Melvin Harris. Most of us just know him as Big Smoke. If you played Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas back in 2004—or even the buggy "Definitive Edition" recently—you know he’s not just a meme about fast food orders. He’s the guy who broke our hearts. Honestly, it’s rare for a sandbox game from the PlayStation 2 era to produce a character with this much psychological weight. Big Smoke isn't some mustache-twirling villain who wants to blow up the moon. He’s a guy who wanted to "get paid" and ended up selling out his family, his neighborhood, and his soul to do it.
He's complicated. You start the game seeing him as the cool, philosophical older brother of the Grove Street Families. He lives in a nice house right outside the hood, he gives CJ advice, and he’s constantly quoting the Bible—or at least his own weird version of it. But looking back, the signs were always there. We just didn't want to see them.
The genius of the betrayal in Los Santos
The betrayal of Big Smoke in San Andreas works so well because Rockstar Games spent the first third of the story making you love him. Think about the "Drive-Thru" mission. It’s legendary. Everyone remembers the order: "I’ll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda." It's funny. It's iconic. But if you actually watch what’s happening, Smoke is the only one who doesn't shoot at the Ballas car because he's too busy eating.
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He was already working with them.
That’s the nuance people miss. Smoke wasn't just hungry; he was stalling. He didn't want to kill the guys he was secretly negotiating with. This kind of environmental storytelling was way ahead of its time. You’ve got this guy constantly talking about "the game" and how "pride is what kills you," acting like a mentor while he’s literally setting up the hit that kills CJ’s mom. It’s brutal.
Why the green Sabre changed everything
The Green Sabre reveal is probably the most impactful moment in 2000s gaming. When CJ sees Smoke and Ryder standing next to that car with Officer Tenpenny, everything shifts. It turns a gang war story into a personal vendetta.
What makes Smoke different from Ryder is the motivation. Ryder just sort of followed along, but Smoke had a vision. He saw the crack epidemic coming to Los Santos and decided he’d rather be the one selling it than the one dying from it. He chose power over loyalty. It’s a classic Shakespearean tragedy dressed up in baggy jeans and a green jersey.
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The Big Smoke San Andreas philosophy of greed
Smoke’s downfall is tied to his ego. By the time you find him at the end of the game in his "Crack Palace," he’s a shell of a man. He’s wearing a bulletproof vest over his pajamas and sitting in the dark playing video games and snorting his own product. He became exactly what he used to preach against.
He tells CJ, "I made it, CJ! I'm a success! I'm untouchable!" But look at him. He’s isolated. He’s paranoid. He’s surrounded by people who only stay because he pays them. It’s a dark reflection of the American Dream that GTA loves to parody. Smoke didn't just want money; he wanted to be remembered. He says as much with his dying breath: "Everyone's gonna remember my name... Big Smoke!"
It’s pathetic and tragic at the same time.
The voice behind the legend
We have to talk about Clifton Powell. His voice acting is what grounded the character. Powell brought this soulful, gravelly authority to Smoke that made you believe he was a leader. Without that specific performance, the "two number 9s" line wouldn't be funny, and the final confrontation wouldn't feel so heavy. It’s one of those rare cases where the actor elevates the script into something much more human.
Looking at the technical details of the final boss fight
The mission "End of the Line" is a massive difficulty spike. It’s not just about shooting guys; it’s a multi-stage endurance test. You have to drive a SWAT tank into a wall, fight through four floors of guards, and then deal with the man himself.
Smoke is a tank. He can take an absurd amount of damage compared to other NPCs. This wasn't just a balancing choice; it felt like a physical manifestation of his stubbornness. He refuses to go down. Even after the lights go out and you're using infrared goggles to find him, he’s still talking trash. He dies in the dark, and there’s no big celebration. Just a quiet moment where CJ realizes he’s lost his friend for good.
Common misconceptions about Smoke’s role
- Did he always hate CJ? No, probably not. He likely felt CJ was a liability who would get in the way of the business deal with CRASH and the Ballas.
- Was he the mastermind? Honestly, Tenpenny was pulling the strings. Smoke was a middle manager who thought he was the CEO.
- Could he have been saved? The game suggests that once the crack money started flowing, Smoke was gone. He chose the "business" over the "Grove."
How to appreciate the Big Smoke San Andreas arc today
If you're going back to play the game now, pay attention to his dialogue in the early missions. Every single thing he says has a double meaning. When he talks about "blessing this food," he’s trying to justify his own gluttony. When he tells CJ to "keep up," he's mocking him for being behind the curve of the new drug trade.
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The legacy of this character is massive. He’s the face of thousands of memes, sure, but he’s also a reminder of how good writing can turn a simple antagonist into a cultural icon. He represents the danger of losing your identity in the pursuit of "making it."
Actionable Insights for your next playthrough:
- Watch the eyes: In the original PS2 version (and even the Remaster), Smoke’s animations often show him looking away or shifting uncomfortably when the Ballas are mentioned.
- Listen to the radio: News reports throughout the first act of the game hint at the rising influence of a "new player" in the drug scene. That’s Smoke.
- Check the house: Smoke’s house in Idlewood is way nicer than what a low-level gang member should afford. It was a clue from mission one.
- Re-read the Bible verses: Look up the actual verses he misquotes. They usually have themes of betrayal or false prophets, showing he knew exactly what he was doing.
Big Smoke remains the benchmark for how to write a traitor in an open-world game. He wasn't just a boss to beat; he was a brother who gave it all up for a large soda and a piece of the pie.