Ten Commandments (song)

"Ten Commandments" is a song by Lil' Mo featuring Grammy Award–winning rapper Lil' Kim from the former's sophomore effort, Meet the Girl Next Door (2003). Although Elektra Records had announced in December 2002 that the song would be released as Meet the Girl Next Door's second single,[3] plans for the release never followed resulting in a promotional "street" release a month prior to the release of Meet the Girl Next Door.[4]

"Ten Commandments"
Single by Lil' Mo featuring Lil' Kim
from the album Meet the Girl Next Door
ReleasedOctober 25, 2002 (radio airplay)[1]
March 4, 2003 (12" vinyl)[2]
Recorded2002
StudioQuad Recording
(New York, NY)
Genre
Length5:03
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)C. Loving, C. Thompson, K. Jones
Producer(s)Chucky Thompson
Lil' Mo singles chronology
"4Ever"
(2003)		 "Ten Commandments"
(2002)		 "Can't Let You Go"
(2003)
Lil' Kim singles chronology
"The Jump Off"
(2003)		 "Ten Commandments"
(2003)		 "Magic Stick"
(2003)

Background

The song features a distinctive sample of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "10 Crack Commandments," featuring production by DJ Premier. The Biggie sample was also used in reference for Lil' Kim's feature, much similar to another single ("Let It Go") which would follow the same concept four years later. When asked on the meaning of the song, Lil' Mo told MTV News: "...[It was] to let [ladies] know how to keep your man. Stop telling all your homegirls all your business and problems. The ones that be like, 'Girl, he ain't no good' are the main ones trying to holla [at your man], 'So, you gonna call me?' Sometimes you have to think for yourself."[4] In addition, Lil' Mo told Honey magazine that Lil' Kim's feature was the "perfect match" for the song.[5]

Critical reception

The song received generally mixed reviews. While critics praised the song for its "set of rules" and dubbed it as an anthem in its own right,[5][6][7] others like Donnie Kwak of Vibe magazine were divided over the song's theme and sample.[8] Kwak criticized the song's composition as a "dull relationship advice column," and its use of sampling Biggie's "10 Crack Commandments," as "breaking an essential Hip-Hop Commandment: Thou shall not tarnish a classic."[8] However, Kwak praised Lil' Kim's feature by remarking, "Kim's verse saves the day," while criticizing Lil' Mo's vocals by stating, "Mo should stick to hooks."[8] By contrast, another Vibe editor, Akiba J. Solomon, called in Hilda Hutcherson, M.D. to list advice in examination of the song's synopsis and lyrical structure. Throughout the examination, Hutcherson opposed more than half of the song's "Ten Commandments," and listed full explanatorily advice for each of the song's "commandments."[9]

Track listing
12" vinyl[10]
  1. "Ten Commandments" (Amended Version)
  2. "Ten Commandments" (Album Version)
  3. "Ten Commandments" (Instrumental)
  4. "Ten Commandments" (Amended Acappella)

Chart performance
Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[11] 1
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References
  1. "Lil' Mo And Lil' Kim Sample Biggie Track". rnbdirt.com. October 27, 2002. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  2. "4ever/Ten Commandments - Lil' Mo > Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  3. Moss, Corey (December 5, 2002). "Lil' Mo Nabs A Fellow Lil' And Fabolous For The Girl Next Door". MTV News. MTV.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  4. Reid, Shaheem (April 16, 2003). "Lil' Mo Wants To Drop Beef With Ja Rule And Focus On Family". MTV News. MTV.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  5. "FUSION: IT'S HOT > Mo Betta." Honey. Vanguard Media Inc., 2003: 304. Print.
  6. Kellman, Andy. "Meet the Girl Next Door - Lil' Mo > Overview". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  7. Askew, Sonya. "Sam Goody's got its ear to the street." Vibe. May 2003: 24. Print.
  8. Kwak, Donnie. "START > Resurrection Songs." Vibe. April 2003: 82. Print.
  9. Solomon, Akiba J. "The Big Picture." Vibe. July 2003: 111. Print.
  10. "Lil' Mo Featuring Lil' Kim - Ten Commandments (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. Discogs.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  11. "Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop : Jan 25, 2003". Billboard Chart Archive. Billboard.biz. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
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