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E-40

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description E-40 Overview

Born Earl Johnson in Richmond, California, E-40 rose to prominence in the Bay Area’s underground hip-hop scene throughout the 1990s with his distinctive, rapid-fire delivery and focus on street life observations and product promotion.

help E-40 FAQ

What is E-40's real name and where is he from?

E-40's real name is Earl Stevens, and he was born in Vallejo, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. He rose to prominence in the Bay Area's underground hip-hop scene throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

What record label did E-40 found?

E-40 co-founded Sick Wid It Records, an independent label that helped launch his career and other Bay Area hip-hop artists throughout the 1990s. The label later entered distribution partnerships with major labels including Jive Records.

What are E-40's most well-known songs?

E-40 scored a major mainstream hit with 'Tell Me When to Go' featuring Keak Da Sneak in 2006, which helped popularize the Bay Area hyphy movement. He is also known for 'Choices (Yup)' and collaborations with artists like Too $hort and Tupac Shakur.

What slang terms has E-40 popularized in hip-hop?

E-40 is widely credited with coining or popularizing numerous slang terms that entered mainstream hip-hop vocabulary, including 'fasho' and 'broccoli' (meaning money). His linguistic creativity has been a signature element of his rapid-fire lyrical style across decades of output.