Jay Z’s ‘Decoded’ ghost writer dream hampton has cancer
Noted author, filmmaker and cultural critic, dream hampton, has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
hampton made the startling announcement tonight on her Twitter page in between promoting her new film covering “Black August,” the yearly tribute concert benefitting political prisoners.
“I’ve been battling thyroid cancer all year. When I’m ready, I’ll write about it,” she tweeted this evening. In a follow-up tweet she wrote, “And I love Aretha more than alla ya’ll rolled up in one,” referring to the legendary soul singer who has pancreatic cancer.
In addition to making a name for herself as the first female editor at The Source magazine, hampton was also editor in chief of RapPages Magazine, and a contributing writer for Vibe, The Village Voice, The Detroit News, Harper’s Bazaar, Essence, among others.
Often described as “your favorite rapper’s, favorite writer,” hampton’s most recent gig was as ghost writer of Jay Z’s NY Times bestseller, Decoded.
In interviews addressing rumors that hampton was upset about Jay Z hogging all the credit, hampton humbly pointed out that Jay Z briefly mentions her in the acknowledgement section of the book.
dream hampton was born in Detroit and lived most of her adult life in Harlem and Brooklyn where she once filmed a young neighbor named Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace for a documentary class.
The two became close friends and Biggie named his only daughter, Tyanna Dream Wallace, after her.
…he was more my smoking partner, my buddy, my best friend. He talked me into having my daughter when I wasn’t sure that’s what I wanted to do. It was a great relationship. He agreed to be my daughter’s godfather. He named his daughter after me, Tyanna’s middle name. And [Tyanna] recently asked me to be her friend on Facebook. I almost cried, and I looked at her info and it’s like Tyanna Dream Wallace and her little interests…skateboarding and bright colors. She’s having a suburban life over in the Poconos. He would be so happy to see his children right now.
hampton publishes her name in lower case letters as a nod to feminist author bell hooks, an early influence. [link]
Related posts:
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- Jay Z’s ‘Decoded’ debuts at #3 on NY Times Bestseller’s List
- Medical Minute: Ovarian Cancer
- Remembering Biggie Smalls, 05.21.72 – 03.09.97
- ‘Kelly Bundy’ diagnosed with breast cancer
132 Responses to “Jay Z’s ‘Decoded’ ghost writer dream hampton has cancer”
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How sweet he named his daughter’s middle name after her. I pray she has a speedy recovery.
overwhelmed with all the sad news, terminal illnesses. i need a break.
According to Roger Friedman @showbiz411, he claims Aretha does NOT have pancreatic cancer. At least not “confirmed” via hospital reps in Detroit. Of course that doesnt mean she didnt have pre-cancerous tissue removed from the stomach region. Just sayin.
Great write up Sandra
I keep hearing Dream’s name but the most I’ve heard about her is she use to write for a hip hop magazine. I didn’t know she was apart of Biggie’s circle.
My prayers go out to Dream and Aretha (if true).
Oh and Jay is looking oh so.
in the pic above.
I see you getting your LL on.
Ladies Love Cool Jay.
She and Miss Aretha Frankling are in my prayers.
pointhimout says: overwhelmed with all the sad news, terminal illnesses. i need a break.
**********************************************
^ this ^
Interesting!
I’d have to agree with Iscream. Jay does look decent in this picture. I wish dream a speedy recovery…..Good Morning all!
all these sad news
I HATE CANCER
aww…i hope her and Aretha get all the way better soon
morn’ting folks!
Speakers going HAMMER! HAMMER! HAMMER! HAMMER!
Hey fam…whats goin on!
HI HIS YV!!
LAKES (Is it safe to
)
*does the head nod*
What it do Therapist…
It’s voting day
Hey His_Mommy623, Ace, therapist….errybody!!!
Morning y’all.
Why is her name uncapitalized like CB?
And Jay does look good up there.
Hey Ace, Yvonne & Ysooooo
HISSSSSSSSSSSSS!!
MOANIN FAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE-RAPIST
Mornin hun
How are you
How was your evening
How’s your mornin goin
Good I hope
CAN YOU TURN THAT DAM PIC AROUND!!!!!
Whats up Everybody!
Moanin BROWN.
Hey ALBoy.
whats up YSO
pointhimout says:
overwhelmed with all the sad news, terminal illnesses. i need a break.
Morning Peeps!
whats up Cfree
Good Morning @ Ms Cherry Halls
<======honey tea with Thera Flu
GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!!
Hey there Albizzle
@Alboy, u not feeling well this morn?
I have loved dream FOREVER!
for her recovery. Oh GOD….
I have major sads now…she is so YOUNG.
Secret
*a-town stompin* @Candayyyy!
I’m tew hungry!
****cartwheels into post with nothing but a candy cane in my mouth****
Look! It’s Candy Girl!!!!
*bankhead bouncing* His!
@ CFREE
@ ALBoy
No blogging for you today. Strictly bedrest and plenty of fluids
@ Cfree I been shaking and sweating all night and not in a good way.
@HIs whats up Ma
*workin in instructions for the final ballot…so we don’t have any “mishaps”*
*twirls around in my skirt made of christmas tree leaves* YVONNE!
***puts MAC lipglass on, puckers up***
Hey CFREE!!!
And I forgot to say GM to all…
If I am not mistaken, and I know folks will correct me…but wasn’t Saana Lathan’s character in “Brown Sugar” based on Ms. dream hampton? The female who had the unbelievable love of all things hip-hop? And yes Sandra she spells her name like that and in the Jay-Z book posts I kept thinking to myself that it is “dream” in lower case. Man I am blown away with this…just floored. I am rooting for you sis…get well!
@ His_Mommy623
Hello
***Puts on my Nurse Betty costume from Halloween***
ALBoy: What’s the matter boo? Flu’s gotcha down? Come over here, let me take care of you…..
@Secret I will be going back to the House at lunch so Im good.
@Candibfly we aint cool no mo or something?
Love Dream, she is a great writer and seems like such a good mother as well. I’m
for a speedy recovery for her and Aretha. This was a nice post as well Sandy.
@ Ace let me know when you finished I wanna gone vote before i leave thanks bruh
ummm i recall saying i wasn’t acknowledging ur existence after ur dispariging remarks
*flips hair and walks off in my ‘i love el’ one piece catsuit with authentic panther fur around the wrists and ankles*
Trying to smile and get to @ Yvonne but too weak coughing and sweating while still freezing cold
i’m going to vote for myself for every category
unless we can’t vote for ourselves 
then his and yvonne will have to do it
Oh I thought we had gotten past that. @ Ms red hots
Hey Kwall!!!
this bish Candi is a MESS
authentic panther fur even!
hello Secret, who are u and do u support white onesies? (i do)
@Al, get better soon
@candi, i will scratch yo back if u scratch mines grl! *raised brow*
Hey there Ms. Yvonne…how is ya? I am sitting over here trying to digest all this cancer news…JUST changed my gravi in honor of Ms. Aretha Franklin and now this…guess I gotta go find a gravi pic of dream now too…
I see you too @Kezi!
Kezi!! How are my babies??
@his i got u
Hey to everybody I missed earlier.
I have my campaign all planned out: Buttons, flyers,
bribes.@kwall: I’m well, just trying to stay warm. It’s a lil chilly out….
hey HIS, YSO, WHYVONNE 69 UMM 79, KAY WALL, CFREE, CANDY, ACE, AL B SURE, JOHNBOY, THELMA, PENNY, TOOTIE, ARNOLD, BUCKWHEAT………….
brown!
<—my long johns
“WHYVONNE 69 UMM 79″……*giggles*
@ candibfly
Hi Candi
Nice to meet you as well. I am the crazy yet quiet and mysterious one on here. I am not ashamed to admit it either 
MOrning @ Brown
I think we are suppose to capaign on Friday per Ace
@Yso, im currently selling candy to raise funds for my campaign. wanna buy some peanut brittle? or a caramel covered turtle?
All of these people getting cancer! Rich or poor, its an equal opportunity disease. I pray for her and Aretha as well as the other un-named, unknown folk that have cancer.
hello Secret, who are u and do u support white onesies? (i do)
O, Al I’m so sorry the honey bunch isn’t feeling well, get better.
Yvonne *air kissies* don’t want mess up the DS’s
HIS & CANDBI *joins in doing the rag top*
@kwall Tom Joyner sounded so sad this am talking about Aretha you know she was one of the few if not only ppl he did not allow any jokes about.
Morning all
Hey Kwall!
Hiya Yvonne! The babies are well. The oldest are in school and Safi the lil itty bitty thing in the picture with me just turned one on Monday and is walking and talking like a pro since 10 months
Good morning all! I sure hope everybody’s feeling great! Read all that I missed yesterday and have the following to offer:
-Aretha: sure hope it isn’t true. Pancreatic cancer is THE worst to have. It took my grandmother in under 6 months time, same thing with Patrick Swayze. Even if you catch it at the earliest stages- the chances for survival are slim to none. I’ll keep Aretha in my prayers.
-dream: sure hope that isnt true as well. She’s hella young! Isn’t she like 35? I’ll pray for her as well and may she have a swift recovery.
-R.I.P. Elizabeth Edwards. B.I.H. John & Rielle….
-Soulja Boy’s time is up- thank the Lord. Now can we please run the clock on Waka, Wayne, Gucci, and a hot of other “c-rappers?”
-I doubt Oprah is gay. People say the same thing about me & my BFF (especially my fiance’) to the point now where we truly just let people think we are lovers. It’s sad that some people have never experienced having a “TRUE FRIEND” to the point where they feel that it can only be labeled as “homosexuality.”
-I LOVE Kanye! And I do agree that he is definitely a misunderstood artist….but….if you cannot tell that Kanye is battling some REAL demons right now, you are BLIND. I’ll pray for Kanye as well and I really hope he gets the counseling he needs soon because unfortunately, Donda cannot come back to save him although he so desperately needs it.
-@Kingston & Man: you are going to hell for yesterday and I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed that in her gravis, she seems to get more & more “alabaster” in complexion. I know my complexion also varies greatly depending on lighting and season, but she looked half-dead there.
-@Flo: Come back, bish!! Sorry I missed ya! I hope all is going well though!
-@Everybody else: HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Yso & Brown
@His
I love candy turtles. Yum. How much?
Would you care for a brownie? I made them myself.
Not the rag top…Man, I used to kill that dance. Be all up on one foot and all dat!!! ***looks for some Outkast music to get crunk to***
@ CFREE
I sure do support that
StillASassyOne says:
I was wondering if I was the only one who noticed that in her gravis, she seems to get more & more “alabaster” in complexion.
Why Sassy
whyyyy 
Got some bolding in these instructions i gotta do
@Kezi: One already!!
Dang, time really flies by…..
@Secret
@cfree what is the rag top?!
(cues B.O.B for Yvonne)
CFREE!!
If you vote for me, I promise a skripper pole in every post.
yeah @daisy i heard tom. and i almost had tears. talked to my dad last night and he is totally bummed OUT…i think he is the biggest aretha fan ever…convo with him is really what prompted me to change my gravi
@Yso…we kewl bew..i hope ur not tryna poison me lmao
Forgot to add I love Dream’s hair very cute n curly
@sassy souljah isn’t going anywhere he produces and makes his money from ringtones although I’m sure he expected to sell more I don’t think he has ever sold a ton of cds but I cld be wrong.
@ YSO you got my vote
i mean, why alabaster? :wails:
@ YSoSerious
I thought you was going to dance for me
FAK!
Hey SASO!!
(cuffs vial of arsenic)
@ALBoy
***carries a breakfast tray to AlBoy..bacon, scrambled eggs w/cheese, grits, toast covered in butter and Welch’s grape jam, a huge glass of orange juice with a Nyquil Cold & Flu gel cap on the side***
@ Yvonne I know it surely does, Shauny’s daughter just turned one as well. I think there were a couple of people that had babies around the same time on here.
Anyways how are you and your “big” babies doing?
@ Secret
I’s sorry. Here you go:
(Jersey fists pumps like crazy)
AL who’s supposed to be campaigning Friday?
I’m still tryna figure out what all I qualify for!
Any suggestions, anyone, anyone, anyone………………
yvonne79 says:
Not the rag top…Man, I used to kill that dance. Be all up on one foot and all dat!!! ***looks for some Outkast music to get crunk to***
*turns up bombs over baghdad*
@Yvonne thanks for caring
Stirs grits and eggs together breaks bacon over the top moves toast to insure no grits touch my toast (ruined if it does) Takes the Nyquil then proceeds to feed this cold.
@YSO, i can’t turn down a lifetime supply of skipper poles, u got my vote
@ Brown everybody who wants to be voted for something
I got you for the best off topic post for fruit roll ups of course
(looks at ALBoy’s breakfast in bed)
Um…Yvonne…I think I’m coming down with something too…(cough cough)*
*Can you make that bacon turkey and that toast French style with a pinch of cinnamon. Please and thanks.
@Kezi: Happy Belated Birthday to Lil’ Miss Safi. My kids are good. I woke up to my son taping a note on my laptop. Apparently he wants to have a sleepover for his 13th birthday party. It’s called the “Lights Out Extravaganza-Future Men of 2016″….the men will sleep over, play video games, eat junk (but not too much), watch sportscenter and scary movies…
@YSoSerious: Turkey bacon!!! We have nothing but pork in THIS house. Guess I’ll have to run to Publix and pick you up something.
*kicks off house shoes, looks for Nikes and a hoddie*
Would you like powdered sugar on your French toast?
Al B thank you! That should go down in SR history! If done right there is no limit to the pleasure that men will have!
Every man that get to experience that needs to send me 29.99!!!!!!!!
yvonne79 says:
@Kezi: Happy Belated Birthday to Lil’ Miss Safi. My kids are good. I woke up to my son taping a note on my laptop. Apparently he wants to have a sleepover for his 13th birthday party. It’s called the “Lights Out Extravaganza-Future Men of 2016?….the men will sleep over, play video games, eat junk (but not too much), watch sportscenter and scary movies…
_______________________________________
Thank You hun
That’s sooo cute! I like the name of his sleepover! You should do it, I love when kids get older because you tend to not spend as much on parties. A sleepover is sounds easy as pie 
@yvonne
Of course.
<—Fresh squeezed orange juice, no pulp.
WHYVONNE I’M SICK!
I HAVE A FEVER
I HAVE THE CHILLS
I’M SEEIN SPOT
*walks toward the light*
IS THAT YOU GRANNY
BUT YOU’VE BEEN DEAD FOR 20 YEARS……………
turkey bacon was the worst invention ever!
Hey ya’ll!
@Cfree & His: That’s what I would call that complexion! “Alabaster” or “Back From the Dead.” It looked very…unnatural. And did you look at the way the eyes were done? Hellafied computer editing. She went CRAZZZYYYYY in Photoshop.
I don’t know who this woman is and I denounce her association in any way with Jay Z but
Now that that’s out of the way. Good morning to the ladies.
**booty pinch on Candi**
@Brown
Oh yeah- did I ever get to thank you for the fruit roll-ups thing? I was only lurking that day….but because of you, my man buys fruit roll-ups on every market run now. I had to get two cavities sealed on my last dental visit because of that crap and I don’t even EAT CANDY!!
sup manuel *ball squeeze*
I love turkey bacon. But I wouldn’t push a piece of thick cut hickory smoked pig bacon off my plate.
@ Sassy
Another satisfied customer I see!
TELL THAT NICCAH HE OWE ME!
@Sassy
*swatting SASO like a fly* u cut the shyt right nao!
There’s a
about Keri on Chelsea. 
@Man, this blog is family oriented and ur gravi has stanky ways..
SASSY
I just like to share my knowledge so if I can help satisfy 1 man then my job is done but my mission is to satisfy many!
@Kezi: I plan giving him the greenlight. I think it’ll be fun!!!
SR AWARD NEWS!!!
Category Selection Now CLosed…
Voting ballots going out in next 15min
StillASassyOne says:
@Brown
Oh yeah- did I ever get to thank you for the fruit roll-ups thing? I was only lurking that day….but because of you, my man buys fruit roll-ups on every market run now. I had to get two cavities sealed on my last dental visit because of that crap and I don’t even EAT CANDY!!
December 9, 2010 at 9:48 am
***************
Hmmmm…..
I got you Brown!!!
@Brown
I will promptly tell him to send you a payment. Do you have a business card or something that we can pass around to friends?
kwall says:
And yes Sandra she spells her name like that and in the Jay-Z book posts I kept thinking to myself that it is “dream” in lower case.
_______________
I wasn’t aware of that until I did a little research last night. Also, it saddens me that women are in this post waving their panties in the air. Can we have a little respect for dream?
@Ace
I’m very excite.
Auntie has hit us with like 14 “none” sad posts so ya’ll can wave your panties else where…
can somsone please tellme which post we moving to…for future SR Award Updates…
@ Ace
I think you should try the Ciara post.
I love turkey bacon
@His
I was waving a “Get Well Soon” banner.
@Yso,
me too.
She seems like such a b*tch all the time…
My prayers go out to dream and her family. WOW!!!
Jeezz, I’m sorry to hear about both of these icons currently fighting cancer.
I also lost a family member this year to the diesease.
My prayers are with both of them and their families.