Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name
E-40, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. He is also
part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records.
His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after
The Click's debut album "Down and Dirty" came out in May
1992. E-40's 1995 solo album In a Major Way opened him up to a wider
audience. He has released over ten albums, including those with his
group The Click; he has also appeared on numerous movie soundtracks
and has guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. Starting
in 1998, he worked with rappers outside the Bay Area and rose to
even higher mainstream popularity in 2006 with his single "Tell
Me When to Go" which was produced by Lil Jon.
After a talent show at Grambling State University, E-40 and his cousin
decided to attempt a career in rap. Together, and with his sister Suga-T,
they released their main stream radio hit "Captain Save A Hoe." They
moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to
form the group MVP or Most Valuable Players. E-40's gospel singing
uncle (Saint Charles) helped them put out the record.[1] E-40's sister,
Suga-T, was then added to the group to form The Click.[2]
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 rappers as Tupac Shakur, Mac
Mall, as well as his son Droop-E.[3]
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 Records, "1-Luv" and "Things'll
Never Change", charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] He had been
working nearly exclusively with rappers from the Bay Area until 1997,
when he released the double disc compilation Southwest Riders featuring
exclusively rap acts from the Bay Area and the south. His collaboration
with southern rappers continued in 1998, when he was given guest appearances
on two albums by Southern rappers, including Lost by Eightball, and
MP Da Last Don by Master P.[3]
[edit] Mid-2000s to present
In 2003, E-40 began hosting E-Feezy Radio, a weekly program San Francisco
hip-hop radio station KMEL that showcased Bay Area hip hop.[5] KMEL
regularly broadcast the program until 2008. 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
Oakland rapper 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 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 14, 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 2008, E-40's new album The Ball Street Journal
came out, with "Wake it Up" featuring Akon as the lead single. "Got
Rich Twice" featuring Turf Talk followed.
In 2009, 40 was featured on the track "Santana DVX" on the
album Incredibad from the comedy group The Lonely Island. E-40 is listed
in the credits as one of the writers. In the song, E-40 assumes the
identity of Carlos Santana and raps about his personalized brand of
sparkling white wine.
E-40 was featured on BrokeNCYDE's album I'm Not A Fan, But The Kids
Like It! on the song "Booty Call".
E-40 was also featured on the song "Kush Is My Cologne" (along
with Bun B & Devin The Dude) on Gucci Mane's 2009 album The State
vs. Radric Davis.
On March 30, 2010, 40 released two new albums entitled Revenue Retrievin':
Day Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift.[9]
In October 2010, 40 announced that he will release two new albums
on March 29, 2011 entitled Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift and Revenue
Retrievin': Graveyard Shift.
In November 2010, 40 and Too Short announced that they will release
a collaborative album in Summer 2011 entitled The History Channel.
[edit] Entrepreneur
In addition to record sales E-40 has ventured into other business
opportunities. Along with former NFL player Chester McGlockton, E-40
opened a Fatburger franchise in Pleasant Hill, California, which has
now been shut down. 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 Landy Cognac, and he opened the now-defunct Ambassador's
Lounge, a nightclub in Downtown San Jose.[10] 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 love these things." In late
2007, E-40 announced a new line of energy drinks called "40 Water."
[edit] Discography
Main article: E-40 discography
* 1990: Mr. Flamboyant (EP)
* 1992: Federal
* 1993: The Mail Man (EP)
* 1995: In a Major Way
* 1996: Tha Hall of Game
* 1998: The Element of Surprise
* 1999: Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
* 2000: Loyalty & Betrayal
* 2002: Grit & Grind
* 2003: Breakin' News
* 2006: My Ghetto Report Card
* 2008: The Ball Street Journal
* 2010: Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift/Night Shift
* 2011: Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift/Overtime Shift
* 2011: The History Channel (with Too Short (Summer 2011)[11]
[edit] Filmography
[edit] Film
* The Breaks (1999)
* 3 Strikes (2000)
* Obstacles (2000)
* Malibooty (2003)
* Behind the Scenes: LiterACola's Cum-socks and Flip-flops (2003)
* Hair Show (2004)
* Survival of the Illest (2004)
* Dead Heist (2007)
[edit] Television
[edit] Appearances as self
* Soul Train (1995)
* Soul Train (2004)
* Blowin' Up (2006)
* 106 & Park (2006)
* Punk'd (2006)
* Wild 'n Out (2006)
* Yo Momma (2006)
* BET Hip Hop Awards (2007)
* Def Jam: Icon (2007)
* From G's to Gents (Season 2) (2009)
* Played by Fame (Season 1) (2009)
[edit] Appearances as a fictional character
* The Jamie Foxx Show (2001)