A Dream
Jay-Z [feat. Faith Evans & The Notorious B.I.G.] Lyrics


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It was all a dream
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?"
"'Bout B.I.G.," I said, "That's big 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

Overall Meaning

In Jay-Z's song "A Dream," the lyrics explore the concept of dreams and the power of self-confidence and individuality. The song begins with Jay-Z describing a dream he had where he converses with the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In the dream, Jay-Z asks Biggie about the reasons for his death, to which Biggie responds that it was due to the pitfalls of success and fame.


Biggie advises Jay-Z to be cautious about his desires and to remain true to himself despite jealousy and criticism from the industry. He reminds Jay-Z that he is unique and has built his own path to success. Jay-Z agrees with Biggie, acknowledging his individuality and embracing his own identity. The song ends with Jay-Z reflecting on his rise in the music industry and his knowledge that he has surpassed all expectations, cementing his presence as a significant figure in hip-hop.


Overall, "A Dream" conveys the message of staying authentic and true to oneself while navigating the challenges of fame and success. It highlights the importance of individuality and self-belief in the face of industry pressures and external expectations.


Line by Line Meaning

It was all a dream
Everything I experienced seemed like a figment of my imagination


Last night I had a dream
During the previous night, I had a vivid dream


Thoughts was racing through my head
My mind was filled with racing and overwhelming thoughts


Felt so real to me
The dream felt incredibly authentic and true


This is what was said
These are the exact words that were spoken


"Had a dream," I said, "'Bout who he said?"
I expressed that I had a dream about someone, inquiring who that person might be


"'Bout B.I.G.," I said, "That's big he said"
I informed that the dream involved The Notorious B.I.G., highlighting its significance


"Dig what he said", "Proceed," he said
I encouraged understanding and continued with what he shared


"Indeed," I said, so, breathe I did
I acknowledged his statement and took a moment to breathe and reflect


"Don't repeat what I say," I said, he said nothing
I urged myself not to disclose his words, but he remained silent


He agreed with his head, he just nodded like this
He expressed agreement non-verbally by nodding his head


What I believe to be a yes I repeated what was said
Believing his nod to signify agreement, I reiterated his previous words


"It came to me like a whisper last evening," I said
I explained that the dream came to me subtly, like a whisper, the previous evening


"What's the deal playboy?" was the greeting he said
He greeted me by asking about my situation and well-being, using the term 'playboy'


First thing I wanted to know, what's the reason he was dead
My initial query was to understand the cause of his death


"Mo' Money, Mo' Problems, better believe it," he said
He replied that the accumulation of wealth often brings additional troubles and advised me to believe it


"Careful what you wish for you might receive it," he said
He cautioned me to be cautious about my desires as I might actually obtain them


"I see," I said, "jealousy," I said
I acknowledged and shared my perception of jealousy


"Got the whole industry mad at me," I said
I admitted that my actions had caused resentment and anger throughout the entire industry


Then B.I. said, "Hov' remind yourself
The Notorious B.I.G. then replied, instructing me to remember and reinforce


Nobody built like you, you designed yourself"
He assured me that I am unique and have crafted my own identity


"I agree," I said, "My one of a kind self"
I expressed my agreement, acknowledging that I am indeed an individual like no other


Get stoned every day like Jesus did
I make a reference to regularly consuming drugs, comparing it to Jesus' alleged behavior


"What he said," I said, has been said before
I noted that the sentiments expressed by him have been previously expressed


"Just keep doing your thing," he said, say no more
He encouraged me to continue pursuing my path and creations without further explanation


It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up! magazine
Recalling my past, I reveal that I would read Word Up! magazine


Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
I recollect seeing Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D together in a luxurious limousine


Hanging pictures on my wall
I reminisce about decorating my wall with pictures


Every Saturday, "Rap Attack," Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
Every Saturday, I would listen to the radio show 'Rap Attack,' hosted by Mr. Magic and featuring Marley Marl


I let my tape rock 'til my tape popped
I would play my cassette tape until it reached its end, even if it eventually wore out


Smokin' weed and bamboo, sippin' on private stock
I confess to smoking marijuana and consuming alcoholic beverages, specifically private stock


Way back, when I had the red and black lumberjack
In the past, I owned a red and black lumberjack-styled jacket


With the hat to match
I completed the outfit with a matching hat


Remember Rappin' Duke? "Duh-ha, duh-ha"
I reminisce about the rapper Rappin' Duke and his signature catchphrase 'Duh-ha, duh-ha'


You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far
I remark that no one could have foreseen hip-hop reaching such great heights


Now I'm in the limelight 'cause I rhyme tight
I find myself in the spotlight now because my rhymes are impressively skillful


Time to get paid, blow up like the World Trade
I declare that it's time for me to receive financial success and become prominent, likening it to the explosive destruction of the World Trade Center


Born sinner, the opposite of a winner
I admit to being born with faults and struggles, the antithesis of someone who achieves victory


Remember when I used to eat sardines for dinner
I reminisce about a time when my financial situation was so poor that I had to eat sardines as a meal


Peace to Ron G, Brucey B, Kid Capri
I express greetings and respect to Ron G, Brucey B, and Kid Capri, influential figures in the music industry


Funkmaster Flex, Lovebug Starsky
I extend my acknowledgments to Funkmaster Flex and Lovebug Starsky, both noteworthy individuals


I'm blowin' up like you thought I would
I'm achieving great success and gaining fame, just as others believed I would


Call the crib, same number same hood, it's all good
I indicate that I can still be reached at the same address and phone number, implying that I remain true to my roots and haven't changed


Uh, and if you don't know, now you know, nigga
I assert that if anyone is unaware of my accomplishments, they should become informed, employing a term of familiarity


(It was all a dream)
Reiterating that everything I experienced was merely a dream


(It was all)
Echoing the notion that everything existed solely within my dream


(It was all, a dream)
Continuing to emphasize that the entirety of my experiences were fictional


(It was all a dream)
Reinforcing the fact that my dream was the sole source of my experiences


(It was all, a dream)
Repeatedly indicating that everything I encountered was a product of my imagination


(It was all)
Continuing to highlight the fantasy nature of my experiences


(It was all a dream)
Once again affirming that my dream was the origin of all my encounters


(It was all)
Continuing to reinforce the dreamlike quality of my experiences


(It was all)
Persistently emphasizing that everything existed solely within my dream


"I see," I said, "jealousy," I said
Acknowledging and uttering my observation of envy


"Got the whole industry mad at me," I said
Describing how my actions have provoked anger and resentment within the entire industry


Then B.I. said, "Hov' remind yourself
The Notorious B.I.G. responded by advising me to recall


Nobody built like you, you designed yourself"
He reassured me that I am unique and have shaped my own identity


"I agree," I said, "My one of a kind self"
I concurred with his statement, declaring that I am indeed an individual like no other


Get stoned every day like Jesus did
I assert my habit of consuming drugs regularly, drawing a comparison to Jesus' alleged behavior


"What he said," I said, has been said before
I acknowledged that the words he spoke have already been expressed previously


"Just keep doing your thing," he said, say no more
He encouraged me to continue pursuing my path and creations without providing further explanation




Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Cloud9
Written by: Christopher Wallace, James Mtume, Jean Claude Olivier, Sean Puffy Combs, Shawn Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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