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E-40

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For other uses, see E40.
E-40

Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967) best known by his stage name E-40, is a Bay Area rapper, part of the Bay Area rap group The Click and founder of Bay Area hip-hop record label Sick Wid It Records.[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 Stevens's first name.[2] After the release of The Click's first album Down and Dirty, E-40's local solo debut was released.

E-40 worked almost exclusively with Bay Area rappers until 1998, when he appeared on the albums of Southern rappers. E-40 jumped into the limelight in 2006 with his single "Tell Me When To Go" from his album My Ghetto Report Card. From 2004 to 2008, he hosted a weekly radio program on San Francisco hip-hop station KMEL titled E-Feezy Radio, showcasing Bay Area hip hop music.

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 (Saint Charles") helped them put out the record.[3] E-40's sister, Suga T, was then added to the group to form The Click.[4]

Career

1990s to early 2000s

E-40 has released over ten albums, including those with his group The Click, starting with their four-track EP Let's Side; he has also appeared on numerous movie soundtracks and has guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. The Mail Man. Thus, six additional solo albums were to follow, beginning with In a Major Way in 1995 as well as remastered versions of E-40's independent Sick Wid It recordings from previous years. In a Major Way was regionally well-received, with guest spots by such hardcore rappers as 2Pac and Mac Mall.[1]

Although having a large following within the Bay Area and along the West Coast, E-40 did not have a large mainstream audience, so only two of his songs released under Jive, "1-Luv" and "Things'll Never Change", charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] He had been working nearly exclusively with rappers from the Bay Area until 1998, when he was given guest appearances on three albums by Southern rappers, including My Homies by Scarface, Lost by Eightball, and MP Da Last Don by Master P.[1]

Mid-2000s to present

After completing a deal with Jive Records he signed with Lil Jon's BME Recordings and Warner Bros. Records. His single "Tell Me When To Go," featuring Keak Da Sneak, became popular throughout the United States, and E-40 appeared on MTV's Direct Effect and BET's 106 & Park. Publicity for E-40 and the greater Hyphy Movement was achieved through the MTV special My Block: The Bay.[6] He later released "U And Dat" in April 2006, featuring T-Pain and Kandi Girl and produced by Lil Jon. His album My Ghetto Report Card debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on March 14th, 2006.[7] 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.[8]

He was also featured on DJ Shadow's new album The Outsider, on a track called "Dat's My Part". In 2006, he also appeared on Tech N9ne's Everready: The Religion 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.

In 2004, E-40 began hosting E-Feezy Radio, a weekly program San Francisco hip-hop radio station KMEL that shwocased Bay Area hip hop.[9] KMEL regularly broadcast the program until 2008.

Currently, E-40 is working on his new album The Ball Street Journal initially being set for an August 2007 release.[10] In September 2007, Warner Bros. Records announced that the album would be released in early 2008.[11] Kanye West produced a new track that is likely to be included in The Ball Street Journal titled "Get Deleted", featuring singer Bosko on the chorus.[12] Shaheem Reid of MTV News reported in March 2008 that Journal might be released "later" in 2008.[13]

E-40 also provided the official anthem for the Major League Soccer team San Jose Earthquakes in 2008.

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.[14]. On Nov 16th, 2007 it was announced that Stevens, signed a franchise agreement with Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. and will open one in Southampton shopping center located in Benicia, California. "I was introduced to Wingstop in Dallas and as soon as I tasted the wings I was hooked. I love the food," said Stevens. "I chose to open in the Bay Area because this is the soil where I was born and raised, and I still live here to this day. People here are going to sex these things." In late 2007, E-40 announced a new line of energy drinks called "40 Water."

Discography

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

Albums

Music Videos

  • 1994: "Captain Save A Hoe" (featuring The Click)
  • 1994: "Practice Lookin' Hard"
  • 1995: "Sprinkle Me" (featuring Suga T)
  • 1995: "1-Luv" (featuring Leviti)
  • 1995: "Dusted 'N' Disgusted" (featuring Spice 1 & Mac Mall & 2Pac)
  • 1996: "Rappers' Ball" (featuring Too Short & K-Ci)
  • 1996: "Things'll Never Change"
  • 1998: "From The Ground Up" (featuring Too Short & K-Ci and JoJo)
  • 1998: "Hope I Don't Go Back"
  • 1999: "Big Ballin' With My Homies"
  • 1999: "Earl That's Yo' Life" (featuring Too Short & Otis and Shug) / "L.I.Q."
  • 2000: "Nah, Nah..." (featuring Nate Dogg)
  • 2000: "Behind The Gates" (featuring Ice Cube)
  • 2002: "Automatic" (featuring Fabolous)
  • 2003: "One Night Stand" (featuring DJ Kayslay) / "Gasoline"
  • 2003: "Quarterbackin'" (featuring Clipse)
  • 2006: "Tell Me When To Go" (featuring Keak Da Sneak)
  • 2006: "U And Dat" (featuring T-Pain & Kandi Girl)
  • 2008: "Wake It Up" (featuring Akon)

Filmography

Film

Television

Appearances as self

Appearances as a fictional character

References

  1. ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason (2006). "E-40 - Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
  2. ^ E-40 has stated this several times over-the-air on the radio.
  3. ^ The FADER - Left Side
  4. ^ West Coast 2k interview with B-Legit
  5. ^ E-40 Billboard Singles on Allmusic
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2006-03-05). "My Block: The Bay". MTV. Retrieved 2007-09-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Hasty, Katie (2006-03-22). "'High School' Returns To The Top Of The Class". Billboard. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
  8. ^ Jeffries, David (2006). ""My Ghetto Report Card" - Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-09-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Hogg, Ross (2006-03-28). "E-40: Tell Me When to Blow". XLR8R. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  10. ^ Roberts, Anthony. SOHH Exclusive: E-40 Keeps Wiggling, "For All Those Who Wish I Was Dead - Get A Life". SOHH: February 21, 2007.
  11. ^ Move over Wall Street Journal, make way for the new "Ball Street Journal" in stores soon! Reprise Records: Sept. 17, 2007.
  12. ^ dubcnn.com // West Coast News Network //
  13. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2008-03-07). "Lil Jon Isn't A Rock Star Just Yet, But He's Keeping Busy With E-40, Extreme Athletes". MTV News. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  14. ^ Podcast interview with E-40
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