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  • It Was All a Dream

  • Biggie and the World That Made Him
  • Written by: Justin Tinsley
  • Narrated by: Dion Graham
  • Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (6 ratings)

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It Was All a Dream cover art

It Was All a Dream

Written by: Justin Tinsley
Narrated by: Dion Graham
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Publisher's Summary

From a talented young journalist on the rise, a deeply reported, timely new biography of the Notorious B.I.G., publishing for what would have been his 50th birthday.

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.

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. This is the story of where Biggie came from, the forces that shaped him, and the legacy he has left behind.

©2022 Justin Tinsley (P)2022 Spotify Audiobooks

What the critics say

“Tinsley’s sleek, effective biography introduces major figures in Wallace’s life, complete with interesting backstories, before we meet the influential rapper, giving readers a solid grounding in the pertinent context. A touching tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. balancing larger-than-life stories with poignant personal moments.” (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about It Was All a Dream

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B.I.G documentary or Crak documentary 🤔

Well written and read but more about NYC & the Crak era than it was about B.I.G.

READER: If you're unsure of the pronunciation of an artists name that's in a book about that specific craft, so your research next time.

Jeru the Damaja is pronounced; Jah-ru the Damage-ah ... so disrespectful. Be ashamed.

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