If you were anywhere near a TV or a radio in 2015, you probably heard it. That infectious, slightly gritty, and unapologetically bold hook. "Once upon a time, not long ago, I was a hoe..." It’s a line that instantly etched itself into the brain of anyone watching Love & Hip Hop: New York. Mariahlynn Araujo, known to the world simply as Mariahlynn, didn't just drop a song; she dropped a cultural hand grenade that forced everyone to look her way.
But here is the thing. Most people think "Once Upon a Time" was just a raunchy reality TV moment. They see it as a flash in the pan. Honestly? They’re missing the entire point of what that song represented for her career and the "Hustle Over Everything" brand she built from the ground up.
The Reality Behind the Hook
When Once Upon a Time Mariah Lynn first hit the airwaves, it was controversial. People love to judge. They hear the word "hoe" and they immediately shut down. But if you actually listen to Mariahlynn explain it—and she’s done this in countless interviews, including a famous sit-down with VladTV—the word is an acronym.
Hustle. Over. Everything.
It sounds like a clever PR pivot, right? Maybe. But look at her history. Mariahlynn didn't come from a place of luxury. She grew up in Newark and Jersey City, bouncing through the foster care system. Her mother struggled with substance abuse. She was a stripper and a go-go dancer because, frankly, the rent doesn't pay itself. When she says she "was a hoe" in the song, she isn't just talking about sex; she’s talking about the grind. She’s talking about doing whatever was necessary to survive and provide for her family before she found a microphone.
Why the Song Exploded
It wasn't just the lyrics. It was the timing.
- The DJ Self Connection: Mariahlynn was discovered by DJ Self, a massive gatekeeper in the New York rap scene. He gave her the platform, even if their professional relationship on LHHNY was often described as "rocky" at best.
- The "Anti-Hero" Persona: Unlike some stars who try to appear perfect, Mariahlynn leaned into her flaws. She was loud. She was aggressive. She was real.
- Viral Potential: In 2015, the song became a massive club anthem. It has since racked up over 50 million streams and views across various platforms.
The song functioned as a confession. By admitting to her past before anyone else could "expose" her, she took the power away from her critics. It’s a classic hip-hop move, but she did it with a specific New Jersey grit that felt different from the Atlanta or LA sounds dominating the charts at the time.
Breaking Down the "Once Upon a Time" Lyrics
The song is short—only about 2 minutes and 36 seconds—but it packs a lot into that runtime. Produced by ThirstPro, the beat is minimalist, which allows her voice to stay front and center.
"I won’t take it back / 'Cause I did the shit."
That’s the core of the track. Total ownership.
The lyrics move from the "Once upon a time" hook into a series of bars about financial independence. She talks about "wanting yo money" and "ripping a nigga of his benefits." It’s aggressive "get-money" music. While some listeners found it "cringe-worthy" (a term often thrown around on the Love & Hip Hop Wiki), others saw it as a feminist anthem for the disenfranchised. She even makes a random, hilarious reference to turning a girl into "Ellen DeGeneres," showcasing that weird, sporadic humor that made her a fan favorite on VH1.
The Love & Hip Hop Effect
You can't talk about this song without talking about the show. Love & Hip Hop: New York Season 6 was basically the Mariahlynn and Cardi B show. While Cardi eventually skyrocketed to global superstardom, Mariahlynn became the "Blonde Bomber," the reliable firebrand of the cast.
"Once Upon a Time" was her calling card. It gave her a storyline. It gave her a reason to be in the studio with DJ Self and a reason to clash with other artists like BBOD or Moe Money. The drama was constant. Remember the contract wars? The fights with Cisco Rosado? Through all of it, that one song remained her "proof of concept" that she actually belonged in the booth, not just on a reality set.
What Happened After the Fame?
A lot of fans wonder if she ever followed it up. The short answer: She tried.
She released The Blonde Bomber in 2017, which featured tracks like "Too Much Money" and "Never Bitch." She even got a Remy Ma feature on "Tab Reloaded" in 2018. That’s not a small feat. Getting a co-sign from Remy Ma in New York is like getting a key to the city.
However, the industry is brutal. Mariahlynn chose to stay independent after declining certain deals that didn't feel right. She wanted creative control. In 2022, she actually re-released "Once Upon a Time" as a single on digital platforms to reclaim her royalties and ensure the "Gwinin Entertainment" era didn't leave her behind financially.
The 2026 Perspective
Looking back from today, Once Upon a Time Mariah Lynn serves as a time capsule for a specific era of New York rap. It was the bridge between the old-school "street" rap and the new-school "viral" rap.
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She’s still active. You might have seen her on Baddies East or Baddies Caribbean more recently. She’s still the same Mariah—blunt, platinum blonde, and ready to fight for her spot. But "Once Upon a Time" remains her definitive work. It’s the song that took a girl from the foster care system in Jersey and put her on a stage where millions of people knew her name.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Artists
If you’re looking at Mariahlynn’s trajectory as a blueprint, there are a few real-world takeaways:
- Own Your Narrative: Mariahlynn beat the gossip blogs to the punch by naming her "scandals" in her lyrics first. If you tell the story, you control the ending.
- Leverage Visual Media: The song wouldn't have been a hit without the Love & Hip Hop platform. In 2026, this means using TikTok and Reels to build the character before the song even drops.
- Acronyms Matter: Turning a negative word into a "brand motto" (like H.O.E.) is a classic marketing tactic that creates conversation and "merch-able" moments.
- Persistence is Key: Despite the "karaoke" labels from critics, she has maintained a career for over a decade in an industry that usually forgets people in fifteen minutes.
Mariahlynn’s story isn't a fairy tale, despite the song's title. It’s a survival guide. Whether you love the song or hate it, you have to respect the hustle.
To dive deeper into the technical side of her career, you can examine her discography on platforms like Last.fm or Shazam, where her streaming numbers continue to grow as new generations discover the LHHNY archives. Watching her original freestyle on VladTV also provides a lot of context for the "Hustle Over Everything" philosophy that fueled her rise.