E-40 is a hero in the Bay Area and is so for several reasons. As one of the first rappers from Oakland, E-40 began his rap career with his crew, The Click. Members included B-Legit, D-Shot and Suga-T, and together the group created a swell of powerhouse rap.
As a member of the collective, E-40 remained one of the most engaged members, pushing the troop into the studio to lay down the tracks that would result in the crew releasing their 1990 EP Let’s Side. Picking up a fair amount of traction in East Oakland and Vallejo, in 1992, the group signed with Sick Wid It Records to release their second album, Down And Dirty and become West Coast legends.
E-40 recorded some solo material along the way. However, in 1993, The Click had a commercial breakthrough with their comical song ‘Captain Save a Hoe’. With his unique style and humour, E-40 developed a heavy regional following in the Bay Area, eventually spreading nationwide. Alongside figures such as Too $hort, E-40, with his unique style and flow, put a spotlight on MCs from Northern California…