Once Upon A Time… is more than just a song; it’s a gritty narrative about power, survival, and the fall from grace. Donald “C-Note” Hooker, known as the King of Prison Hip Hop, uses his song Once Upon A Time… to deliver a no-holds-barred look into the life of an ultimate hustler who once roamed the streets in a Humvee, but now finds himself trapped in the inescapable confines of the prison system. The song’s raw, unfiltered lyrics reflect a reality too familiar for many, blending the worlds of street life and incarceration, where the highs are as extreme as the lows.
From the Penthouse to The Big House
Much like Bugs Bunny in the Rebel Rabbit cartoon, who wreaks havoc and ultimately ends up in Alcatraz, Once Upon A Time… is a tale of chaos and consequences. C-Note’s protagonist doesn’t just live in the streets—he owns them. Driving through in a Humvee, flaunting his dominance, he reminds us that what’s yours is his, and he’ll take it at the barrel of a gun. But much like Bugs Bunny’s downfall, this reign doesn’t last forever. The high-flying hustler’s ride ends in the abyss of a prison sentence, where he reflects on his life behind bars.
Lyrics: The Streets Speak
“Rollin in a Humvee
Bumpin 3x Crazy
I ain’t drivin nothin fancy
I ain’t tryn 2bust no bitch
I’m out here nigga smashin
Skull bashin
Checkin a grip”
These opening lines set the tone, where the streets aren’t glamorous—they are harsh and unforgiving. The protagonist moves with a singular purpose: to survive and come out on top, no matter the cost. This mirrors the Bugs Bunny approach in Rebel Rabbit, where the chaos escalates beyond control, yet the audience is captivated by the character’s defiance.
“They say crime is in decline
But not this time
Cauz this is 1-rap nigga that’s gonna keep a 9
Up 2 ur dome
Black or chrome
It doesn’t matter nigga
Cauz when its on its on”
Here, the lyrics don’t just tell a story—they are a proclamation. C-Note’s protagonist holds on to his identity as a street soldier, not willing to be part of any crime “decline.” The black-and-chrome pistols are tools of survival, where every decision comes with dangerous stakes.
The Fall: From Hustling to Lockdown
“Now I’m gettn mail like once a month
& this is 4 a nigga they say was out there doing 2much”
Just like Bugs Bunny in his final scene in Alcatraz, the song’s protagonist ends up confined in a cold cell. His world, once filled with Humvees, bitches, and street glory, shrinks into one of lockdown summers, gunners, and monthly mail—an abyss that feels like quicksand, where every move threatens to sink him further.
A Song of the Streets, For the Streets
Once Upon A Time… was written in 2000, at a time when the artist, C-Note, was unable to get his work out into the world due to his incarceration. Fifteen years later, in 2015, the song was released on Soundcloud, marking the first time C-Note’s Spoken Floz style, an eclectic blend of hip hop, poetry, and spoken word, was set to music.
This music version was a collaboration with former California prisoner Jr Wagner, aka jRiZzz, who produced the beat. Laid over Dr. Dre-inspired beats, the song paints a vivid picture of a man caught between two worlds—the streets and the prison yard.
Visualizing the Contrasts
The cover art for Once Upon A Time… is a visual juxtaposition of two opposing worlds: the penthouse, representing the heights of street success, and the grim, desolate cell, representing the inevitable fall. The image captures the highs and lows of a street career that ultimately leads to imprisonment—a contrast that is as stark in the art as it is in the lyrics.
Legacy of Spoken Floz
The music version of Once Upon A Time… not only gave C-Note’s powerful storytelling a broader platform but also introduced audiences to the innovative art form of Spoken Floz, a blend of traditional spoken word with a hip hop edge. This collaboration with jRiZzz marked a new chapter in C-Note’s career, highlighting the resilience and creativity of incarcerated artists who continue to make their mark on the outside world through their music and art.
In Once Upon A Time…, Donald “C-Note” Hooker offers more than a song—he offers a reflection on the duality of the street life, much like Bugs Bunny’s chaotic rebellion in Rebel Rabbit. It’s a gangster rap anthem that forces listeners to reckon with the consequences of life in the fast lane, and the harsh realities that await when the streets finally catch up with you. Through gritty lyrics and a defiant, unyielding tone, C-Note takes us from the penthouse to the prison cell, reminding us that, in the end, the streets always have the last word.
Download “Once Upon A Time…” now from C-Note’s official music store and experience the raw, unfiltered story that brings the streets to life.
