappers will feel threatened and intimidated by me.

On the mic I never fight I call an angel of war
I don't need to use physical violence or aggression to prove my superiority as a rapper; my words are weapons.

Slice an emcee with my palm, a lyrical sword
My verses are sharp and powerful enough to destroy other rappers.

You really want a bottle? You must be ill
If you challenge me in a rap battle, you'll be sorry and likely lose.

Well it's the S, numero uno, I'm in your favorite
I'm the best rapper you'll ever hear and I'm well-liked and respected in the industry.

The negroes make the music that you run out to get
Black artists like us have been pioneers and innovators in the music industry since its inception, and are responsible for some of the most popular and successful songs ever.

Now this is love at the less, new bomb shit
Our new music is groundbreaking and revolutionary, and will be highly appreciated and valued by our fans.

Mac Nicholas is earnin' money on some burner shit
Our record label is making a lot of money and dominating the rap game.

No doubt for 98
Our success and momentum will continue into the coming year.

Settin ya straight
We're establishing ourselves as top-tier rappers and making a name for ourselves.

Getcha self laced
Our music is addicting and will keep you coming back for more.

Peace
We're signing off, wishing you well and promoting positivity and unity.