I'm a corporate thug. That's the best way to be.
E-40
I don't get inspired by too many people because I like uniqueness. I'm a unique dude.
Whether you're a DJ, whether you a rapper, whether you a producer, take it seriously. This is an occupation - you can get paid - don't expect to blow up overnight, and appreciate when you do get paid any type of money, appreciate it.
My mom and dad divorced when I was 8 years old, but my Dad never left my life. We would go over there on weekends and he'd be playing his guitar, listening to Bobby Blue Bland and B. B. King and KBLX radio while he was out in the garage painting custom cars.
I'm not boasting or nothing but a lot of people have a lot of love for me. I'm a legend, but I stay H and H, hungry and humble.
My momma was working very hard, doing three jobs... she just worked her butt off, man. On the weekends she started to play this song called 'Living for the Weekend.'
I've got a big heart and I believe in good karma.
However God had it planned, I'm rockin' with how he do it. He took the steering wheel and I'm letting him drive.
A lot of people - they might think I fell off, but they don't know I'm eating. I'm on the West coast, eating. It's just they don't hear about me because they don't see me on the TV. But I'm still around.
I was the class clown when I was a little young mustache.
I talk about things that real street cats can relate to.
I'm definitely underrated. By far.
I got a great imagination, and I pay close attention to my surroundings and I'm very observant.
I used to burn rubber at every light, mean mugging everything there was, cause that was my attitude.
The earliest music I remember hearing is Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together.' That was when my momma and my daddy were together, before they went their separate ways.
My voice gon' stick out like a turd in a punch bowl.
I'm a survivor, man. I done had my ups and downs, but I've got get-back skills for real for real. I refuse to fall.
When I do listen to music a lot of times I listen to old school music, I'm talking about Earth, Wind & Fire, I'm talking about the Isley Brothers, the O'Jays. It just eases my mind.
I don't just talk about jewelry and cars and houses and belittling those that don't have that. I'm a democrat. I speak for the democrats. I speak for the soil.
When I was in the marching band, I used to take my snare drum and turn it over and use my drumstick and scratch on the other side. That was just being creative.
For the first six years of my career I was independent. I got on to a major and did my thing there. I had platinum and gold records and all that.
I started playing drums in the 4th grade.
I love gospel music, I love gangsta music.
When you do mixtapes, a lot of times your fanbase can say, 'We've been getting this for free for so many years, his new album is about to drop, we've listened to it, and we're not going to buy it. We'll download it for free.'
Sometimes all your fanbase wants you to do is stay within your envelope and do you because that's what they love you for.
I'm the greatest game-spitter of all time. I talk about the swell, the block, the 'hood. I'm a street commentator. I narrate how people live. That's E-40.
Some people be game-goofy and words don't sound right coming out of their mouthpiece. But whenever E-40 says something it's just solidified.
Communication, that keeps everything cool. Not holding anything back, you got to tell each other what's on your mind, that's really it. Otherwise when one gets mad at one, it can burst and you just let it out and it can just come out wrong.
Any relationship, I'm talking about even with your kids, when you got something they can relate to - both of y'all - it helps.
I think the Internet is right on time. I think it's very important. It's reaching out to millions of people. Even the most slimiest and grimiest hood cats out got iPhones and Smartphones so they're able to view everything on the Internet, so they're well in tuned to what's going on.
Ebonics is me. I'm the king of slang, hands down.
I'm just a storyteller.
I feel like I'm a voice of hope.
I really started from grassroots, without a handout or anything.
People, a lot of times, don't like what's different. When it's something different out there, the majority of people will be like 'aww, that's wack!' but if it's regular, plain or a straight through flow, it's easier for them to adapt to, because everyone likes the normal.
Rap evolves and to still be current you have to evolve with it! Get in front or get left behind.
In the '80s, I wore these glasses because I was trying to look like a square to outsmart the po-po, you feel me? It was what we call 'throw off methods.' So I wear little glasses.
I had T-Pain on one of my singles before anyone really knew of him. I was the first one to put that to life of having T-Pain on the hook.
I've got songs that'll make a gangster cry.
I got southern roots from Texas all the way to Louisiana, went to Grambling State back in the day, my whole career I've done songs with down South artists.
It's like with me, I feel like I was never one of those rappers that, you know, stayed in one time warp.
The 'Day Shift' songs are things that would unfold during the daytime. 'Night Shift' is what would unfold during the nighttime. So, that's how I put that whole thing together. I did both all on one album budget.
It's nice to have video play, radio play but as long as I can work my virals on the Internet, or yet get it out to where people hear it and can see it anytime, I'm cool.
I'm glad I'm setting an example for the younger generation so in the future they can say, 'Look how long E-40's rap career was. Look how long he stayed relevant.'
Long as the Earth is here, hip-hop'll be here.
Rick Barry always amazed me - he was one of the best free-throw shooters of all time, and he used to throw it underhand.
I love working with different artist with different styles and different producers with different sounds, creativity is everything.
I make up many words but we can go on for forever about slang words that E-40 created. That has always been one of my things since was youngster. I have always being creative with my words.
I feel like this - everybody, every rapper to me, I feel like every rapper got a little bit of E-40 in them, whether they know it or not.
Longevity has a lot to do with me continuously nonstop putting music on the shelf, and making myself be the face of the Bay, and continuing to carry the Bay on my back for many moons, you know.
