E 40

Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American ^{United States} rapper ^rapping from Vallejo, California. It is assumed the stage name Earl carries, comes from (as made mention on his album "My Ghetto Report Card", on "they might be taping") E-40 stating "I got my name from drinking beer". He is also part of the Bay Area ^{San Francisco Bay Area} rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal ^{Federal (album)} , was released in 1992, and The Click's debut album "Down & Dirty" came out in 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 San Francisco 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 B-Legit decided to attempt a career in rap. Together, and his sister Suga-T, they released their main stream radio hit "Captain Save A Hoe." They moved back to Vallejo ^{Vallejo, California} 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. 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 Keak Da Sneak, became popular throughout the United States, and E-40 appeared on MTV's Direct Effect ^{Sucker Free} and BET's 106 & Park. Publicity for E-40 was achieved through the MTV special My Block: The Bay. He later released "U And Dat" in April 2006, featuring T-Pain and Kandi Girl ^{Kandi Burruss} 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. 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. He was also featured on DJ Shadow's new album The Outsider ^{The Outsider (DJ Shadow album)} , 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 ^{The Game (rapper)} 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.

In March 2010, 40 announced that he was going to release two new albums at the end of March entitled Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift and Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift.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 ^{San Jose, California} .. 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."*1992: Federal ^{Federal (album)}
*1993: The Mail Man
*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 ^{Loyalty and Betrayal (E-40 album)}
*2002: Grit & Grind
*2003: Breakin' News
*2006: My Ghetto Report Card
*2008: The Ball Street Journal
*2010: Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift
*2010: Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift
Film

* The Breaks (1999)
* 3 Strikes ^{3 Strikes (film)} (2000)
* Obstacles (2000)
* Malibooty (2003)
* Hair Show (2004)
* Survival of the Illest (2004)
* Dead Heist (2007)


Television


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)


Appearances as a fictional character

* The Jamie Foxx Show (2001)