Wallace was born and raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. His debut album Ready to Die (1994) made him a central figure in East Coast hip hop and increased New York City's visibility in the genre at a time when West Coast hip hop dominated the mainstream. The following year, he led Junior M.A.F.I.A.—a protégé group composed of his childhood friends—to chart success. In 1996, while recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip hop feud. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His second album, Life After Death (1997), released two weeks later, rose to No. 1 on the U.S. album charts. In 2000, it became one of the few hip-hop albums to be certified Diamond.
Wallace was noted for his "loose, easy flow"; dark, semi-autobiographical lyrics; and storytelling abilities, which focused on crime and hardship. Three more albums have been released since his death, and he has certified sales of over 17 million records in the United States, including 13.4 million albums.
Wallace was born at St. Mary's Hospital in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on May 21, 1972, the only child of Jamaican immigrant parents. His mother, Voletta Wallace, was a preschool teacher, while his father, Selwyn George Latore, was a welder and politician. His father left the family when Wallace was two years old, and his mother worked two jobs while raising him. Wallace grew up at 226 St. James Place in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, near the border with Bedford-Stuyvesant. Wallace excelled at Queen of All Saints Middle School winning several awards as an English student. He was nicknamed "Big" because he was overweight by the age of 10. Wallace said he started dealing drugs when he was around the age of 12. His mother, often away at work, did not know of his drug dealing until he was an adult. He began rapping as a teenager, entertaining people on the streets, and performed with local groups the Old Gold Brothers and the Techniques. At his request, Wallace transferred from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School to George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where future rappers DMX, Jay-Z, and Busta Rhymes were also attending. According to his mother, Wallace was still a good student but developed a "smart-ass" attitude at the new school. At age 17, Wallace dropped out of school and became more involved in crime. In 1989, he was arrested on weapons charges in Brooklyn and sentenced to five years' probation. In 1990, he was arrested on a violation of his probation. A year later, Wallace was arrested in North Carolina for dealing crack cocaine. He spent nine months in jail before making bail.
Wallace's lyrical topics and themes included mafioso tales ("Niggas Bleed"), his drug-dealing past ("10 Crack Commandments"), materialistic bragging ("Hypnotize"), as well as humor ("Just Playing (Dreams)"), and romance ("Me & My Bitch"). Rolling Stone named Wallace in 2004 as "one of the few young male songwriters in any pop style writing credible love songs".
Guerilla Black, in the book How to Rap, describes how Wallace was able to both "glorify the upper echelon" and "[make] you feel his struggle". According to Touré of The New York Times in 1994, Wallace's lyrics " autobiographical details about crime and violence with emotional honesty". Marriott of The New York Times (in 1997) believed his lyrics were not strictly autobiographical and wrote he "had a knack for exaggeration that increased sales". Wallace described his debut as "a big pie, with each slice indicating a different point in my life involving bitches and niggaz... from the beginning to the end".
Ready to Die is described by Rolling Stone as a contrast of "bleak" street visions and being "full of high-spirited fun, bringing the pleasure principle back to hip-hop". AllMusic write of "a sense of doom" in some of his songs and the NY Times note some being "laced with paranoia"; Wallace described himself as feeling "broke and depressed" when he made his debut. The final song on the album, "Suicidal Thoughts", featured Wallace contemplating suicide and concluded with him committing the act.
On Life After Death, Wallace's lyrics went "deeper". Krims explains how upbeat, dance-oriented tracks (which featured less heavily on his debut) alternate with "reality rap" songs on the record and suggests that he was "going pimp" through some of the lyrical topics of the former. XXL magazine wrote that Wallace "revamped his image" through the portrayal of himself between the albums, going from "midlevel hustler" on his debut to "drug lord".
AllMusic wrote that the success of Ready to Die is "mostly due to Wallace's skill as a storyteller"; in 1994, Rolling Stone described Wallace's ability in this technique as painting "a sonic picture so vibrant that you're transported right to the scene". On Life After Death, Wallace notably demonstrated this skill on "I Got a Story to Tell", creating a story as a rap for the first half of the song and then retelling the same story "for his boys" in conversation form.
Considered one of the best rappers of all time, Wallace was described by AllMusic as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop". The Source magazine named Wallace the greatest rapper of all time in its 150th issue in 2002. In 2003, when XXL magazine asked several hip hop artists to list their five favorite MCs, Wallace's name appeared on more rappers' lists than anyone else. In 2006, MTV ranked him at No. 3 on their list of The Greatest MCs of All Time, calling him possibly "the most skillful ever on the mic". Editors of About.com ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). In 2012, The Source ranked him No. 3 on their list of the Top 50 Lyrical Leaders of all time. Rolling Stone has referred to him as the "greatest rapper that ever lived". In 2015, Billboard named Wallace as the greatest rapper of all time.
Since his death, Wallace's lyrics have been sampled and quoted by a variety of hip hop, R&B and pop artists including Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Fat Joe, Nelly, Ja Rule, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Game, Clinton Sparks, Michael Jackson and Usher. On August 28, 2005, at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Sean Combs (then using the rap alias "P. Diddy") and Snoop Dogg paid tribute to Wallace: an orchestra played while the vocals from "Juicy" and "Warning" played on the arena speakers. In September 2005, VH1 held its second annual "Hip Hop Honors", with a tribute to Wallace headlining the show.
Wallace had begun to promote a clothing line called Brooklyn Mint, which was to produce plus-sized clothing but fell dormant after he died. In 2004, his managers, Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow, launched the clothing line, with help from Jay-Z, selling T-shirts with images of Wallace on them. A portion of the proceeds go to the Christopher Wallace Foundation and to Jay-Z's Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. In 2005, Voletta Wallace hired branding and licensing agency Wicked Cow Entertainment to guide the estate's licensing efforts. Wallace-branded products on the market include action figures, blankets, and cell phone content.
The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation holds an annual black-tie dinner ("B.I.G. Night Out") to raise funds for children's school equipment and to honor Wallace's memory. For this particular event, because it is a children's schools' charity, "B.I.G." is also said to stand for "Books Instead of Guns".
There is a large portrait mural of Wallace as Mao Zedong on Fulton Street in Brooklyn a half-mile west from Wallace's old block. A fan petitioned to have the corner of Fulton Street and St. James Place, near Wallace's childhood home renamed in his honor, garnering support from local businesses and attracting more than 560 signatures.
A large portrait of Wallace features prominently in the Netflix series Luke Cage, due to the fact that he served as muse for the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of Marvel Comics character Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes.
Ten Crack Commandments
The Notorious B.I.G. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the ten crack commandments, what?
Uh, uh
Nigga can't tell me nothing about this coke (uh-huh)
Can't tell me nothing about this crack, this weed, for my hustlin' niggas, uh
Niggas on the corner, I ain't forget you niggas
My triple beam niggas (word up)
(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine)
Uh
(Ten)
I've been in this game for years, it made me an animal
It's rules to this shit, I wrote me a manual
A step-by-step booklet for you to get
Your game on track, not your wig pushed back
Rule numbre 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
Number two, never let 'em know your next move
Don't you know Bad Boys move in silence and violence?
Take it from your highness (uh-huh)
I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for their bricks and chips
Number three, 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
Number four, I know you heard this before
Never get high on your own supply
Number five, never sell no crack where you rest at
I don't care if they want a ounce, tell 'em bounce
Number six, that goddamn credit? Dead it
You think a crackhead paying you back, shit forget it
Seven, this rule is so underrated
Keep your family and business completely separated
Money and blood don't mix like two dicks and no bitch
Find yourself in serious shit
Number eight, never keep no weight on you
Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jums too
Number nine shoulda been number one to me
If you ain't gettin' bagged, stay the fuck from police
If niggas think you snitchin' they ain't tryna listen
They be sittin' in your kitchen, waiting to start hittin'
Number ten, 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
Follow these rules you'll have mad bread to break up
If not, twenty-four years on the wake up
Slug hit your temple, watch your frame shake up
Caretaker did your makeup, when you passed
Your girl fucked my man Jake up, heard in three weeks
She sniffed a whole half of cake up
Heard she suck a good dick, and can hook a steak up
Gotta go, gotta go, more pies to bake up, word up, uh
The Notorious B.I.G's "Ten Crack Commandments" provides a step-by-step guide on how to succeed in the drug world. The song begins with Biggie acknowledging his rapport with illegal substances, stating that nobody can tell him otherwise. He then takes on the role of a teacher, emphasizing the commandments of drug dealing, beginning with never letting anybody know how much money you make. Biggie details the consequences of being too apparent, especially as misery loves company.
Rule two follows a similar vein, dictating that one must keep one's plans hidden. The successful drug dealer must also never trust anyone, even family. Biggie also states that the life of a crack dealer is unlikely to lead to long-term success, and one should never use their own supply. He emphasizes that a dealer should never deal drugs where they sleep and to distance oneself from any connection to the police.
In summary, Ten Crack Commandments leaves little to the imagination by articulating the harsh truths of the drug trade. Biggie not only offers his listeners a guide for success in the streets but provides listeners with a sense of understanding where he is and how he operates. Whether one accepts or rejects the glorification of this hustle, it's hard not to be impressed with how Biggie commanded an audience through his ability to tell vivid stories of his life experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the ten crack commandments, what?
These are the rules that govern the crack game
Nigga can't tell me nothing about this coke
I am an expert in the cocaine market and nobody can give me advice on this subject
Can't tell me nothing about this crack, this weed, my hustlin' niggas
I know all there is to know about selling crack and weed and I am loyal to my fellow hustlers
Niggas on the corner I ain't forget you niggas, my triple beam niggas
I haven't forgotten about my fellow drug dealers on the street who use the triple beam scale
I've been in this game for years, it made me an animal
I have been selling drugs for a long time and it has turned me into a ruthless and savage person
It's rules to this shit, I wrote me a manual
There are specific rules and guidelines for selling drugs and I have written them down
A step-by-step booklet for you to get
My manual will give you step-by-step instructions on how to sell drugs successfully
Your game on track, not your wig pushed back
If you follow these rules, you can stay under the radar and not get caught or killed
Rule Number Uno, never let no one know
The first rule of selling drugs is to never let anyone know how much money you have
How much dough you hold cause you know
If people know how much money you have, they will be jealous and may try to rob you
The cheddar breed jealousy 'specially
Money breeds jealousy, especially among those who are struggling financially
If that man fucked up, get yo' ass stuck up
If someone owes you money and fails to pay, you should be prepared to use violence to collect
Number 2, never let 'em know your next move
Don't let anyone know what you are planning to do next
Don't you know Bad Boys move in silence and violence?
The most successful drug dealers are those who operate quietly and are willing to use violence to protect themselves
Take it from your highness
Listen to me, the expert in the drug game
I done squeezed mad clips at these cats for their bricks and chips
I have used violence to take drugs and money from other drug dealers
Number 3, never trust no-bo-dy
Never trust anyone, not even your own mother
Your moms'll set that ass up, properly gassed up
Even your own mother may set you up for a crime if she has a motive to do so
Hoodied and masked up, shit, for that fast buck
She may even wear a hoodie and mask to conceal her identity while committing a crime for financial gain
She be laying in the bushes to light that ass up
Your mother may even hide in the bushes with a gun to ambush you
Number 4, I know you heard this before
This is a common rule that everyone should know
Never get high on your own supply
Don't use the drugs you intend to sell, as it will negatively impact your business
Number 5, never sell no crack where you rest at
Don't sell drugs in the area where you live to avoid getting caught or drawing attention to yourself
I don't care if they want a ounce, tell 'em bounce!
Even if your customers want to buy drugs from you, do not sell to them if they are in your home area
Number 6, that goddamn credit? Dead it
Don't extend credit to your customers, as they will likely never pay you back
You think a crackhead paying you back, shit forget it!
Drug addicts are unreliable and will not pay you back, so don't expect them to
7, this rule is so underrated
This rule is often overlooked but is very important
Keep your family and business completely separated
Don't involve your family in your drug business to avoid putting them in danger
Money and blood don't mix like 2 dicks and no bitch
Mixing family and business is a bad idea, just like two penises without a vagina is pointless
Find yourself in serious shit
If you involve your family in your drug business, you may find yourself in serious trouble
Number 8, never keep no weight on you!
Don't carry drugs on your person to avoid getting caught and to be able to deny any connection to the drugs if you are caught
Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jums too
Those who are willing to rob or harm you may also be willing to carry drugs on their person and involve you in their crimes
Number 9 shoulda been Number 1 to me
This is the most important rule in my opinion, even though it is listed as number 9
If you ain't gettin' bagged stay the fuck from police
Avoid contact with the police at all costs to avoid getting caught
If niggas think you snitchin' they ain't trying to listen
If other drug dealers think you are informing to the police, they will not listen to your excuses and will likely harm you
They be sittin' in your kitchen, waiting to start hittin'
Other drug dealers may be watching and waiting to ambush you if they think you have cooperated with the police
Number 10, a strong word called consignment
This is an advanced technique for selling drugs to trusted customers
Strictly for live men, not for freshmen
This technique is only for experienced drug dealers who can trust their customers to pay them back on time
If you ain't got the clientele, say "hell no!"
If you don't have clients you can trust to pay you back, don't use the consignment technique
'Cause they gon' want they money rain sleet hail snow
If you use the consignment technique, your clients will expect to pay you back no matter what the weather or circumstances are
Follow these rules you'll have mad bread to break up
If you follow these rules, you will make a lot of money selling drugs
If not, 24 years on the wake up
If you get caught, you will spend 24 years in prison
Slug hit your temple, watch your frame shake up
If you are caught, you may be shot in the head and killed
Caretaker did your makeup when you passed
If you die from drug-related violence, the person who prepares your body for burial will have to cover up the damage to your face
Your girl fucked my man Jake up, heard in three weeks
Your girlfriend slept with my friend Jake and I heard about it within three weeks
She sniffed a whole half of cake up
Your girlfriend consumed a large amount of cocaine
Heard she suck a good dick, and can hook a steak up
I have heard that your girlfriend is good at performing oral sex and can cook a good steak
Gotta go gotta go, more pies to bake up, word up
I have to leave now, as I have more drugs to sell and more money to make
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher E Martin, Khary Turner, Kimberly Jones, Cynthia Loving
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericmonson4571
Listening to my 25 year old co-worker sing this right now. She was born the year after he died. Biggie is TIMELESS!
@stevenqbosell
@@nikolai6489put some headphones on, that’s why they were looking at you.
@nikolai6489
@@stevenqbosellthat guy was probably an asshole
@Pc-bw5mm
@@stevenqbosell you illiterate or what g
@williamcapone5457
Premo's scratches at the end gets me every time!🔥🔥
@Orangenj388
Hip hop at it's essence
@MAB581
He goes OFF
@asandasiphelele3826
Masterpiece....
@WebnSundry
Biggie bodies every classical poet seven ways to Sunday. A true legend.
@starter47990
Lyrically one of Biggies best song. One of the greatest of all time