It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him
Justin Tinsley
May 2022 · ABRAMS
star
1 review
Ebook
352
Pages
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About this ebook
"This book accomplishes the impossible because it satisfies both hard-core Biggie fans and casual observers. The writing is beautiful, and personal. Justin takes us on a vulnerable journey and dares us to consider Biggie in a way that is broader, nuanced and more complete." ―Jemele Hill, contributing writer at the Atlantic
This compelling biography by sports and culture journalist Justin Tinsley is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he left behind.
Based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists, It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend.
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.
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.
Author Justin Tinsley is known for his work as a sports and culture journalist, particularly at Disney's Andscape (formerly The Undefeated), where he has been a senior reporter since 2015 He is widely recognized for his insightful commentary at the intersection of sports, race, and pop culture, covering figures like Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, Jay-Z, and Malcolm X.
This compelling biography by sports and culture journalist Justin Tinsley is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he left behind.
Based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, and journalists, It Was All a Dream is a fresh, insightful telling of the life beyond the legend.
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.
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.
Author Justin Tinsley is known for his work as a sports and culture journalist, particularly at Disney's Andscape (formerly The Undefeated), where he has been a senior reporter since 2015 He is widely recognized for his insightful commentary at the intersection of sports, race, and pop culture, covering figures like Muhammad Ali, Serena Williams, Jay-Z, and Malcolm X.
"This book accomplishes the impossible because it satisfies both hard-core Biggie fans and casual observers. The writing is beautiful, and personal. Justin takes us on a vulnerable journey and dares us to consider Biggie in a way that is broader, nuanced and more complete." ―Jemele Hill, contribu...
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About the author
Justin Tinsley is a senior sports and culture reporter with ESPN's The Undefeated. In his six years with the company, Tinsley has written thought-provoking commentary and journalism on a range of subjects including Marvin Gaye, Malcom X, James Baldwin, Serena Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and Cardi B, with a focus on the intersection of sports, race, and culture. He is a regular panelist on ESPN's daily sports debate talk show Around the Horn. A graduate of Hampton University and Georgetown University, he lives in Washington, DC.
Justin Tinsley is a senior sports and culture reporter with ESPN's The Undefeated. In his six years with the company, Tinsley has written thought-provoking commentary and journalism on a range of subjects including Marvin Gaye, Malcom X, James Baldwin, Serena Williams, Kendrick Lamar, and Cardi B...
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