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E-40

From Alfawiki
E-40
Born
Earl Tywone Stevens

(1967-11-15) November 15, 1967 (age 58)
Vallejo, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Rapper, business figure
Years active1986–present
Known forRapper, founder of The Click and Sick Wid It Records

Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), professionally recognized as E-40, is an American rapper and business figure. He established the rap ensemble The Click as well as his independent label, Sick Wid It Records. Having released 27 studio albums, E-40 has broadened his influence through numerous collaborations and soundtrack contributions. His 1995 solo project In a Major Way represented his emergence beyond the underground hip hop community. Starting in 1998, he collaborated with prominent artists outside the San Francisco Bay Area, enhancing his mainstream visibility. The 2006 single "Tell Me When to Go", produced by Lil Jon, significantly raised his profile in popular music.

Early life

Stevens was born and raised in Vallejo, California. Raised by a single mother who balanced several jobs, he developed an early passion for hip hop after hearing "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. Beginning in fourth grade, he played snare and bass drums. He completed his education at Hogan High School in Vallejo in 1985, where he also participated in baseball and started recording music alongside his siblings, distributing their tapes independently. In 1986, Stevens enrolled at Grambling State University for one academic year with his cousin Brandt Jones before committing fully to his music career.

1986–1999

E-40 first appeared on the scene in 1986 alongside his cousin B-Legit, sister Suga-T, and brother D-Shot as part of Most Valuable Players. Following early local acclaim, the group transitioned into The Click, releasing the EP Let's Side (1990) through Sick Wid It Records, an independent label founded by E-40 himself. They subsequently released Down and Dirty in 1992. In 1993, E-40 debuted solo with Federal, produced by Studio Ton and distributed regionally.

That same year, The Click achieved mainstream attention with the track "Captain Save a Hoe". The group's lineup was solidified with Suga-T joining alongside D-Shot. Despite a strong West Coast fan base, E-40's mainstream chart success remained limited; only two singles released under Jive Records reached the Billboard Hot 100. He concentrated on collaborations within the Bay Area until the 1997 release of Southwest Riders, a double-disc compilation featuring artists from both Bay Area and Southern rap scenes. His Southern collaborations continued into 1998 with appearances on albums by acts such as 8Ball & MJG and Master P.

2000–2010

In 2003, E-40 initiated E-Feezy Radio on San Francisco’s KMEL station, advocating for Bay Area hip hop until 2008. After signing with Lil Jon’s BME Recordings and Reprise Records, he appeared on Lil Jon's top ten hit "Snap Yo Fingers". His own track "Tell Me When to Go", featuring Oakland rapper Keak da Sneak, achieved nationwide acclaim, increasing his exposure via MTV and BET.

April 2006 saw the release of "U and Dat", featuring T-Pain and Kandi Burruss, produced by Lil Jon. His album My Ghetto Report Card debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number three on the Billboard 200. This release came through Sick Wid It/BME/Warner Bros., featuring production from Lil Jon, Rick Rock, and his son Droop-E.

On March 30, 2010, E-40 simultaneously issued two albums: Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift, which included guest performances from artists such as Too Short, Snoop Dogg, Gucci Mane, and Bobby V. Both albums entered the Billboard 200 within the top 50 rankings. The lead single from Day Shift was "Bitch" featuring Too Short.

Maintaining this approach, on March 29, 2011, he released two more albums: Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift. These projects featured collaborations with Lil Jon, Bun B, Slim Thug, Tech N9ne, among others; both secured positions within the top 50 of the Billboard 200 chart. In November 2010, E-40 and Too Short announced plans for two joint albums set for Summer 2012: History: Mob Music and History: Function Music. Additionally, E-40 performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos festival.

2011–present

In 2012, E-40 unveiled three solo projects simultaneously: the triple album series The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil volumes 1, 2, and 3, along with a collaborative album featuring Too Short. The standout track from the second installment, "Function," which included contributions from YG, Iamsu!, and Problem, reached number 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, marking his most prominent hit in several years. The albums showcased a diverse lineup of guest artists such as Snoop Dogg, Too Short, Kendrick Lamar, Juicy J, Tech N9ne, Twista, Brotha Lynch, Andre Nickatina, 2 Chainz, and T-Pain. Upon release, the three volumes entered the Billboard 200 chart at positions #58, #59, and #72 respectively; collectively as a box set, they debuted at #44. Additional projects like History: Function Music and Mob secured spots at #63 and #72 on the charts.

In March 2013, E-40 made an appearance in Young Jeezy’s "R.I.P." music video and participated in its official remix alongside Snoop Dogg and Too Short. Announcements followed regarding the release of volumes 4, 5, and 6 of The Block Brochure, scheduled one year after the initial trilogy; artwork for these was revealed on June 12. The lead single from this series, "Ripped," featuring Lil Jon, dropped on May 21. Subsequently, "All My Niggaz," featuring Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q, was released in July. The music video for "Off the Block," which includes Stressmatic and J. Banks, premiered in August. E-40 confirmed that parts four through six would be available on December 10, 2013.

In 2018, E-40 announced a new trilogy titled "Definitions." He launched his twenty-fifth studio album The Gift of Gab on August 23 of that year, followed by his twenty-sixth studio effort Practice Makes Paper on July 26, 2019. The trilogy concluded with Rule of Thumb, released on November 17, 2023. That same year, he featured in the music video for "West Coast," performed by G-Eazy alongside Blueface, ALLBLACK, and YG.

Business career

Together with former NFL athlete Chester McGlockton, E-40 once operated a Fatburger franchise located in Pleasant Hill, California, though it has since ceased operations. Since 1998, he has promoted an upcoming publication titled E-40's Book of Slang, which remains unpublished as of 2024. Additionally, E-40 acted as a brand ambassador for Landy Cognac and founded Ambassador's Lounge nightclub in Downtown San Jose, which is now defunct.

In late 2007, E-40 launched an energy drink brand named "40 Water." His ventures into beverages also extend into winemaking under his birth name Earl Stevens; he introduced three wines: a red blend called "Function," a moscato variety, and a fortified wine with high alcohol content dubbed "Mangoscato." In December 2014, he released Sluricane Hurricane—a premixed cocktail inspired by his group's 1995 track "Hurricane."

December 2015 marked the debut of E-40's malt liquor line available in both 24 oz cans and 40 oz glass bottles.

Beyond beverage enterprises, E-40 operates an investment firm and was among the earliest supporters of social networking platforms such as Clubhouse and Convoz.

Personal life

E-40 makes his home in Danville, California alongside his wife Tracey, to whom he has been married since 1991. Together, they have two children: Earl Jr., known professionally as Droop-E, and Emari (Issue), both of whom have pursued careers in rap music.

As an avid supporter of the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants, and Golden State Warriors, E-40 received special recognition from the Giants during a game on June 25, 2022. The celebration included a giveaway of 15,000 bobbleheads in his honor, and he also had the distinction of throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborative albums

Film

  • Rhyme & Reason (1997)
  • The Breaks (1999)
  • 3 Strikes (2000)
  • Obstacles (2000)
  • Malibooty (2003)
  • Hair Show (2004)
  • Survival of the Illest (2004)
  • Dead Heist (2007)
  • The Adventures of Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2008)
  • Ghostride the Whip (2008)
  • What Are the Chances? (2016)
  • Don't Get Caught (2018)
  • 16 Bars the Movie (2023)
  • 88 Fresh (2023)

Television

Sick Wid It Records

Established in 1989 by E-40, Sick Wid It Records operates as an independent hip hop label headquartered in Vallejo, California. The label focuses primarily on West Coast hip hop and the hyphy movement, distributing its music through Caroline Distribution.

Noteworthy artists

Past artists

Key releases

1990s
2000s
  • E-40 sustained his prolific career with albums like Loyalty and Betrayal, Breakin News, plus compilation albums including The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.
  • Turf Talk gained recognition through releases such as The Street Novelist alongside collaborations under the Sick Wid It banner.
  • The label expanded its footprint in West Coast hip hop via various artist compilations.
2010s–2020s
  • E-40 continued to dominate the scene with multi-album series like Revenue Retrievin' , The Block Brochure, as well as recent projects including Practice Makes Paper.
  • New talents such as Nef the Pharaoh, Droop-E, and OMB Peezy played key roles in maintaining Sick Wid It's relevance amid changing hip hop landscapes.
  • The label broadened its catalog with compilation projects like Year of the Pig, showcasing ongoing investment in emerging artists and audiences.

Remaining active today, Sick Wid It Records capitalizes on its founder’s reputation alongside an extensive catalog to uphold its impact within West Coast hip hop and hyphy genres.

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