Vallejo honors E-40 with street renaming, key to city

VALLEJO – The city of Vallejo unveiled honorary street signage for rapper and entrepreneur Earl “E-40” Stevens and gave him the key to the city during a ceremony in South Vallejo on Saturday morning.

The city added signs underneath existing signage for nearly a mile of Magazine Street, from Laurel Street to Old Glen Road, designating it E-40 Way. E-40 grew up in the area and released a song called “Magazine Street” on his EP “Poverty and Prosperity” in 2015.

On Saturday, he joined Vallejo Mayor Robert McConnell on a stage across the street from his childhood home hosted by Oakland rapper Mistah F.A.B. and included a performance by the Vallejo High School cheerleading squad.

“I never thought I'd be selling tapes off the trunk of a car over at M&M Liquor to having my own liquor,” E-40 said, referencing a popular South Vallejo liquor store. 

He recounted how as a child he lived in North Vallejo before moving to the Magazine Street neighborhood and had a paper route delivering the Vallejo Times-Herald newspaper. He said he played the drums throughout his school years. He graduated from Hogan High School in 1985.

In the 1980s, E-40 formed the rap group The Click with his cousin, B-Legit, his brother D-Shot and his sister Suga-T, who were all in attendance on Saturday. Thirty years ago, he released his first solo album,  “Federal.” Since then he’s had a string of hits including “U and Dat,” “Tell Me When To Go,” “Choices (Yup),” and “Function.”

In addition to his music, E-40 has also launched a series of food and drink products. He distributes 15 different varieties of wine, tequila, cognac, bourbon, vodka, gin, beer, and pre-mixed cocktails. E-40 also launched the food brand “Goon With The Spoon” in 2021, which sells sausages, burritos, ice cream, and a new soul food line.

The Vallejo City Council unanimously voted to add the honorary signage during a meeting in July. It voted last week to give E-40 the key to the city as well.

On Saturday, E-40 also received a proclamation from the state legislature, which acknowledged his charitable giving, such as giving $12,000 for musical instruments to Hogan High School.

Before handing him the key to the city, McConnell said that it “unlocks hope and aspirations.”

“I was asked earlier what E-40 means to Vallejo, and I talked about the donations you made, and everything,” McConnell said. “But you’re a real inspiration here.”

After his own speech, E-40 walked over to the corner, where a city flag obscured the street sign. The mayor removed it, to reveal the new signage proclaiming it “E-40 Way,” which the rapper pointed to, hugged some old friends, and then kissed the pole.