“In the era when Meek was really coming up and getting his stripes, Meek wasn’t even the hottest boul.
He was one of more than a few seeking to escape the streets and find stardom, despite coming from a city that wasn’t always known for its advertised brotherly love. At the time, Meek Mill was a constant figure in the city’s next up-and-coming rap scene. His Philly peers, like local rap legends Reed Dollaz, Joey Jihad, E-Ness and Vodka, are now relics of the blog era. A Philadelphia native, Meek Mill first began making waves outside of the city in the mid-2000s, when the internet connected rap fans across the globe. Back in 2012, Meek Mill was due for a record like “Dreams and Nightmares.” It had been bubbling his entire career. The gift of hindsight is vital when looking back at a decade of Meek Mill’s most remarkable song.
Nearly every descriptor that’s ever been bestowed on the City of Brotherly Love reverberates in the song: Gritty. When Meek Mill was thrown in prison for a parole violation in 2017 and sentenced to two to four years in prison, the song became a rallying cry for the Eagles, who would capture their first Super Bowl title in 2018. Still, the track’s relevance in rap circles pales compared with what it means to the cultural lifeblood of Philadelphia. Drake - years before his infamous falling-out and eventual reunion with Meek Mill - dubbed the song “ one of the best rap moments of our generation.” Meek Mill performed the song at the NBA All-Star Game, and recently, on Monday Night Football. Los Angeles Laker LeBron James has used it as a hymn to reflect on his career. Though “Dreams and Nightmares” is Philly to its core, the song’s appeal is far-reaching.
#Dreams and nightmares album cover 400x400 movie
What the world loves about the Rocky movie franchise exists in this song - only its origin story for “Dreams and Nightmares” is on Berks Street in North Philadelphia. “Dreams and Nightmares” is Meek Mill’s story, sure, but it’s also a quintessential underdog anthem. The song is so beloved, playing it at gatherings is a must, which is a testament to its staying power.
As soon as the song drops, people rap along to it passionately, no matter where they are: cookouts, parties, homecomings, even weddings. The first few seconds of “Dreams and Nightmares” establishes its tone, similar to what Juvenile’s “ Back That Azz Up” does at parties, or UGK and OutKast’s “ International Players Anthem (I Choose You)” does, well, just about anywhere. “Most know how it feels to ‘see your dreams unfold’ and ‘nightmares come true.’ ” “The reason ‘Dreams and Nightmares’ resonates is because we literally know how it feels to be counted out,” said Al Torrance, a high school teacher and unofficial historian of Philadelphia’s rap scene. Ten years after its release, “Dreams and Nightmares” still gets just about any crowd hype. The song is a survival story that not only puts Meek Mill’s life on wax, but also speaks to the harrowing times that gave the track its vibrancy. But the selling point of “Dreams and Nightmares” is the story of its creation. Meek Mill’s signature has always been his own twist on the art of storytelling.
In a genre with no shortage of underdog stories, Meek Mill’s “ Dreams and Nightmares” stands out. Hip Hop at 50 is our yearlong look at the people, sound, art, and impact of hip-hop culture on the world.
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