Once Upon a Time

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 niggas 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
Shit 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 bitches, 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, fuck 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 jeweled up, muthafucka, 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 shitted on him
And it also goes out to me
And everybody who shitted 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 shit, dirt
They always gon' be dirt
And they still dirt
Dirt-ass