Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group the Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 studio albums to date, appeared on numerous movie soundtracks, and has also done guest appearances on a host of other rap albums. Initially an underground artist, his 1995 solo album In a Major Way opened him up to a wider audience.Beginning in 1998, he began collaborating with mainstream rappers outside the San Francisco Bay Area.He rose to higher mainstream popularity in 2006 with his single "Tell Me When to Go", which was produced by Lil Jon.
Early life
Stevens was born in Vallejo, California.[1][2] He grew up with his siblings raised by a divorced mother who worked three jobs, and he became interested in hip hop after hearing "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang.[3][4]
Stevens made his rap debut as E-40 in 1986 with his cousin B-Legit, sister Suga-T, and brother D-Shot in the group Most Valuable Players.After impressing fellow students with a rap remix of the school song and a Grambling State talent show, Most Valuable Players released a single, "The King's Men".[11][3] The group later became the Click and released the EP Let's Side in 1990.[1] The EP was co-produced by Mike Mosley and Al Eaton and was released on Sick Wid It Records, an independent label founded by E-40.In 1992 they released a second album, Down and Dirty, and in 1992 E-40 made his solo album debut. Federal, a nine-track LP/14-track CD produced by Studio Ton and released by Sick Wid It Records in association with SMG (Solar Music Group), a regional distributor.
In 1993, the Click had mainstream hit, "Captain Save a Hoe" (radio edit "Captain Save Them Thoe"). 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.[12] Suga-T was then added to the group to form the Click.[13]
Although having a large following on the West Coast, E-40 did not have a large mainstream audience, so only two of his songs released under Jive Records, "1-Luv" featuring Levitti and "Things'll Never Change" featuring Bo-Roc, charted on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] 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 albums by Southern rappers, including Lost by Eightball, and MP da Last Don by Master P.[1]
2000–2010
In 2003 E-40 began hosting E-Feezy Radio, a weekly program on San Francisco hip-hop radio station KMEL that showcased Bay Area hip hop.[14] KMEL regularly broadcast the program until 2008.After completing a deal with Jive Records he signed with Lil Jon's BME Recordings and Reprise Records.After the signing, he appeared on Lil Jon's single "Snap Yo Fingers", also featuring Sean P of YoungBloodZ, which became a hit reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.Afterwards, 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.[15] 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 No. 1 on the
2011–present
In 2012, E-40 released three solo albums: The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil series 1, 2, and 3, and released a collaboration album with Too Short.[20] The first single from the second Block Brochure album is "Function" featuring YG, Iamsu! & Problem.It peaked at No. 21 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, No. 62 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and No. 22 on the Rap Songs chart, becoming his most successful single in years.The volumes include Snoop Dogg, Too Short, Kendrick Lamar, Juicy J, Tech N9ne, Twista, Brotha Lynch, Andre Nickatina, 2 Chainz, & T-Pain as guests. They each debuted at No's 58, 59 and 72 on the Billboard 200, respectively, and the triple album box set that contains all three Block Brochure volumes debuted at No. 44. History: Function Music debuted at No. 63 on the 200, while Mob debuted at No. 72. He made a cameo appearance in the music video for Young Jeezy's song "R.I.P." featuring 2 Chainz in March 2013, and was also featured on the song's official "G-Mix" also featuring Snoop Dogg and Too Short. It was revealed that the 4th, 5th and 6th editions of The Block Brochure would be released exactly one year after the release date of the first three volumes. However, there is no confirmed release date for the three albums, but the artwork for all three volumes and the triple album box set was released on June 12.[21]
Business career
Along with former NFL player Chester McGlockton, E-40 opened a Fatburger franchise in Pleasant Hill, California, which has now been shut down.[30] E-40 has promoted a forthcoming publication, E-40's Book of Slang, since 1998,[31] but as of 2024 the volume has not yet been released.[32] He is also a spokesperson for Landy Cognac, and he opened the now-defunct Ambassador's Lounge, a nightclub in Downtown San Jose.[33]
In late 2007, E-40 announced a new line of energy drinks called "40 Water."[34] He also has a number of other ventures in the beverage industry, including the wine industry, where he has released three wines including a red blend called "Function," a moscato and high-alcohol fortified wine called "Mangoscato."[35] The wines are branded using the rapper's real name, Earl Stevens.In December 2014, he released a premixed cocktail beverage called Sluricane Hurricane, inspired by the 1995 hit song "Hurricane" from his group the Click.[36]
In December 2015, E-40 released a line of malt liquor called "E-40", available in 24 oz. cans and 40 oz. glass bottles.[37]
E-40 is also an investor and has his own investment company. He was an early investor in social media apps Clubhouse and Convoz.[38]
Personal life
E-40 lives in Danville, California, with his wife Tracey.[10] They married in 1991 and have two children who grew up to become rappers: Earl Jr. (who performs as Droop-E) and Emari (Issue).[39][40]
E-40 is a longtime San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors fan.[41] The Giants gave away 15,000 bobblehead figures of him to visitors at a Giants game on June 25, 2022,[42] where he also made the ceremonial first pitch of the game.[43]
On February 14, 2026, E-40 accompanied Miami Heat forward Keshad Johnson at the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.A fellow Bay Area native, Johnson leapt over E-40 to successfully complete a cradle dunk.[44][45]
Discography
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
Federal (1992)
In a Major Way (1995)
Tha Hall of Game (1996)
The Element of Surprise (1998)
Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire (1999)
Loyalty & Betrayal (2000)
Grit & Grind (2002)
Breakin' News (2003)
My Ghetto Report Card (2006)
The Ball Street Journal (2008)
Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift (2010)
Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift (2010)
Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift (2011)
Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift (2011)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 1 (2012)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 2 (2012)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3 (2012)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 4 (2013)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 5 (2013)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 6 (2013)
Sharp On All 4 Corners: Corner 1 (2014)
Sharp On All 4 Corners: Corner 2 (2014)
The D-Boy Diary: Book 1 (2016)
The D-Boy Diary: Book 2 (2016)
The Gift of Gab (2018)
Practice Makes Paper (2019)
Rule of Thumb: Rule 1 (2023)
Down and Dirty (with The Click) (1992)
Game Related (with The Click) (1995)
Money & Muscle (with The Click) (2001)
History: Mob Music (with Too Short) (2012)
History: Function Music (with Too Short) (2012)
Connected and Respected (with B-Legit) (2018)
Ain't Gone Do It/Terms and Conditions (with Too Short) (2020)
Snoop Cube 40 $hort (with Mount Westmore) (2022)
Filmography
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
Incredible Crew
The Jamie Foxx Show – season 5, episode 12
MTV's My Block: Bay Area
Hell's Kitchen
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives – season 28, episode 19 "Playin' Chicken"
Blindspotting
Sick Wid It Records
In 1989, E-40 formed independently-owned hip hop record label Sick Wid It.
They debuted at numbers 47 & 49 respectively on the 200.
The first single from the Day Shift album is "Bitch" featuring Too Short.
On March 29, 2011, E-40 released two albums called Revenue Retrievin': Overtime Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift.
They include guest spots from Lil Jon, Bun B, Slim Thug, Tech N9ne & more.
They both entered on the 200 chart at No's 42 and 40.
In November 2010, E-40 and Too Short announced that they would release two collaborative album in Summer 2012 entitled History: Mob Music and History: Function Music.
E-40 also performed at the Gathering of the Juggalos.[19]
On May 21, he released the first single from the three albums, "Ripped" featuring Lil Jon.
In 2018, E-40 announced the "Definitions" album trilogy.[27] He released his twenty-fifth studio album The Gift of Gab on August 23, which was followed by his twenty-sixth studio album Practice Makes Paper on July 26, 2019.[28] The third album, Rule of Thumb, was released on November 17, 2023.In 2019, he made a guest appearance in the music video of "West Coast", performed by G-Eazy, Blueface, ALLBLACK and YG.[29]
1994
Celly Cel – Heat 4 Yo Azz
Little Bruce – XXXtra Manish
Rhythm X – Long Overdue
1995
E-40 – In a Major Way
The Click – Game Related
Various Artists – The Hogg in Me
1996
Suga-T – Paper Chasin'
Celly Cel – Killa Kali
Funk Mobb – It Ain't 4 Play
Playaz Tryna Strive – All Frames of the Game
E-40 – Tha Hall of Game
B-Legit – The Hemp Museum
1997
The Mossie – Have Heart Have Money
E-40 & B-Legit Present – Southwest Riders
1998
Celly Cel – The G Filez
E-40 – The Element of Surprise
1999
A-1 – Mash Confusion
Celly Cel – The Best of Celly Cel
E-40 – Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
Various Artists – Sick Wid It's Greatest Hits
2000
B-Legit - Hempin' Ain't Easy
E-40 – Loyalty and Betrayal
E-40 – Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire (DVD Movie)
2001
The Mossie – Point Seen, Money Gone
The Click – Money & Muscle
2002
Al Kapone – Goin' All Out
E-40 – Grit & Grind
B-Legit - Hard 2 B-Legit
2003
E-40 – Breakin News
2004
E-40 – The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
Turf Talk – The Street Novelist
2005:
Turf Talk – Brings the Hood Colabilation
E-40 Presents – The Bay Bridges Compilation
Various Artists – The Sick Wid It Umbrella: Fedi Fetchin
2006:
Droop-E & B-Slimm – The Fedi Fetcher & The Money Stretcher
The Mossie – Soil Savvy
D-Shot – Callin All Shots
DB'Z – Speaking in Mannish
Nump – The Nump Yard
E-40 – My Ghetto Report Card
2007
E-40 – The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Music video compilation)
Turf Talk – West Coast Vaccine: The Cure
2008
DB'Z – Mannish Music
E-40 – The Ball Street Journal
Laroo – The Corporation
Nump – Student Ov Da Game
Various Artists – The Sick Wid It Umbrella: The Machine
