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]
