Iconic Records S1 EP4 - Ten Crack Commandments | The Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death

EP 4 - “TEN CRACK COMMANDMENTS”
The Life After Death song that’s had the most cultural impact is the indelible Ten Crack Commandments. The 3 minute and 24 second track produced by DJ Premier was a KZbin tutorial before the Internet was a thing. Big’s black market advisory transcended the drug game and smartened up entrepreneurs from cold street corners to plush corner offices.
On episode 4 of Iconic Records we speak with the legendary Premo on making the iconic track. Rick Ross and Pusha T also join the convo to discuss how much Biggie influenced their coke rap careers. But first Kleptomaniac returns to tell us how street hustling bonded him and Big and eventually led to him hanging out with superstars like Nas and Tupac Shakur.
Follow The Notorious B.I.G. on Facebook / notoriousbig
More Videos and Playlists
Juicy ▶️ Rhino.lnk.to/Y...
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Stream more B.I.G. here Rhino.lnk.to/t...
The Notorious B.I.G. channel is the official KZbin home of The Notorious B.I.G. featuring his catalog of official music videos. The Notorious B.I.G. is widely recognized as one of the world’s most influential rappers and has sold more than 17 million albums in the U.S. alone. Before his murder in 1997, Christopher Wallace recorded two classic albums as The Notorious B.I.G. His debut Ready to Die arrived in 1994 and helped revitalize the East Coast rap scene with massive hits like “Big Poppa” and “Juicy.” Life After Death was released in March 1997 just weeks after he was shot and killed in Los Angeles. The record topped the U.S. album charts and featured the hits “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems.” It remains one of the few hip-hop albums to ever achieve Diamond certification from the RIAA.

[@NotoriousBIG]

Episode 5 with Lil Cease and more premieres this Monday at 12pm ET. Sign up for a reminder to watch here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXmyipd3p6mosM0

[@AliPo-ne3yf]

Who made the "1 More Chance" track with Ashanti 4 BIG?!

[@_Sophia2009]

Hi 👋🏻 The Notorious B.I.G

[@Brigahotboy]

latetly I been bumping to "Long kiss Goodnight" I go by season I always pick a different song from BIG any other season

[@JamesFaison-mg5lk]

​@@AliPo-ne3yf😊

[@AliPo-ne3yf]

@@JamesFaison-mg5lk 🙌🏼🕊🕊🕊🕊

[@arthurn8952]

Klepto has been the best narrator of this whole series so far. He's got so much history to tell

[@rontilghman9177]

No rapper today has that kind of impact. BIG's music was timeless.

[@rafprice1]

His flow is flawless

[@Karl671]

Indeed

[@thdegj]

🎯

[@Pettybank45]

​@@Karl671 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fna1homsht2FhKs

[@thaimperial97]

His cadence was everything too. How he combined shit was soo dope. It's the No-to- ri-o...us, you just lay down slow

[@reefb4364]

Everything Big and Preem did together was a classic🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@simonjohn70]

pream 10 crack commandment was garbage shoulde used a differetn instrumental no offence

[@reefb4364]

@@simonjohn70well you know opinions are just like assholes, we all have one✅ No offense🤔

[@simonjohn70]

@@reefb4364 biggie lyrics were top notch the track is good, but just sayin the different insutemntal shodlve been used

[@reefb4364]

@@simonjohn70again - music is subjective - so your entitled to that. We can agree to disagree- no worries. I’m just a huge fan of Dj Premiers production- so that boom bap with heavy cutting and scratching and sampling is my thing✅

[@VideoGameVotary]

@@simonjohn70 the fact that you edited this comment and still can't spell, I could never take anything comment or opinion from you serious.

[@drexsonaljames8345]

Big meant a great deal to me... before him...I was a fat black kid with low self esteem... because of Big ..I found my confidence and swag...and was able to approach the prettiest girls and spit my game...and end up pulling a redbone that favored Faith...if it wasn't for Big.. I'd probably Still be a virgin..lame..and depressed...I really miss that brother like he was a close member of the family...Rest easy King and happy belated birthday...

[@denniscole5105]

We'll always love big poppa

[@KtotheG]

Big wanted to hold it down for you guys.. That was his whole intent. He said Heavy D was holding it down for the big fly light-skinned brothers, but there was nobody representing for the big dark-skinned brothers, so he stepped in and made sure he was always fly and swagged out.

[@moclarke7776]

Naw!!! BiG helped me too!! I didn’t see myself as being anything, no true prospects. BiG’s lyrics allowed me to see myself differently. I appreciate him and still miss him. 💯🥹🥹❤️👩🏾‍💻

[@jay1476]

crazy how powerful music is. glad you overcame low self esteem as everyone goes through it at some point. self love is crucial

[@gillatineking3236]

Absolutely!!!!!!! The greatest ever!!!!

[@mistergoodcitizen9914]

The most complete package for a MC to ever touch the mic. Literally he’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.

[@vx1blink65]

This series is absolutely amazing has me waiting for every episode to drop I’m 20 years old and biggie is half of my playlist shout out my pops for the taste in music

[@ivan363]

#1 DAD 💪🏾

[@vx1blink65]

@@ivan363 💪🏼💯

[@Pettybank45]

​@@ivan363 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fna1homsht2FhKs

[@tyshreegrant9154]

I’ve watched each episode about 3times. I play Big every day still and forever. Born and raised and rep Big forever. Brooklyn ❤❤❤

[@zendavis3501]

You probably from Williamsburg or Greenpoint lol. Dumbo in the house! 😂😂😂

[@Urs_Truly81]

OMG another episode! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Keep them coming.

[@Karl671]

I love this

[@KD_SWAGGER]

R.I.P. BIGGIE! Life After Death is one of my all-time favorite rap albums. DJ Premier is one of my favorite producers. Great conversation across the board.

[@denniscole5105]

Make sure y'all remember my man woulda been 51 tomorrow so don't forget to celebrate

[@donwondoa313]

My brother birthday the same day

[@denniscole5105]

@@donwondoa313 then came the worst date may 21st 2:19 is when my momma water burst

[@denniscole5105]

@@donwondoa313 the new episode is out I'm boutta hit that up. I'm looking for some real biggie fans on here so lmk if biggie is ur favorite of all time

[@jacobvidalchavezgonzalez2849]

🎉Si 0:15 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 0:21 😢😮😮

[@Pettybank45]

​@@denniscole5105 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fna1homsht2FhKs

[@elisavetsandoval5362]

Rip.🙏 Biggie. We miss you and for ever love and respect your legacy. Gone but never forgotten.

[@moclarke7776]

BiG was gone in a Flash!! But what he left behind is sooo monumental, Notorious Thugs when he got in that pocket was crazy!! So mad he didn’t get the chance to hear how we felt, omg!! BiG mannnnn.. Their will NEVER be another.., BiG, BiGGie, Big Poppa, Frank White, Francis the PRAYIN Mantis, KONY.. 🫡🤣🔥🔥🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲👩🏾‍💻💯💯❤️❤️☺️💐

[@hiphopdx]

BIG has so many classic songs that it's hard to pick but what's his most impressive song ever? (flow, lyrics, tone etc.)

[@retrojay86]

My Downfall or Victory

[@beloved_doug]

My favorite lyrical song by BIG is “The What” His wordplay and metaphors was on 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@denniscole5105]

I think victory dude also I think the mass public is pretty fond of juicy or big poppa

[@Karl671]

Yessir

[@delbertprince5302]

Facts

[@YungTone614]

I love Angie man she really a 🐐 loving this episode.

[@ArchibaldEdits]

Shout outs to Angie, Klep, Pusha, Primo and Ross for the stories. #BIGForever

[@donjvffo4889]

FOREVER!!

[@KyleJ-g6t]

How is Un not part of this especially since he was a main visionary behind JM and Undeas. crazy

[@tomking7080]

I’m 45 years old and for me Big is the greatest rapper EVER!!! His flow is incredible and no other rapper can match it. There is that question who is better rapper Big or PAC? For me they were two completely different artists. PAC was a 20th century poet,activist and actor. Him and Big were two completely different artists. But as a rapper NOBODY is better than Big and it’s such a sad situation that both those dudes lost their lives at such a young age over BS!!! 24 and 25 DAMN. They didn’t even start their lives yet RIP To Big and PAC.Happy Birthday Big. Because of the internet your legacy will live until the end of civilization.

[@justincoffey2692]

Pac is better

[@marxman300]

​@@justincoffey2692 shut it

[@justincoffey2692]

@@marxman300 naw like I said Pac is better

[@tomking7080]

@@justincoffey2692 As a performer and worldwide icon I agree. But as a rapper definitely not. Bigs flow and style is the best in my opinion

[@tomking7080]

@@justincoffey2692 As a performer and worldwide icon I agree. But as a rapper definitely not. Bigs flow and style is the best in my opinion

[@blackalbundy8070]

DJ Premier is TRULY Hip Hop Royalty and doesn’t get an ounce of the credit he deserves for some of the most iconic beats in Hip Hop. Not only being a part of GangStarr but from Big to Nas to Jay I can only imagine some of the other stories he has over the years just being present. Salute to him 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@ReedMySole]

Yall need to put ya boy on the marketing team. This is hiphop 50th bday, and this should he bigger. This is so dope.

[@rayangordon3804]

Biggie is truly hip hop greatest loss. Whether you thought Life After Death was better than Ready to Die or not one thing for sure was that his flow got better on Life After Death. Just imagine the possibility of his flow further improving on his third album. Guess we will never know.

[@EddieisKrueger]

Right, it was incredible. And they said the next album was gonna be titled "Til' Death Do Us Part"

[@jamaaldavis7907]

​@@EddieisKrueger the black album 3 disc actually

[@XxThePhantomFreezexX]

@@jamaaldavis7907 so ur sayin Jay used tha "Black Album" idea originally meant foe BIG

[@JamesSmith-ov5um]

@@XxThePhantomFreezexX I’ve also heard this

[@michelewitt2285]

Biggie still means everything to me ♥️♥️

[@BigGfromgrouphome]

One of my favorite hiphop songs full stop. Straight 🔥

[@mauricemegginson3625]

Man these stories are amazing it feels like you was there with them and Angie is so beautiful

[@tysonmiller8258]

I can hear DJ Premier tell stories all day

[@thecunninlynguist]

Just finished listening to the audio version of this ep, and I'm glad it isn't exactly a rehash of the story Primo's told a million times in interviews, and more recently on his YT channel. I had always thought Chuck sued Biggie/Puff/Primo after the fact, and not prior to Biggie's passing. Would've been interesting to have seen if Biggie could've handled it and talk to chuck about it.

[@delbertprince5302]

Biggie is a legend. His songs never dies.

[@tonylove6682]

BIG was 23 years old. Was the GREATEST RAPPER OF ALL TIME. 👑 CROWNED the KING OF NEW YORK. And nobody TILL THIS DAY can see him LYRICALLY. #UNBELIEVABLE!!

[@Justice_87]

Everyday Struggle is my all time fave song by Big.

[@ymleggo]

I didn’t know Lil Fame isn’t from Prospect. Biggie had me wanting to go there because of his rhyme. 😂👑

[@traviscarter1023]

You talking about my guy from M.O.P .

[@trevordon819]

Nah, he was one of "them niggas from the hill up in Brownsville", though

[@esseen100]

We need Klepto on Math Hoffa's (My Expert Opinion) podcast.

[@tieuellegacy]

Concept for that intro is cold blooded. It made me wanna see how far the vinyl would go after it ended.

[@dawgpound2163]

The G.O.A.T hands down, only off 2 Albums tho....think about that, 2 albums yo!

[@tonylindsey8290]

Premier is a Goat 🐐

[@joecorley2749]

Just realized that has to be Klepto voice at the end of Gotta Story to Tell

[@michaelglazier9932]

Klepto is a beast. His solo song on the Junior Mafia album is hard as fuck!!

[@jamiehol1895]

I literally wear platinum Chanel cologne because of Big! so Pusha is correct haha

[@On_da_Swivel.BarbershopTalk]

Just wow. BIG was a genius

[@seanphillthephotosgrimsley2888]

I'm glad that DJ Premier and Chuck were able to settle.

[@twotenslim3767]

His genius was making his rhymes seem so simple and at the same time it was so 5 dimension that his rhymes became so real like i was in the room standing next to him. GOAT!

[@408northsider1]

Only in NewYork is he considered the greatest 💯

[@MrBean617]

I kept telling people that Pusha was inspired by Big, but people told me I was buggin. Listen to “Keys Open Doors.”

[@peteyw]

This series is incredible

[@taiwaukawabutu9519]

Thank 👏🏾 u so much to get this story can't wait to meet my BIG FAMILY THE ONLY CD I GOT IN MY CAR IS BIG NOTHING MESSING WITH THE GOAT HAND DOWN..BLESSING

[@taiwaukawabutu9519]

I got the movie 🎬 of BiG it not open yet I want to donate it to yall..💯👊🏿🤲🏿..more power to the people..

[@tysonjohnson3945]

Big had some of the greatest skits too

[@raymondraynor5276]

Love this. And Angie you are legendary. You set the standard for female in the HipHop industry. People need to go revisit Eric Sermon's. Funk fire..

[@happytanking9985]

Sermon**

[@dilue1]

B.I.G. FOREVER!!!!!!

[@DJYB2300]

I wish they would stop saying “Big never wanted to respond” He slick jabbed Tupac MULTIPLE times 😭

[@jaymail1494]

Right!!! A few times on this album

[@wolverineweaponx6304]

Preemo is the G.O.A.T. 🔥

[@jamaaldavis7907]

💯💯💯

[@ramonecoleman5588]

Big Killed that track

[@Karl671]

And every track he was on

[@ramonecoleman5588]

@@Karl671 big facts

[@FCsoundz]

these are so dope i wish we had more stuff like this great work

[@gambinogambinos2439]

A kid with two and a half albums, carries the entire rap scene on his back. B.I.G.

[@nibbles187]

Preem has the best memory in Hip Hop history

[@dariusjones2593]

with only 3 albums, I count junior mafia as his, he is my number 2 of all time behind pac, genius on the mic

[@queendee2931]

HAPPY BORN DAY CHRISTOPHER WALLACE... #GEMGANG

[@denniscole5105]

We'll always love big poppa

[@Rizzlyricist]

Rick Ross is the type to take your plate🍽, and sell you back your fork🍴

[@tjinks7530]

rick ross is a pudgy cornball

[@terrencejacobs4875]

Pusha tripping!!!! Summer 96 was all PAC. All eyez on me came out Feb 96 it was nothing else goin on and being played that summer

[@Frenchy.]

Too bad Angie didn't ask him more question about 'Pac in that hotel room & stories of them together, or more questions about Big hanging out with Nas. Everything else, we've heard over and over and over again...

[@chuckiegogo1271]

Nas is my favorite rapper ever. UNBELIEVABLE is the greatest rap song ever. Lyrics, Length, Flow, Structure.

[@letitiacooper98]

I still play Life after death ❤❤❤❤

[@samueloladelelayiwola2370]

The american music industry lost one of the best evergreen dope rapper I ever had. However, If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Rest well Big😴

[@jonathanreveron6642]

Pusha T is 46 looking like 27 it’s crazy to me 😳

[@williampittiv9148]

DJ. Clark Kent makes a valid point at the end......

[@roniangel3]

Angie, such a great series here. The quality of the this production, the interviews, the memories is very high. Great job to al involved in this project honoring B.I.G.

[@lethal5flow679]

"Biggies dead cause pac lied"- Clark Kent.......At least someone's man enough to say it.

[@johndez5213]

Big is dead because him and puff were arrogant enough to go party it up in LA 6 months after Pacs death. Thats the truth.

[@YaGudBuddyUncleNate]

​@@johndez5213 Could say the same about Pac after fight in Vegas except they was really slipping cause it just happened

[@nicobean5064]

I guess people still haven’t heard the dossier

[@YaGudBuddyUncleNate]

@@nicobean5064 Dossier doesn't discount what Clark is saying... Pac going public w his accusations gave whoever was responsible a green light.

[@johndez5213]

@@YaGudBuddyUncleNate definitely wont argue with that.

[@monopolyace]

Angie Martinez is truly amazing 🫶🏼

[@naliswatson5713]

He became Frank White 🔥🔥🔥👑...I like that🙌

[@wabasher3168]

The way he explained how the unbelievable track was created was dope!

[@pavank1108]

can't wait

[@pedroch717]

Great series

[@smokescreenFromThe6ix]

This series can't be completed if you don't get Rza to speak on Long Kiss Goodnight!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@azimel6997]

What's the correlation to Rza and the song? I'm asking from my own ignorance btw.

[@bigmikeny8716]

​@@azimel6997 he produced that song!!

[@thaimperial97]

​@@azimel6997 after all these years I never knew that 🤦🏾‍♂️wow

[@XxThePhantomFreezexX]

⁠@@thaimperial97 foe a lot of years ppl didnt kno Stevie J played tha piano part on Notorious Thugs

[@darrennorton7442]

Angie Martinez has raised so many of us dude...that time im from South Africa 🇿🇦 S/O to Preme, the way he described them recording 10 Crack Commandments 👌🏼

[@charnz1]

Watching Push go straight fanboy talking about Big is dope! This podcast has been awesome. Thanks Angie.😊

[@ChocolateDon929]

Protect preem at all cost! 🙏🏿🏆🔥🏆

[@justincoffey2692]

Biggie died because he made a dumb decision going to Cali that soon after Pac’s death and dissing Pac on Cali’s radio station rapping the Long Kiss Good Night verse

[@ray8507]

I agree with you 100% big should of never been in Cali at all he should of let many years go by before even thinking about going

[@TROY_MK6]

P Diddy made him go

[@aligaines8476]

Angie is an institution and I could never thank her enough.

[@brandongaskins9045]

🤣🤣🤣

[@marxman300]

​@Brandon Gaskins what's funny

[@Pettybank45]

​@@marxman300 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fna1homsht2FhKs

[@thaimperial97]

​@@marxman300 just a cornball being himself 🤷🏾‍♂️ you already know

[@marxman300]

@ThaImperial97 yea pretty much

[@denniscole5105]

I love biggie so much! I got a playlist of all his songs and featured performances if anyone's interested. It's like 141 songs just go to my playlist and at first I attempted to keep them in chronological order of release but it's not like that anymore. I need real biggie fans to check it out and lmk if I'm missing anything

[@ArchibaldEdits]

I've got a Biggie playlist with 105 songs. I need to see your playlist to see what I'm missing - link?

[@denniscole5105]

I highly recommend "you to be" by biggie and r Kelly. One of the last songs I found by him

[@BigGfromgrouphome]

How can I find it

[@denniscole5105]

They won't lemme post a link but it's on my channel

[@YaGudBuddyUncleNate]

​@@denniscole5105 Sitting Reminiscing On when you started dissing Spitting in faces In public places 🎶

[@rodneyallen6099]

Can't nobody come close to all eyez on me & life after death

[@keithrogerseventphotograph9193]

Greatest Artist ever?

[@toddtoure7041]

To be honest, Big 's Lines were so Flawless when he spit, HE PUT YOU IN THE STORYLINE LIKE A MOVIE, Every word was perfectly phrased i.e- " Im interrupted by the doorbell, 3:52 who the Hell? -is this get my shit, Every Song I must have Killed the damn CD , Life after Death I played it a million times, He was a Master Storyteller, to me he was the Best Hands down. I had the Honor of meeting him by chance a t a Red Light on 52nd st and Broadway -he was in a White on White Land Cruiser with Black Tints, Base thumpin ' and He pulled down the Window, -he gave me a Pound - I'll never forget how Cool his attitude was , no conceit , just a Real One, R.I.P. because I felt he never did wrong , just a lot politics & BS & Hate to Pull him down, when Truthfully He would have been at LEAST 100MM -500MM Legend if NOT MORE AT THIS POINT IN HIS CAREER, with Jay & business endeavors -Blessings. It Hurt when he was Killed . Good Dude True G

[@gambinogambinos2439]

He is more than that. I'm a fan from Europe, outside the English speaking area, lyrics and storytelling are not important to us, but what we notice first is the melody of the voice and flow, as well as the convincingness and confidence.

[@samanderson6194]

Wow

[@bencromwell707]

Another Great Episode💯👍

[@brugai8917]

i know Angie got an episode for "What's Beef?" even the Duets version is SICK

[@jameseverett-cm1py]

I hoping they got a episode for what’s beef to that’s my favorite song on life after death

[@three3thou]

That Cease clip art the end cold bruh... We always forget that we lost BIG, he lost Christopher.... It hit different for him...

[@denzelncube9264]

hz technical ability to tell stories was insane

[@its_rick_james_bich2575]

The Ten Crack Commandments had a profound effect on Ricky Ross. From that moment when he first heard this track..he knew he needed to become a prison officer to make sure justice was served behind bars on drug dealers and all law breakers!😬

[@samanderson6194]

Thank you good sir

[@brandongriffith5097]

I wonder are they're going to talk about Puffy and biggie hanging out the members south side crips who killed Tupac

[@completely_me75]

Premo is the 🐐

[@Whoshotyaa]

I miss biggie everyday I always picture in my head how would this Nigga really look like if he was still alive?

[@dannyflores9892]

Music still hot to this day. Good point to think about his age when passed how his vision to his image was. 🔥 🎤🫡🔊💯

[@c.demone9082]

All time classic song!!

[@ValiantVisions314]

Yea that Ten Crack Commandments was a classic. My big cousin kept me on that fa sho... He knew what was up where we lived.

[@Stonecoldalston]

The fact that the 10 crack commandments beat was for Angie is crazy

[@edub9930]

I could listen to Primo talk all day. 👏

[@xLeYondx]

Wish we got a Rick Ross and Biggie record..

[@michaelglazier9932]

Nope sorry…

[@xLeYondx]

@@michaelglazier9932 I don't see anyone asking you.

[@michaelglazier9932]

@@xLeYondxSeriously nobody wants to hear a corrections officer on a record with BIG…

[@xLeYondx]

@Michael Glazier Again, nobody asked you. Many people would I bet over 8 million people out of 17.9million of Rick Rosses followers would including myself. A correction officer isn't a police officer. It's not even close but you wouldn't know that because you're a follower of what other say. You can't form free thinking thoughts for yourself or do research. Ignorance is bliss.

[@hip2thabone_da_sticky1]

These 2 names DON'T go in the same sentence!!

[@allanteetheridge4689]

B.I.G was Legendary

[@kulturescale]

Where does "Life After Death" rank in the best Hip-Hop Double Albums of all time? pull up and see. Respect Iconic Records!! Fire series! ⚖🔥

[@infamouskunga1285]

Here for that Clark Kent part, Flex talked about it but they are coming for ur heart

[@hygory8576]

Being From FL Myself I Luv Rick Ross But I Shoulda Been in Dis Interview ✨💻📲🖤

[@St.ValentineTheDougout-em3xf]

I was a part of Suicidal Thoughts, recording with Mobb Deep, Three 6 Mafia, Dollect Dolls and my name is Anthony Fowler or Alien T. The guy who helped put SPM away, is also available to chat

[@vincewilliams7682]

Good job Angie