5 Clues GTA: San Andreas Gave Us That Big Smoke Was a Traitor

GTA games usually have themes of betrayal and revenge, which makes the narrative compelling and the endings bittersweet. San Andreas arguably has one of the best storylines in the franchise, and some elements even make the game the best in the series. When the game was initially released, many players were shocked that Big Smoke was working with the Ballas and the police. However, there are several subtle clues in GTA: San Andreas pointing toward Big Smoke being a traitor and not working for Grove Street.

Big Smoke Doesn’t Fight the Ballas During Drive-Thru

Drive-Thru is one of the best missions in San Andreas, which was made famous in large part because of the ridiculously large order that Big Smoke makes in Cluckin’ Bell. The mission was straightforward: CJ and the gang are going to get some food when they’re spotted by some Ballas, and a shootout ensues. While this may seem like a normal GTA mission, Drive-Thru provided a major hint that Big Smoke’s allegiances aren’t with Grove Street.

CJ drives the car while Ryder and Sweet shoot at the Ballas. Big Smoke does nothing to help and focuses on eating his food. The other characters call out Big Smoke, but they do it so jokingly, making it about Big Smoke caring more about food than getting shot. However, in hindsight, this makes perfect sense, as Big Smoke was in cahoots with the Ballas, which could explain why he wouldn’t shoot them.

CJ Sees Tenpenny and Pulaski Leaving Big Smoke’s House

This is a cutscene before the start of an infamous mission, Wrong Side of the Tracks. CJ heads to Big Smoke’s house and sees corrupt officers Tenpenny and Pulaski leaving his garage. Tenpenny even gives CJ a warning that he’ll be keeping an eye on the protagonist. CJ and Big Smoke then talk, but the traitor is dismissive about the two corrupt cops coming to his house. 

CJ trusts Smoke’s answer that the police are in everyone’s business rather than getting suspicious about something else going on. However, the fact that they were at Smoke’s place and you learn as the story progresses that he’s cooperating with the cops changes the cutscene. This makes the presence of the two dirty cops at Big Smoke’s house a major hint at him betraying Grove Street.

Big Smoke Is Waiting with a Baseball Bat in CJ’s Mother’s House

This is the first clue GTA: San Andreas gives players about Big Smoke not having the best interests of Grove Street in mind. The game’s protagonist, CJ, returns to Grove Street for his mother’s funeral and heads to the family house. Big Smoke is at the house armed with a baseball bat. Smoke gives the excuse that he thought there was a burglary in the house, but the camera cuts with the bat visible over CJ’s mom’s picture.

This has fueled several theories about darker implications regarding what Big Smoke was planning at the house. Some fans think that Big Smoke was waiting for Sweet and wanted to kill the Grove Street leader. This theory is strengthened by the fact that Sweet is attacked by Ballas during the funeral. This isn’t a major clue, but it may be a breadcrumb in a trail leading to Big Smoke’s ultimate betrayal.

Big Smoke Lives in Ballas Territory

This is a major thing that fans would find suspicious, even if Big Smoke didn’t ultimately betray Grove Street. Big Smoke lives in Idlewood, a part of Los Santos that is controlled by the Ballas. The Grove Street-controlled Ganton is nearby, but the character still prefers the Ballas neighborhood. CJ asks him about this, and Big Smoke claims he got an inheritance from his aunt.

This isn’t a small matter, as the Grove and Ballas are at each other’s throats at all times. Big Smoke living in an enemy neighborhood, without any incident, indicates that he has ties with the Ballas. While the betrayal isn’t revealed at the time, in hindsight, it makes sense how Big Smoke lives in Ballas territory without fear for his life.

Big Smoke Defends Drugs

This is another cutscene before a mission, where CJ arrives at Sweet’s house, and his brother is discussing the spread of drugs in Grove Street. Sweet argues that drug dealers only care about money, and they should be taken down. Big Smoke pushes back against this, saying the drug dealers are still Grove Street allies. 

This may seem like a normal disagreement between two gang members, but there is a hidden meaning behind Big Smoke’s words when you consider that he works with the Ballas and builds his crack empire. The GTA: San Andreas scene doesn’t prove that Big Smoke is a traitor, but it does indicate that his priorities don’t align with the benefit of Grove Street.