It Was All a Dream

“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 as one of the most influential artists in hip-hop history.

Based on extensive interviews with those who knew and loved Biggie, including neighbors, friends, DJs, party promoters, journalists, and key figures from Brooklyn's hip-hop community, 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, East Coast hip-hop, and 1990s music culture, as well as 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 an award-winning sports and culture journalist and commentator on hip-hop, sports, race, and popular