Once Upon A Time
The King Lyrics

At once upon a time I was down in the dumps
In the past, I was feeling very depressed

Wasn't really makin loot, troops played me like a chump
I wasn't making much money, and people took advantage of me

Everybody else had cribs and cars
Other people had houses and cars, but not me

I used to be a star, but I wasn't gettin far
I used to be successful, but now I wasn't going anywhere

I had a lotta girls, now I don't have none
I used to have a lot of girlfriends, but now I have none

Even my Undercover Lover said, "Later, Sun"
Even my secret lover didn't want to be with me anymore

Whatever happened to the fans that loved me so much?
I wonder what happened to the people who used to love my music

I didn't fall off, I know I didn't lose my touch
I was still talented, I just lacked opportunities

My money got lower and my friends got lesser
I had less money and fewer friends than before

My beeper wasn't beepin, so I kept it on the dresser
No one was calling me, so my beeper was unused

At home, what's the use, I was dead on juice
I was bored and unproductive at home

But at one time I was kickin like Bruce
I used to be strong and powerful

What goes up must come down
You can't be successful forever

Jumpin on the 2 train and maintain Downtown
I was taking the subway to downtown and trying to stay positive

Brothers who ran to me now run from me
People used to come to me, but now they avoid me

My wears was worn out, my kicks looked bummy
My clothes and shoes were old and looked bad

I couldn't get a job, yo, they thought I was jokin
I couldn't find work, and people didn't take me seriously

Started losin weight and niggas said I was smokin
I lost weight, and people thought I was using drugs

Never that, but I was livin fat
I wasn't using drugs, but I used to live well

Then again, I had to tighten up a notch on my hat
I had to adjust my lifestyle to my new circumstances

Money was a problem, women was a problem
I had financial and relationship problems

Family couldn't help em, friends couldn't solve em
Neither my family nor my friends could help me out

I hit rock bottom, spent my last dime
I reached my lowest point and had no money left

Wasn't doin jack once upon a time
I wasn't doing anything productive in the past

Once upon a, once upon a, once upon a time
In the past, a long time ago

Once upon a time not long ago
In the recent past

Once upon a time things really looked all in
In the past, everything looked perfect

Way back then, but I recall y'all when
Back in those days, but I remember all of you

Shit got hectic, I didn't lose faith
Things got crazy, but I didn't lose hope

Before I had ki's, now I couldn't get a eight
I used to have access to drugs, but not anymore

Not even on consignment, my game wasn't good
I couldn't sell drugs on consignment, I wasn't good at it

So I snapped outta that, called Boy in the Hood
I got out of that business and called a friend for help

Big shot, notorious, undercover gangster
I became an important and respected person

Four fly brothers I can really give thanks to
I'm grateful for four close friends who helped me out

Run my own company, Money Bag Records
I started my own record label

Now I'm makin moves like a king in checkers
I'm making big moves and succeeding

I'm back with [Name] in the land of milk and honey
I reunited with someone in a prosperous land

So later for the bitches, now it's all about the money
I don't care about women now, I'm focused on making money

The kids with the cars who couldn't come and get me
The people who used to not have cars, and couldn't pick me up, now have them

Because of what I'm drivin they be strivin to get with me
They want to be friends with me because of my car

And ehm, I know the flava, now they caught the vaps'
I know what's trendy, and they're trying to catch up

Gold went the 12 inch, platinum went the tapes
My music sales increased from gold to platinum

Rappers used to say 'what's up' and keep movin on
Other rappers used to ignore me and keep walking

Today they want to jock me (Hey yo, what up, Sun Born?)
Now they want to be my friend and hang out with me

But when I wasn't makin noise they forgot I emcee
When I wasn't popular, they forgot about me as a rapper

So I flipped it 'strictly business' like EPMD
I changed my focus to just making money, like the rap group EPMD

It doesn't matter what they say about me now, cause I got it good
I'm doing well now, despite what others may say

I'm the man, fuck the Boys in the Hood
I'm successful and don't care about my past hardships

Oh, you're my man now, partners in crime?
Are we friends and working together now?

All that's dead, cause that was once upon a time
We used to be friends, but that's in the past now

Rich man, poor man, beggar man, door man
People of all different social classes

Open my door, I'm a star once more, and
I'm popular again, and people want to see me

Life is twice as nice with juice in my cup
I'm happier when I'm drinking

Like the Jefferson's I'm movin on Up-
I'm moving up in the world, like the TV show character George Jefferson

town in pursuit of the loot and the boots
I'm going to the city to make money and find nice shoes

I'm a one man group, so to hell with the troops
I'm independent and don't need anyone else's help

Remembered Sun-Dulah, now they call him Big Willie
I was once called Sun-Dulah, now I'm referred to as Big Willie

Respect came quick I'm like [Name] from _The Bully_
I gained respect quickly, like a character in the movie The Bully

Gettin mad respect, and I collect P.C.
I'm gaining a lot of respect, and also money (P.C.)

Every week I come around, clowns hit me with a g
Every week I come around, people give me money (g) to show respect

The world was yours, now it's mine, cause I took it back
I regained control and power in the world

All jeweled up, muthafucka, what you lookin at?
I'm dressed up with lots of jewelry and look good

Now I be dissin, before you wouldn't listen
I'm insulting people now, despite them ignoring me before

Now you work for me and don't breathe without permission
Now people work for me and I have control over them

Once upon a time I was down in the dumps
In the past, I was feeling very depressed

Today I'm livin large as if my last name was Trump
Now I'm very wealthy and successful