E-40 started out as an underground artist, but his solo album - 'In a Major Way' - gave him a chance to try bigger and better things. Beginning in 1998, he began collaborating with other rappers. He became a lot more popular with his single 'Tell Me When to Go' which was actually produced by Lil Jon, and become a big break for him.
He is pushing over twenty studio albums to his name, as well as making music for film soundtracks and performing alongside other rappers on their albums. He is also the founder of 'Sick Wid It Records'.
He has been associated with acts such as Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon, The Click, Mac Dre and many other rappers. He released 'U And Dat' in 2006, which featured T-Pain and Kandi Girl, it was also produced by Lil Jon. Following that, his album called 'My Ghetto Report Card' was number 1 on the Top R&B/ Hip-Hop Albums chart.
In 2012 he released three albums called 'The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil series 1, 2, and 3'.
Alongside his music career, E-40 is a bit of an entrepreneur and investor. He has invested in Microsoft and other businesses alike. He also recently created a book called E-40's Book of Slang.
Older brother to fellow rapper and co-founder of the Three 6 Mafia collective Juicy J, despite never being a member of the group, Project Pat used this affiliation to increase his exposure both locally and nationally. The rapper appeared on the Three 6 Mafia album “Crazyndalazday” in 1998 and Indo G’s full-length “Angel Dust” the same year. In 1999 Project Pat issued his debut studio album “Ghetty Green” on Hypnotize Minds/Loud Records introducing the rapper's songwriting and delivery to the Dirty South scene. A year later his follow-up album “Murderers & Robbers” was released independently on Hypnotize Minds, which further lay the groundwork for a Project Pat breakthrough.
The rapper subsequently contributed to the Three 6 Mafia single “Sippin’ on Some Syrup” in 2000, which later became a smash hit single, propelling Project Pat to Dirty South stardom. With the increased exposure the rapper released the single “Chickenhead” featuring Three 6 Mafia member La’ Chat, which earned anthem status in America’s south. On top of promoting his single, Pat’s newfound popularity also aided his third full-length album “Mista Don’t Play: Everythangs Workin” upon release in February 2001. The breakthrough record peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, No. 2 on the U.S. Hip-Hop/R&B chart, and went on to sell over a million copies.
Project Pat’s enjoyment of this success was cut short when he violated his parole and was pulled over for speeding with a pair of revolvers in his vehicle. In March 2001 the rapper was incarcerated in F.C.I. Greenville Illinois Federal Prison with a sentence that lasted until August 2005. During this time his label Hypnotize Records delayed the release of his third album “Layin’ da Smack Down” until August 2002, after which he released the mixtape “Mix Tape: The Appeal - Project Pat” in November 2003. In anticipation of his release from prison Pat released the subsequent mixtape “Gangsta Grillz, Vol. 15: The Welcome Home Party” in February 2006.
Following his time served, Project Pat released the studio album “Crook by da Book: The Fed Story” in December 2006, followed a year later by “Walkin’ Bank Roll” in October 2007. His sixth full-length “Real Recognize Real” marked his debut release for Asylum Records, led by the single “Keep It Hood” featuring OJ da Juiceman. The release was followed by a series of mixtapes with younger brother Juicy J entitled “Play me Some Pimpin' (1&2)” and “Cut Throat (1&2)”. The 2011 album “Loud Pack” arrived in 2011 charting at No. 44 on the U.S. Hip-Hop/R&B Chart. A collaborative album alongside Nasty Mane was issued by Money Train Management in October 2012, followed by Project Pat’s three “Cheez N Dope” mixtapes in 2013 and 2014.
E-40, or Earl Stevens as he’s known at home, is one of those rappers who quite simply has refused to play by anybody else’s rules but his own; over the course of a career that has now spanned almost twenty-five years, he’s bucked trends consistently and followed his own lane, and yet still enjoyed plenty of critical and commercial success in the process. Back in the mid-nineties, his second studio album, In a Major Way, went platinum and made a name for him as a major player on the west coast; since then, he’s released another eighteen studio efforts, and continues to tour, too. Continuing to stay very much ahead of the hip hop curve, E-40 welcomed contemporary stars like Rick Ross and French Montana on his latest album, last year’s The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 6; it’s testament to the reverence with which he’s treated in that scene, and his cult fanbase continue to pack out rooms for his live show, which sees him run through both new and classic cuts with a live band; he’s well overdue, though, for a return to the UK, so look out for any dates he might be able to squeeze in alongside his prodigious studio schedule.
It was a great show full of energy and classics the show started on time the staff was professional great venue I loved it and enjoyed my self the whole time