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 [x2]

[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