Quote 1
"Yeah, well, he went out like a man," Rise said.
"Yo, Rise, the brother got wasted in a drive-by," I said. (1.19-1.20)
Rise seems to equate violence with manliness, but Jesse calls him on it. Getting shot in a drive-by isn't a "manly" way to go—it's senseless and random and terrible.
Quote 2
"Eventually you reach manhood, then you got to go through or turn around and go back," [said Rise.]
"This isn't about manhood," C.J. said. "This is about crime." (2.43-2.44)
Rise says that supporting Mason is the manly thing to do—he really seems to equate masculinity with violence—and this time C.J. calls him out. Committing crimes isn't manly; it's just breaking the law.
Quote 3
"This means a lot to me," Rise said, "these pictures." (8.31)
Why do you think Jesse's work on Rise's story means so much to Rise? Is it about their friendship, or does Rise just like seeing himself on the page?
Quote 4
"Yeah, well, one day we were blood brothers," Rise said. "Now you sounding like brothers ain't brothers and blood ain't blood." (8.47)
Rise really wishes that Jesse would be more supportive of his quest to become a drug lord. Sure, Rise, that's what friendship is all about—supporting your friends as they run their lives.
Quote 5
"Look, Jesse, strictly between you and me, I got the word from some people uptown that they need a new wheel to deal the downtown blow." (8.33)
Rise is "confiding" in Jesse that he's becoming a drug dealer. Never mind that he's been bragging about it all over town. Why do you think he tells Jesse that it's a secret?