It Was All a Dream
Justin Tinsley
Journalist Justin Tinsley’s It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend. It is based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists. And it places Biggie’s life in context, both within the history of rap but also the wider cultural and political forces that shaped him, including Caribbean immigration, the Reagan era disinvestment in public education, street life, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and the booming, creative, and influential 1990s music industry.
"It Was All A Dream is a must-read for any hip-hop fan who seeks to understand the journey of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. There are a number of important, never-been-told-before stories that Justin Tinsley deftly weaves throughout this biography to create a thorough, brilliant account of the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G."―Brian Nolan, Executive Vice-President, Motown Records
The Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most charismatic and talented artists of the 1990s. Born Christopher Wallace and raised in Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie lived an almost archetypal rap life: young trouble, drug dealing, guns, prison, a giant hit record, the wealth and international superstardom that came with it, then an early violent death. Biggie released his first record, Ready to Die, in 1994, when he was only 22. Less than three years later, he was killed just days before the planned release of his second record Life After Death.
This is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he has left behind.
Duration - 8h 36m.
Author - Justin Tinsley.
Narrator - Dion Graham.
Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023.
Copyright - © 2022 Justin Tinsley ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
Journalist Justin Tinsley’s It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend. It is based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists. And it places Biggie’s life in context, both within the history of rap but also the wider cultural and political forces that shaped him, including Caribbean immigration, the Reagan era disinvestment in public education, street life, the war on drugs, mass incarceration, and the booming, creative, and influential 1990s music industry. "It Was All A Dream is a must-read for any hip-hop fan who seeks to understand the journey of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. There are a number of important, never-been-told-before stories that Justin Tinsley deftly weaves throughout this biography to create a thorough, brilliant account of the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G."―Brian Nolan, Executive Vice-President, Motown Records The Notorious B.I.G. was one of the most charismatic and talented artists of the 1990s. Born Christopher Wallace and raised in Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, Brooklyn, Biggie lived an almost archetypal rap life: young trouble, drug dealing, guns, prison, a giant hit record, the wealth and international superstardom that came with it, then an early violent death. Biggie released his first record, Ready to Die, in 1994, when he was only 22. Less than three years later, he was killed just days before the planned release of his second record Life After Death. This is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he has left behind. Duration - 8h 36m. Author - Justin Tinsley. Narrator - Dion Graham. Published Date - Thursday, 19 January 2023. Copyright - © 2022 Justin Tinsley ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:16
Introduction
Duration:00:19:00
Chapter 1: Coming to America
Duration:00:20:31
Chapter 2: Voletta, Christopher, and Brooklyn
Duration:00:37:35
Chapter 3: A Whole New World
Duration:00:34:35
Chapter 4: Real Crack, Real Money
Duration:00:39:46
Chapter 5: Life in the Game
Duration:00:33:49
Chapter 6: The Tape and the Column
Duration:00:29:18
Chapter 7: Harlem, the Mecca, and a Guy Named Puffy
Duration:00:41:39
Chapter 8: The Decision: Streets or Rap?
Duration:00:29:31
Chapter 9: Two Bubbling Superpowers
Duration:00:38:00
Chapter 10: Fun Times and Big Problems
Duration:00:40:19
Chapter 11: Matters of the Heart
Duration:00:20:12
Chapter 12: Word on Road
Duration:00:25:54
Chapter 13: Friend of Mine
Duration:00:38:34
Chapter 14: The Chain Reaction
Duration:00:24:52
Chapter 15: How You Livin', Biggie Smalls?
Duration:00:38:56
Chapter 16: Growing Pains
Duration:00:59:31
Chapter 17: All Eyez on Mayhem
Duration:00:24:33
Chapter 18: Death, Near Death, and Rebirth
Duration:00:30:35
Chapter 19: "I Want My Spot Back"
Duration:00:28:09
Chapter 20: The Last Week
Duration:00:26:50
Chapter 21: Long Kiss Goodnight
Duration:00:29:32
Chapter 22: The Life After His Death
Duration:00:19:16
Chapter 23: C.J.'s a Man Now
Duration:00:20:21
Acknowledgments
Duration:00:00:17
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:34