Read the Source article that the Notorious B.I.G. copied for Ten Crack Commandments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6rQCJwKJPA
One of Biggie’s best songs was also basically a rewrite of a listicle from The Source.
The song Ten Crack Commandments breaks down what a crack dealer has to do to stay successful and keep making money. It established Biggie’s credentials and became a classic. The
lyrics are a carefully chosen list of how a good crack dealer should behave. To be more specific, they were a carefully chosen list from the July, 1994 issue of The Source.
The article was part of a feature on ten years of crack, and a sidebar included the list. A copy is difficult to find online, but we used this video to write one. The list is attributed to KT. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the 1994 masthead, but KT deserves some credit for the classic list.
Warning: Because we’re including the lyrics below, there is strong language. The following is transcribed from the July, 1994 Issue of The Source, and we’ve inserted Biggie’s lyrics after each section.
A crack dealer’s Ten Commandments
Despite the rising number of young people who have lost their lives because of drug related activity, many still want to get involved in this madness. Some of the young people we spoke with felt, quite honestly, that no harm would befall them as long as they remained careful and cautious. We asked some experienced dealers about the steps they take to protect themselves. Hopefully, the extremes they go to in order to uphold the following “commandments” will deter someone who has entertained the idea of selling crack.
1. Never let anyone know how much money you have.
Money often breeds jealousy, especially if an associate, partner, or competitor learns that any one individual’s income is greater than their own.
Biggie: Rule Nombre Uno: never let no one know
How much dough you hold cause you know
The cheddar breed jealousy ‘specially
If that man fucked up, get yo’ ass stuck up
2. Never let anyone know what your next move will be.
If somebody knows what you are going to do, they can counter you or beat you at your own plan.
Biggie: Number 2: never let ‘em know your next move
Don’t you know Bad Boys move in silence and violence?
Take it from your highness
I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for they bricks and chips
3. Trust no one.
“Your own brother can set you up if he layin’ like that,” Ebony advised. “The only person you can trust is your own mother, and that’s if she knows what you’re doing. But other than that, nobody.”
Biggie: Number 3: never trust nobody
Your moms’ll set that ass up, properly gassed up
Hoodied and masked up, shit, for that fast buck
She be laying in the bushes to light that ass up
4. Never use what you sell.
Getting addicted while dealing is dangerous. A dealer could lose money or end up owing money for using what should have been sold.
Biggie: Number 4: I know you heard this before
“Never get high on your own supply”
5. Never give credit.
It is a given that when dealing with life and death matters, the stakes are too high. Money flows at too fast a pace for any addicts to handle debts. Allowing credit to others is not a safe bet either.
Biggie: (Biggie switches five and six on the list) Number 6: that goddamn credit? Dead it
You think a crackhead paying you back, shit forget it!
6. Never sell out of your home.
There is no better way to incriminate yourself.
Biggie: Number 5: never sell no crack where you rest at
I don’t care if they want a ounce, tell ‘em “bounce!”
7. Keep family and business separate.
If you respect your family, avoid doing anything that may involve them.
Biggie: 7: this rule is so underrated
Keep your family and business completely separated
Money and blood don’t mix like 2 dicks and no bitch
Find yourself in serious shit
8. Never park your stash on your person.
There must be a smarter place.
Biggie: Number 8: never keep no weight on you!
Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jums too
9. If you’re not being arrested, never be seen communicating with the police.
This is one of the best ways to fall suspect to being an informant. People who may otherwise “trust” you may choose to remain distant. This includes those who are “down” with you.
Biggie: Number 9 shoulda been Number 1 to me:
If you ain’t gettin’ bagged stay the fuck from police
If niggas think you snitchin’ they ain’t trying to listen
They be sittin’ in your kitchen, waiting to start hittin’
10. G.C.G.C. (Great Consignment, Grave Confinement)
If a supplier has enough confidence in a dealer, he/she may award drug supply on consignment. In other words, you pay after you sell the supply. However, failure to pay a debt may result in someone’s suffering consequences. Fail to play, gotta pay.
Biggie: Number 10: a strong word called “consignment”
Strictly for live men, not for freshmen
If you ain’t got the clientele, say “hell no!”
Cause they gon’ want they money rain sleet hail snow
