King Sun - Once Upon a Time lyrics

Ah yeah I like the way this is happenin This's one of them Uptown stories Just check it out [ VERSE 1 ] At once upon a time I was down in the dumps Wasn't really makin loot, troops played me like a chump Everybody else had cribs and cars I used to be a star, but I wasn't gettin far I had a lotta girls, now I don't have none Even my Undercover Lover said, "Later, Sun" Whatever happened to the fans that loved me so much? I didn't fall off, I know I didn't lose my touch My money got lower and my friends got lesser My beeper wasn't beepin, so I kept it on the dresser At home, what's the use, I was dead on juice But at one time I was kickin like Bruce What goes up must come down Jumpin on the 2 train and maintain Downtown Brothers who ran to me now run from me My wears was worn out, my kicks looked bummy I couldn't get a job, yo, they thought I was jokin Started losin weight and n***as said I was smokin Never that, but I was livin fat Then again, I had to tighten up a notch on my hat Money was a problem, women was a problem Family couldn't help em, friends couldn't solve em I hit rock bottom, spent my last dime Wasn't doin jack once upon a time [ Chorus ] Once upon a, once upon a, once upon a time Once upon a time not long ago (2x) [ VERSE 2 ] Once upon a time things really looked all in Way back then, but I recall y'all when sh** got hectic, I didn't lose faith Before I had ki's, now I couldn't get a eight Not even on consignment, my game wasn't good So I snapped outta that, called Boy in the Hood Big shot, notorious, undercover gangster Four fly brothers I can really give thanks to Run my own company, Money Bag Records Now I'm makin moves like a king in checkers I'm back with [Name] in the land of milk and honey So later for the b**hes, now it's all about the money The kids with the cars who couldn't come and get me Because of what I'm drivin they be strivin to get with me And ehm, I know the flava, now they caught the vaps' Gold went the 12 inch, platinum went the tapes Rappers used to say 'what's up' and keep movin on Today they wanna jock me (Hey yo, what up, Sun Born?) But when I wasn't makin noise they forgot I emcee So I flipped it 'strictly business' like EPMD It doesn't matter what they say about me now, cause I got it good I'm the man, f** the Boys in the Hood Oh, you're my man now, partners in crime? All that's dead, cause that was once upon a time [ Chorus ] [ VERSE 3 ] Rich man, poor man, beggar man, door man Open my door, I'm a star once more, and Life is twice as nice with juice in my cup Like the Jefferson's I'm movin on Up- Town in pursuit of the loot and the boots I'm a one man group, so to hell with the troops Remembered Sun-Dulah, now they call him Big Willie Respect came quick I'm like [Name] from _The Bully_ Gettin mad respect, and I collect P.C Every week I come around, clowns hit me with a g The world was yours, now it's mine, cause I took it back All j**eled up, muthaf**a, what you lookin at? Now I be dissin, before you wouldn't listen Now you work for me and don't breathe without permission Once upon a time I was down in the dumps Today I'm livin large as if my last name was Trump This piece goes out to my brother J.R. Gumbs And everybody who sh**ted on him And it also goes out to me And everybody who sh**ted on me But understand one thing Like they can't keep a good man down Just to let you know This goes out to the meadow From strictly ghetto They sh**, dirt They always gon' be dirt And they still dirt Dirt-a**