Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967 in Vallejo, California) best known by his stage name E-40, is a Bay Area rapper, part of the Bay Area rap group The Click and founder of Bay Area hip-hop record label Sick Wid It Records. The "40" in "E-40" was chosen by Earl as a reference to "40s" - 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor. The "E" was simply derived from Earl Stevens's first name. The "E" has also been claimed to signify his habit of drinking 5 forties in one night, since "E" is the fifth letter. After the release of The Click's first album Down and Dirty', E-40's local solo debut was released.

After a talent show at Grambling State University, E-40 and his cousin B-Legit decided to attempt a career in rap. They moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to form the group Most Valuable Players. E-40's gospel singing uncle (see "I got the game from my Uncle Saint Charles") helped them put out the record. E-40's sister, Suga T, was then added to the group to form The Click.

Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967 in Vallejo, California) is best known by his stage name E-40. Stevens is “known” by the new generation of hip-hop as a Hyphy rapper from the Bay Area of California. However, E-40 is also an old school veteran who has done collabos with rap icons such as 2Pac , Too $hort, Lil’ Jon, C-BO, Snoop Dogg , Spice 1, Richie Rich, Kanye West, Mac Dre, Mac Mall, The Luniz, The Outlawz, and many more. E-40 is a self-proclaimed “O.G.” in the rap game and has bee