Sickapedia: E-40

Earl Stevens, Jr. was born the oldest of four children to a musician and a prison worker, in Vallejo, California on November 15, 1967.

By the time he was a teenager, Stevens had garnered the nickname, "E-40", stemming from his penchant for drinking 40-ounce malt liquor drinks. He honed his musical talents in his high school marching band with his cousin, Brandt "B-Legit" Jones. After graduating, the two attended the historically black Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, where they pursued their mutual interest in rap music. The two won a school talent show, earning campus-wide fame, which inspired them to form the rap group, MVP, upon returning to Vallejo.

MVP, which included Stevens' brother, Danell "D-Shot" Stevens, and sister, Tanina "Suga-T" Stevens, was renamed, The Click, before releasing their debut album, Let's Side, in 1990. After being rejected by the influential Oakland, CA record pool, the Music Pros, the group enlisted the aid of Stevens' uncle, 1970s gospel singer, Charles "Saint Charles" Thurman, who convinced them to distribute the music themselves. The group then sold cassette tapes personally from the trunks of their cars and via consignment deals with local liquor stores.

In 1991, Stevens married his high school sweetheart, Tracey, who he'd met in middle school. He later purchased a palatial home in Rancho Solano.

Eventually landing a distribution deal for his Sick Wid' It Records imprint, Stevens scored his first charting hit with the 1993 single, "Captain Save a Hoe", which features The Click. In 1994, Stevens inked a deal with Jive Records and soon after, released the hit song, "Sprinkle Me". The song appears on Stevens' 1995 solo album, In a Major Way, which also features a collaboration with Tupac Shakur, Spice 1 and Mac Mall, "Dusted 'N' Disgusted". The Click's next release, 1995's Game Related, featuring their highest-selling song, "Hurricane", rose to #21 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Stevens' 1996 album, Tha Hall of Game, features the hit, "Rapper's Ball", featuring Jodeci member, Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey, and fellow-Bay area entrepreneur and Jive Records label-mate, Todd "Too Short" Shaw. The music video for the track, which rose to #29 on the Billboard 100 chart, also features cameos by Shakur and Ice-T.

In 2006, Stevens was featured on Atlanta rapper Lil' Jon's hit, "Snap Yo Fingers", along with Sean P. of the Youngbloodz. That same year, he opened the first Fatburger restaurant in the San Franciso Bay Area.

Stevens was featured on rapper Big Sean's 2014 hit, "I Don't Fuck with You", which peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2015, Stevens released the "E-40" line of alcoholic beverages.