A Dream
Jay-Z & Notorious BIG Lyrics
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Last night I had a dream
Thoughts was racing through my head
It was all a dream
Felt so real to me
This is what was said
"Had a dream," I said, "'Bout who he said?"
"Dig what he said", "Proceed," he said
"Indeed," I said, so, breathe I did
"Don't repeat what I say," I said, he said nothing
He agreed with his head, he just nodded like this
What I believe to be a yes I repeated what was said
"It came to me like a whisper last evening," I said
"What's the deal playboy?" was the greeting he said
First thing I wanted to know, what's the reason he was dead
"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems, better believe it," he said
"Careful what you wish for you might receive it," he said
"I see," I said, "jealousy," I said
"Got the whole industry mad at me," I said
Then B.I. said, "Hov' remind yourself
Nobody built like you, you designed yourself"
"I agree," I said, "My one of a kind self"
Get stoned every day like Jesus did
"What he said," I said, has been said before
"Just keep doing your thing," he said, say no more
Was it all a dream
Was it all a dream, was it all a dream
Was it all a dream
Was it all a dream, was it all a dream
It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up! magazine
Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
Hanging pictures on my wall
Every Saturday, "Rap Attack," Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock
Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack
With the hat to match
Remember Rappin' Duke? "Duh-ha, duh-ha"
You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far
Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
Time to get paid, blow up like the
Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
Peace to Ron G, Brucey bB, Kid Capri
Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky
I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
Call the crib, same number same hood, it's all good
Uh, and if you don't know, now you know, nigga
Was it all a dream
Was it all a dream, was it all a dream
Was it all a dream (was it a dream)
Was it all a dream, was it all a dream
(It was all a dream)
(It was all)
(It was all, a dream)
(It was all a dream)
(It was all, a dream)
(It was all)
"I see," I said, "jealousy," I said
"Got the whole industry mad at me," I said
Then B.I. said, "Hov' remind yourself
Nobody built like you, you designed yourself"
"I agree," I said, "My one of a kind self"
Get stoned every day like Jesus did
"What he said," I said, has been said before
"Just keep doing your thing," he said, say no more
The lyrics of "A Dream" by Jay-Z and Notorious BIG reflect on the lives of the two rappers, and the struggles they experienced in their careers. The first part of the song is a conversation between Jay-Z and the late Notorious BIG, where they talk about the latter's death and the pressures of success. BIG advises Jay-Z to keep doing his own thing and not to worry about the jealousy and resentment of others.
The second part of the song is a reflection by Jay-Z on his own journey to success, starting with his early days as a fan of hip-hop, listening to Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D on the radio. He talks about his love for music, and the struggles he faced before finally achieving success as a rapper. Overall, the song is a reflection on the ups and downs of life and the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
It was all a dream
This is a story about a dream Jay-Z had.
Last night I had a dream
Jay-Z dreamt last night about Notorious BIG.
Thoughts was racing through my head
Jay-Z's mind was racing during his dream.
It was all a dream
Again, this reinforces that this is a story about a dream.
Felt so real to me
Despite being a dream, it felt very real to Jay-Z.
This is what was said
Jay-Z is about to recount what happened in his dream.
"Had a dream," I said, "'Bout who he said?"
Jay-Z is telling Notorious BIG about his dream.
"'Bout B.I.G.," I said, "That's big he said"
Jay-Z is telling Notorious BIG that he dreamt about him.
"Dig what he said", "Proceed," he said
Notorious BIG wants Jay-Z to tell him more about his dream.
"Indeed," I said, so, breathe I did
Jay-Z takes a breath before continuing his dream story.
"Don't repeat what I say," I said, he said nothing
Jay-Z is telling Notorious BIG that what he's about to say is confidential.
He agreed with his head, he just nodded like this
Notorious BIG silently agreed to withhold the information.
What I believe to be a yes I repeated what was said
Jay-Z assumed Notorious BIG was giving his agreement, so he repeated what was said.
"It came to me like a whisper last evening," I said
Jay-Z is explaining how the dream came to him.
"What's the deal playboy?" was the greeting he said
Notorious BIG greeted Jay-Z in the dream.
First thing I wanted to know, what's the reason he was dead
Jay-Z wanted to know the reason for Notorious BIG's death.
"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems, better believe it," he said
Notorious BIG gave an explanation for why his death occurred.
"Careful what you wish for you might receive it," he said
Notorious BIG warned Jay-Z about the dangers of success.
"I see," I said, "jealousy," I said
Jay-Z recognizes that jealousy played a role in Notorious BIG's issues.
"Got the whole industry mad at me," I said
Jay-Z understands the struggles of being in the music industry.
Then B.I. said, "Hov' remind yourself
Notorious BIG starts to give some advice to Jay-Z.
Nobody built like you, you designed yourself"
Notorious BIG is saying Jay-Z is unique and self-created.
"I agree," I said, "My one of a kind self"
Jay-Z takes Notorious BIG's advice and acknowledges his individuality.
Get stoned every day like Jesus did
Jay-Z makes a reference to Jesus smoking marijuana.
"What he said," I said, has been said before
Jay-Z is acknowledging Notorious BIG gave him familiar advice.
"Just keep doing your thing," he said, say no more
Notorious BIG encourages Jay-Z to keep doing what he's doing.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9
Written by: Christopher Wallace, James Mtume, Jean Claude Olivier, Sean Puffy Combs, Shawn Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind