E-40

'Earl Stevens' (born November 15, 1967 in Vallejo, California) best known by his stage name 'E-40', is a Bay Area rapper.

Contents

Early career

Later career

Entrepreneur

Discography

Albums

Singles

Featured singles

Notes and References

Early career

After a talent show at Grambling State University, E-40 and his cousin B-Legit decided to attempt a career in rap. They moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to form the group Most Valuable Players. E-40's gospel singing uncle (see "I got the game from my Uncle Saint Charles") helped them put out the record. E-40 says "Ughh" in many of his songs. E-40's sister, Suga T, was then added to the group to form The Click.^[1]
The "40" in "E-40" was chosen by Earl as a reference to "40s" - 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor. The "E" was simply derived from Earl's first name.^[2] His mother gave him this idea.
After the release of The Click's first album, ''Down and Dirty'', E-40's local solo debut was released. E-40 then gained statewide recognition with his early EP.

Later career

E-40 has released over ten albums, including those with The Click. He has also appeared on numerous movie soundtracks and has guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. His distinctive voice and rapid lyrical delivery have resulted in collaborations with many hip-hop stars.
After completing a deal with Jive Records he signed with Lil Jon's BME Recordings and Warner Bros. Records. E-40's single "Tell Me When To Go," featuring Keak Da Sneak, has become popular throughout the United States, and E-40 has appeared on MTV's ''Direct Effect'' and BET's ''106 & Park''. Publicity for E-40 and the greater Hyphy Movement was achieved through the recent MTV feature "My Block: The Bay." He later released "U And Dat" in April 2006, which features T-Pain and Kandi Girl, and is produced by Lil Jon.
E-40's album ''My Ghetto Report Card'' debuted at #1 on the Billboard Rap Album chart (#3 overall) on March 14th, 2006. Released through Sick Wid It/BME/Warner Bros. Records, the album was produced by Lil Jon, Rick Rock, and E-40's son, Droop-E. He is also featured on DJ Shadow's new album ''The Outsider'', on a track called "Dats My Part". In 2006, he also appeared on Tech N9ne's '' CD on a track titled "Jellysickle." In that same year, he contributed a verse to the official remix of "It's Okay (One Blood)" by fellow West-coast rapper The Game along with 24 other prominent MCs including Slim Thug, Jim Jones, Jadakiss, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Twista and Ja Rule among various others.
E-40 hosts a weekly radio show on San Francisco radio station KMEL. The show focuses on local talent and interviews with celebrities. The show also has a segment called 'Movie Week' where E-40 reviews the week's releases.
He's currently working on his new album currently entitled ''The Ball Street Journal'' set to be released in late 2007. He is also set to appear in a recurring role in ''.
On the evening of Wednesday, April 11th, E-40 revisted his alma matter, Hogan High, in Vallejo, CA and gave a donation of $12,000.00 to Hogan's drum line after the students performed for him. When asked about the donation, E-40 said he wanted to give the kids a reason to stay in school and especially in band, even though it is not always the coolest place to be. After listening to the kids and presenting the drum line instructor with the check, E-40 stayed for autographs and pictures with the students and their families. This was a private event for the Hogan drum line community.

Entrepreneur

In addition to record sales E-40 has ventured into other business opportunities. Along with former NFL player Chester McGlockton, E-40 has opened a Fatburger franchise in Pleasant Hill, California. E-40 recently authored the book, ''E-40's Book of Slang'' to be published by Warner Books. He also has his own line of liquor called Cloud 9, and he opened the now-defunct Ambassador's Lounge, a nightclub in Downtown San Jose.^[3]

Discography

:''For a full discography of albums and singles, see E-40 discography.''

Albums

★ 1993: ''Federal''

★ 1994: ''The Mail Man''

★ 1995: ''In a Major Way''

★ 1996: ''Tha Hall of Game''

★ 1998: ''The Element of Surprise''

★ 1999: ''

★ 2000: ''Loyalty and Betrayal''

★ 2002: ''The Ballatician: Grit & Grind''

★ 2003: ''Breakin News''

★ 2004: ''

★ 2006: ''My Ghetto Report Card''

★ 2007: ''The Ball Street Journal''

Singles

★ 1994: "The Mailman" (featuring The Click)

★ 1994: "Captain Save a Hoe"

★ 1995: "Sprinkle Me" (featuring [Suga T)

★ 1995: "1-Luv" (featuring Leviti)

★ 1997: "Things'll Never Change/Rapper's Ball" (featuring Too $hort)

★ 2000: "Nah, Nah..." (featuring Nate Dogg)

★ 2002: "Rep Yo City" (featuring Lil' Jon, Petey Pablo, Bun B & Eightball)

★ 2002: "Automatic" (featuring Kokane & Fabolous)

★ 2003: "Quarterbackin'" (featuring Clipse)

★ 2006: "Tell Me When to Go" (featuring Keak Da Sneak)

★ 2006: "U and Dat" (featuring T-Pain & Kandi Girl)

★ 2006: "White Gurl" (featuring Juelz Santana & UGK)

Featured singles

★ 1995: "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" (Ol' Dirty Bastard featuring E-40 & MC Eiht)

★ 2005: "Hustle (Remix)" (MURS featuring E-40, Chingo Bling & John Cena)

★ 2006: "Snap Yo Fingers" (Lil Jon featuring E-40 & Sean Paul of The Youngbloodz)

★ 2006: "Candy (Drippin' Like Water)" (Snoop Dogg featuring E-40, MC Eiht, Goldie Loc, Daz Dillinger & Kurupt)

★ 2006: "Oh Yeah (Work)" (Lil Scrappy featuring E-40 & Sean Paul of the Youngbloodz)

★ 2006: "I Got Chips" (Turf Talk featuring E-40)

★ 2007: "A Bay Bay" remix (Hurricane Chris featuring The Game, Lil Boosie, E-40, Birdman, and Jadakiss)

★ 2007: "Krispy" remix (Kinfolk Kia Shine featuring Swizz Beatz, Jim Jones, Slim Thug, E-40, Young Buck, Remy Ma, and LL Cool J)

★ 2007: "Caprice Muzik remix" (Tum Tum featuring Rick Ross & E-40)
Movies
dead heist (2006)
3 strikes (2000)

Notes and References

1. West Coast 2k interview with B-Legit
2. E-40 has stated this several times over-the-air on the radio.
3. Podcast interview with E-40