E-40 Gets the Key to the City of Vallejo and a Street Named in His Honor

On Saturday, Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell handed the key to the city to one of its biggest musical icons: E-40.

“I didn’t even know anywhere else. I only knew 4 blocks. I was just a ghetto child. I never thought I’d be selling tapes out of the trunk of the car over at M&M liquor to having my own liquor,” said Earl Stevens, aka E-40, at the ceremony on a stretch of Magazine Street that now bears the honorary street sign E-40 Way. It marks the neighborhood where he was raised and began his chart-topping career.

“You can see the type of talent this city has produced over many many decades,” said Mayor McConnell, addressing the crowd of hundreds that gathered for the ceremony. “Continuously when you move throughout the Bay Area and when you live in other cities, you meet people who say ‘I grew up and I lived in Vallejo,’ and they’re very proud of it.”

“So we want to acknowledge his success, and more importantly, we want to acknowledge his contributions to the city,” added McConnell.

Oakland-born hip-hop and hyphy artist Mistah F.A.B., master of ceremonies at the event, said E-40 was somebody he grew up idolizing as an artist and as a person.

“Today is about being here for somebody that has opened up doors, somebody that has pioneered and championed what it is like to be not only an artist, but to be an entrepreneur, to be a father, to be a friend, to be a family member, to be a great business man,” said Mistah F.A.B., who is also a community organizer, entrepreneur and activist. “I think that you guys are just as proud as we are and we’re happy. … This is a beautiful moment, man.”

E-40 is a name practically synonymous with Bay Area hip-hop, and he’s enjoyed impressive career longevity rarely seen in rap. He got his start in the late ’80s as a member of The Click, a group that also featured his sister Suga-T, brother D-Shot and cousin B-Legit.

Along with peers like Too Short, E-40 set the standard for independent music distribution by selling tapes “out the trunk.” His label Sick Wid It Records later signed a distribution deal with Jive, and The Click’s second album, 1995’s Game Related, peaked at No. 21.

“It’s a good opportunity for the kids that are coming up here, to build something positive for the children coming up in Vallejo,” said Vallejo resident Rosalyn Robinson. “I think it’s a monumental event, giving Vallejo that credit that’s well needed. E-40 has been in the game for four decades, and this celebration is way past.”

In 1993, E-40 launched his solo career with the album Federal and continued collaborating with members of The Click on hits like 1995’s “Sprinkle Me” featuring Suga-T as his national profile grew. He’s credited with inventing and popularizing many Bay Area slang terms — such as “broccoli” for cannabis, “fasheezy” and “flamboastin’.”

E-40’s hit-making streak continued with the 2006 smash “Tell Me When To Go,” which came to define hyphy — the local, hard-partying rap subculture — for the rest of the country. His 2014 song “Choices” became a Golden State Warriors anthem that amped up the team during its championship games.

Dennis Lastra, who grew up next-door to Stevens in his grandmother’s house, said despite all the success and the accomplishments, E-40 was always humble and always made sure to visit them whenever he was in Vallejo.

“I’m just so proud of him, man. Because like, just from day one, I seen her struggle as a single mother, and she raised her kids,” said Lastra of Earl Stevens’ mother, who raised him and his siblings as a single parent. “I give all props to that man. … You feel that gratitude that he has. It’s just humbling to hear that from someone that has achieved so much. … And the hard way, it wasn’t the easy way.”

In recent years, E-40 collaborated with younger Bay Area artists like P-Lo and national rap stars, including Snoop Dogg, T.I. and Ice Cube. While continuing to make music, he’s shifted his energy toward his philanthropy and liquor and food businesses. He has a forthcoming cookbook with Snoop Dogg, Goon With the Spoon, out Nov. 14 via Chronicle Books.

“E-40 is a trailblazer and he’s opened up many doors for young people to walk through,” said Rosalyn Robinson. “He’s very humble, always been humble. He’s always been loyal. And I think it’s important for the kids to see, and it’s important for events like this to keep happening.”

KQED’s Attila Pelit contributed to this story.