“The 10 crack Commandments” was one of the greatest songs ever created by one of the greatest rappers ever to live. That man is, of course, Biggie Smalls. From drug dealing to becoming one of the most iconic rappers of our time, this man took his crack-slinging business knowledge to the music industry and revolutionized it forever.
Not only is he a legend, but he was also ahead of his time. Simply looking at the 10 crack commandants, you can see how they apply to your venture, business or work life. There you have your 10 staples of how you do business. Everything needs a set of laws and the 10 crack commandments taught us that the crack game is just like any other business – you have a product that you sell that is in high demand.
That is the capitalist world we live in today, and so we’ve broken down these commandments, showing you how and why you need to apply it to your venture and life for success. Let's start with number 10, shall we?
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
Sure, he is referring to crack, but think of crack as any other product. You buy at whole to sell at retail. That’s the very definition of business; you have to create something so that you can sell it. Usually when you buy something to sell you buy it on consignment, which means you will pay it back in 30, 60 or 90 days.
But you have to be a realist and not overbuy. It’s about knowing your clientele and buying the right amount, or else you will get stuck with too much inventory and nowhere to put it. And you won't be able to pay your supplier, which means you have no channel of supply left.
9. 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 trying to listen / They be sittin’ in your kitchen, waiting to start hittin’
What Biggie is talking about here is not cooperating with law enforcement and never being a snitch. Loose lips sink ships, ladies and gentlemen, and if you feel like you have a rat within your premises, kick him the fuck out before he sells you on a silver plate to whomever can take you down. Keep everything you do inside your walls confidential because the bakery never gives away its baker’s secrets.
8. Never keep no weight on you! / Them cats that squeeze your guns can hold jums too
Rome wasn’t built in one day, and no man on planet earth is superman. It’s all about the divide and conquer, which is what Biggie is referring to here. If you spread yourself too thin and carry too much weight and responsibility on you, then you will end up failing (or robbed if you are holding crack). Get the resources and surround yourself with a team that you can spread the weight around.
7. 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
Many make the mistake of going into business with their friends or family members, but what they don't realize is that it is one of the worst things they can possibly do to themselves and their venture. Keep your business and your close ones completely separate, or else they will become poison.
You can never fire a family member or a close friend. It becomes a power struggle, a jealousy game and a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. There is no such a thing as a family business, if Harry Winston couldn’t survive because the two brothers couldn’t get along, you and your family or friends wont either.
6. That goddamn credit? Dead it / You think a crackhead paying you back, shit forget it!
It’s the simple rule of fuck you, pay me. Don't ever give credit to anyone no matter what type of bullshit he decides to feed you about it. They will try to ask for payment plans, or to pay you back in a month. It’s quite simple, if they don't have the money for something now, they damn sure won't have it in 30 days. People love to take stuff on credit because they never feel a need to pay it back.
5. Never sell no crack where you rest at / I don’t care if they want a ounce, tell ‘em “bounce!”
Don't shit where you eat. Keep your personal life and your work life completely separated. Don't try to bang your intern or start dating someone you work with. When you are working you need to keep your focus only there without anything getting in the way of it.
4. I know you heard this before / “Never get high on your own supply”
You would have to be an idiot to get high on your own supply. When you take inventory for yourself, the company suffers because it has to pick up that cost of you being a selfish idiot. Know your boundaries; sure you may have a great product but that doesn’t mean you can give it away for free or take some for yourself. At the very least, pay the company back cost for it. It’s all about your balance sheet.
3. Never trust no-bo-dy / 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
The aforementioned successful bakery never gives away the secrets of what they do within their four walls. Don't ever trust anyone, because when money comes into the equation, your friends and those closest to you, will turn on you. You truly never know what anyone’s motives are and jealousy can cause people to do the unthinkable.
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 their bricks and chips
You are most likely trying to build an empire, which is a process. Don't ever let your game plan or strategy get out to others because you may never know what they might do with that information. Your competitors are always going to be watching. It’s about moving in silence and moving under the radar because when the spotlight is on you, everything you are doing is too exposed.
1. 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
And last but not least, it comes down to how much money you have. It is simply the concept of discretion. Don't brag about your success, what you have going on or how much money you are making. The loudest man in the room is the weakest -- always remember that.
If you have seen the movie “American Gangster” you will remember that Denzel Washington got caught because he was wearing a 100k fur jacket to a boxing fight. It was too loud and brought too much attention. Attention is the worst thing that can happen to you.
Closing: I assure you that if you listen to these 10 rules you will have both a foundation for your life and your business, as well as a sense of direction. As said before: long story short, loose lips sink ships. Don't trust women, don't trust your friends, only trust yourself because it is quite hard to fuck yourself over.
Preston Waters | Elite.
