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by Justin Tinsley (Author)
Celebrated in hardcover, a deeply reported and richly textured biography of Christopher Wallace--now in paperback!
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.Author Biography
Justin Tinsley is a senior sports and culture reporter with ESPN's Andscape who writes on the intersection of sports, race, and culture. He is a regular panelist on ESPN's daily sports debate talk show Around the Horn and is the creator and host of The King of Crenshaw, a 30 for 30 podcast on the late rapper, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist Nipsey Hussle. A graduate of Hampton University and Georgetown University, he lives in Washington, DC.
Number of Pages: 352
Dimensions: 1.1 x 8.9 x 5.6 IN
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
