“10 Stack Commandments.” (Photo/Josh Vaughn)
Receiving unexpected money is exciting. Moreover—more rousing—is discovering precious business strategy that can earn you perpetual dividends.
Enter Detroit, Michigan, a city that in escaped bankruptcy protection in late 2018. In December 2018, enduring its economic revival, west Detroiter and rap artist Payroll Giovanni endowed the music world with pearls of financial wisdom through his 10 Stack Commandments album.
10 Stack Commandments is a clear derivation from the late Notorious B.I.G.’s critically-acclaimed “Ten Crack Commandments” song.
And while Payroll’s tales are not without nefarious dealings, his have far more capacity for legitimate, practical application. 10 Stack Commandments can be applied to any honest business practice.
“This a real gettin’ money seminar.”
Rap music holds the reputation of promoting hyper-consumerism. Payroll Giovanni is turning that on its head. 10 Stack Commandments conveys fundamental codes of conduct that can transform the common laborer into a bonafide entrepreneur.
The 10-track album’s eponymous opening song introduces 10 instructions for prudent money management. Throughout the rest of the album, each commandment has its own dedicated song, filling out the other nine album tracks. (There are two commandments featured on “30 Day Grind.”)
Beyond the apparent Notorious B.I.G. inspiration, 10 Stack Commandments has a roundabout connection to other rap acts contemporary and legendary–domestic and foreign.
It’s a beam of light amid the dark web and the work of Detroit compatriot and rapper Teejayx6. Teejayx6’s album, The Swipe Lessons, released in 2019, is a de facto instruction manual on credit card fraud, identity theft and other scamming practices.
In 1995, GZA of Wu-Tang Clan and Clan affiliate Killah Priest released the gripping “B.I.B.L.E (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth),” a theological roller coaster through consciousness and the freedom encountered from seeking and finding supreme wisdom. Wu-Tang Financial exhorted us to diversify our bonds on a 2003 Chappelle’s Show. In 2018, it’s Payroll Giovanni and his label BYLUG (i.e., Boss Ya Life Up Gang) establishing a new covenant for hustlers and their relationship between themselves and their capital–themselves and their future.
Below, we break down the 10 Stack Commandments and all of finance terminology and tips for financial fitness that correspond with select moments on the album.
1. “Get Money”
Money can’t be made saved, invested, or even spent without an income. Earned income is active income in the form of salaries, wages, and tips and they’re essential to stacking. And what’s a business without sales? When a private company makes ownership shares available on the public market that is known as an initial public offering or an IPO.
“Alright, if you gon’ stack some money, first you gotta get some money / Find yo lane, master that s***, flip that s***, then stack that s***!”
“Gotta stack, I can’t spend it cuz it’s coming / Last time I did that I ended up with nothing.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Off top, first you gotta get money / Without that, how the f*** you gonna stack, dummy? / Find a good hustle then you run with it / Let ‘em know it’s on the floor and they can come get it.”
2. “Invest”
To invest simply means to spend money in the present with the expectation of seeing a profit later on.
“Can’t expect big paper if you petty when you coppin’ / Get a lane and lock it / Stay committed to the socket / Make investments with your profit / Be a hustler with knowledge / Gotta get it ’til you got it / All the extra s***, stop it / All the leeches, cut ’em off / First invest, then ball.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Second, you invest in your hustle / The bigger it get, the more that money gon’ double / For a minute, though, a n**** gotta struggle / But stay focused, in a minute you gon’ bubble.”
The “struggle” Payroll references can be thought of as a holding period or the time between the purchase and sale of a financial asset.
3. “Pay Yourself”
Paying yourself first is an investment method in which you set aside a savings contribution or earmark for yourself before paying any other expenses.
“Self-made, boy, I made myself / Bossin’ up, I had to pace myself / Make 20, tuck 15, live off five / Make another 20, put it all to the side / Used to ride buses disgusted with low pride / Now I’m the n**** with the Benz outside.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Third, you gotta pay yourself / Not too much, you might gotta play yourself.”
4. “Have Will Power”
What’s power without control? Talent without discipline? Assert your will power to hustle and save.
“Looking at the fall collection in the Neiman selection / I should cop this leather jacket and go buy another necklace / But I got a goal, gotta reach a level I ain’t hit / Paying myself ten percent after every flip.”
“When that money coming in you gotta have discipline / Can’t be spending like a kid / When that money go, it’s gone. You can’t turn to a friend / Gotta start over again.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Fourth, you gotta have will power / Don’t be buying s***t. You gotta have chill power.”
5. Stay at Home & 6. “30 Day Grind”
On Payroll’s 30-day grind, there is only room in the budget for necessary expenses like food and haircuts to keep you civil looking. The remainder of your income should simply be stowed away.
Thirty-day periods tend to be associated with debt pay-off periods or the time you have to pay off a balance before interest takes hold. This is known as a 30-day credit period. We’ll just classify the 30-day grind as a 30-day zero debit period.
“But it started with hard work and dedication / Steady saving, no misbehaving when money making.”
Defining quotes from “10 Stack Commandments” song:
“Number five—stay at home / Shoot your moves, take it in, watch that money get long.”
“Number six, go on a 30-day grind / For 30 days, I can’t spend one dime?”
7. “Keep More Than One Income”
Investment tycoon Warren Buffet, and third-richest person in the world, is recorded to have said, “Never depend on single income. Make investments to create a second source.” Simply put, having access to more than one revenue generator increases financial stability.
“I get money five different ways / Counting new stacks on five different days / Bought a S5 [S500] off five different plays / Got it valeted outside by the Range [Rover].”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Number seven, have more than one income / So you can stack up and still live off one / It’s money out here, don’t you wanna get some? / Don’t you wanna be loaded with your wrist numb?”
That extra revenue is residual income, bonus cash earned aside from the primary revenue generator. This comes in forms such as stocks, bonds, and royalties. Income generated from stocks, bonds, and royalties are considered passive income—revenue generated with little to no effort after an initial investment of time or money.
8. “Come to an Understanding with Your Mate”
Your spouse is likely going to be both your business and leisure partner. Without compatible financial goals or spending habits, financial stability and relationship strength may be comprised. To no surprise, money management is a fairly frequent reason for divorce.
“I’m on the grind. I need millions to count / F*** going out, naw, I’ma chill in the house / When you come up with a goal tryna fill up your safe / Come to an understanding with your mate.”
Notable quote from “10 Stack Commandment” song: “Number eight, come to an understanding with your mate / Now ain’t the time for Ruth Chris plates.”
9. “Pay Your Overhead”
Paying one’s overhead is covering the cost of expenses necessary to support your enterprise. It’s literally the cost of doing business.
“You had it but you burned it / That other n**** turned it / Into some bigger bills, a house on the hill / He pay all his bills, stack the rest and then chills.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Number nine, you gotta pay your overhead / That’s your bills, after that, back to stackin’ bread.
10. “Go Broke 2 Get Money”
There’s an appropriate adage for this track: “it takes money to make money.” A good investor will be wiling to take a short-term hit in favor of a long-term bang. When the potential profit dwarfs the operating expense, go broke.
“Let me take you back to when I used to sell stones / Way before I made money off of any song / I kept a fat stack off of moving crack sacks / I’ll spend it all when my plug had a good batch / Now I’m broke and I’m also in the hole but I got more work than I had way before.”
Defining quote from “10 Stack Commandments” song: “Number ten, aint nothing wrong with going broke to get real money.”
Payroll Giovanni nears the close of the album, on “Keep More Than One Income,” and advertises his finance counsel:
“Yeah you still tuned in man…We been givin’ hella game the whole project. This a real gettin’ money seminar.”
Payroll is giving Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey runs for their money and Dr. Boyce Watkins would be proud. Life is a game. Play capitalism. Don’t let capitalism play you. Thank you, Prophet Payroll.
More Bible References from Rappurview…
Take a listen to Payroll Giovanni’s 10 Stack Commandments via Spotify and Apple Music below.
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