E-40

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see E40.
E-40

Background information
Birth name Earl Stevens
Also known as 40 Water, Charlie Hustle, 40
Born November 15, 1967 (1967-11-15) (age 40)[1]
Origin Vallejo, California
Genre(s) West Coast hip hop[1]
Hyphy[2]
Instrument(s) vocalist
Years active 1987 – present
Label(s) Sick Wid It/Jive (1994–2005)
Sick Wid It/BME/Warner Bros., (2006–present)
Website http://www.e-40.com

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.[3] The "E" has also been claimed to signify his habit of drinking 5 forties in one night, since "E" is the fifth letter. After the release of The Click's first album Down and Dirty, E-40's local solo debut was released.

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.[4] E-40's sister, Suga T, was then added to the group to form The Click.[5]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] 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. In 1994, he was signed to Jive Records after the success of his locally-released single "Captain Save a Hoe" from his EP 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.[6] 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]

[edit] 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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[2]

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.

[edit] Radio program

E-40 hosts a weekly radio show on San Francisco hip-hop radio station KMEL on most Sunday afternoons.[9] The show focuses on local talent and interviews with celebrities and also has a segment called "Movie Week" where E-40 reviews the week's releases. 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]

[edit] 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.[13]. 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." [14]

[edit] Discography

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

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

  • 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)
  • 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: "Turf Drop" (featuring Lil' Jon) [15]

[edit] Featured singles

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Film

  • 3 Strikes (2000)
  • Obstacles (2000)
  • Hair Show (2004)
  • Dead Heist (2007)

[edit] Television

[edit] Appearances as self

[edit] Appearances as a fictional character

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Birchmeier, Jason (2006). E-40 - Biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
  2. ^ a b Jeffries, David (March 2006). "My Ghetto Report Card" - Overview. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  3. ^ E-40 has stated this several times over-the-air on the radio.
  4. ^ The FADER - Left Side
  5. ^ West Coast 2k interview with B-Legit
  6. ^ E-40 Billboard Singles on All Music Guide
  7. ^ Reid, Shaheem; Calloway, Sway; Patel, Joseph (2006-03-05). My Block: The Bay. MTV. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  8. ^ Hasty, Katie (2006-03-22). 'High School' Returns To The Top Of The Class. Billboard. Retrieved on 2007-09-14.
  9. ^ 106 KMEL - HIP HOP AND R&B
  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. ^ a b 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. ^ Podcast interview with E-40
  14. ^ E-40's 2007 birthday party
  15. ^ E-40 - Turf Drop

[edit] External links

v • d • e
E-40
Albums
Singles
"Sprinkle Me" · "1-Luv" · "Things'll Never Change" · "Rapper's Ball" · "Nah, Nah..." · "Rep Yo City" · "Automatic" · "Tell Me When to Go" · "U and Dat"
Related articles