Revenue Retrievin: Day Shift

E-40 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 30, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Heavy on Grind Ent.
• ASIN: B0038Y5Z1Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #120,409 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

He's a rap innovator, a business-savvy tycoon and one of the music industry's most consistent success stories. Yes, E-40 is all those things, but he's probably best known as a slang creator, a man whose distinctive gift of gab gets lifted and used in the rhymes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and others. Now, the man with the terrific tongue returns with his most polished product to date, the imaginatively titled The Ball Street Journal.

"Anything that rolls off the tongue slick and is catchy, that's where it's at," E-40 explains. "The Ball Street Journal just flew off the tongue and it's memorable. This traces everything from the beginning to now. I've been through hard times and I've been through good times. It's like a discography of how my life has been, because I touch down on a lot of different angles on the album. It covers all angles of the game."

Given his status as a rap music and rap business pioneer, E-40 justifiably kicks off The Ball Street Journal with "Ambassador." Here, over a ridiculously catchy Rick Rock beat complete with a choice Digable Planets sample, 40 Water gives a Cliff's Notes version of his musical legacy. "What I've done over 20 years defies logic," he says. "I've got a chance to see cats come and go. It's not normal for somebody to be in the game this long and to still be able to keep up with the Joneses, or to do better than the Joneses. I'm OG, but I'm still current and cold. Let me tell those who don't know how long I've been in the game, what I've established and see how I've paved the way for those that are rapping now."

One reason E-40 has remained relevant in the tumultuous rap world is his supreme lyricism. On the reggae-flavored "Hustle," he boasts that the "chain around my neck look like a playground swing" and that skill like his is "rare like white running backs." Then, E-40 delivers a trio of Lil Jon-produced party starters, the hyper "Break Ya Ankles," the hyphy-flavored "Sweatbox" and the sonically shifting "Turf Drop."

E-40 then keeps it in the family with the innovative "Poor Man's Hydraulics," which was produced by his son Droop-E. Here, E-40 puts a new twist on detailing the hyphy scene thanks to his unorthodox, whisper-style delivery. "I wanted to do something where people wouldn't know it was me rapping," E-40 reveals. "I put the little whisper sound on it and spit some game on it. It's a different kind of beat and a different style of rap."

It's also different for E-40 to rap toward the ladies in an endearing manner. He does it on The Ball Street Journal tracks "Wake It Up" and "Give Her The Keys." The former is the lead single that features Akon, while the latter finds him teaming with T-Pain and recapturing the magic they created on E-40's breakaway 2006 hit "U And Dat." Both "Wake It Up" and "Give Her The Keys" salute women and encourage other men to do the same.

"If you have a female that's got your back and is really there to care for you, you've got to really let her know that you care and that you recognize what she's done for you," E-40 says. "This could be a motivational song for females and males, because dudes will know that I've been real with it."

But don't think that E-40 has gone soft. Quite the contrary, as evidenced on the whistle-assisted "Pole," an homage to strippers and the marvels they pull off while traversing a dance pole. E-40 also flexes his thematic range on "Earl," one of The Ball Street Journal's most insightful tracks. Here, the Vallejo, California icon encourages people to use their skills for positive, legal gain.

"I try to teach the youngsters because a lot of cats really have a lot of skills," he says. "Cats always talk about sports and entertainment, but you can utilize your skills in other ways. A lot of soil cats -- hood cats -- they're super smart and they could get 4.0s. But they want to be super hood and take another path. I want our youth to play sports, to be lawyers."

E-40 remains on the thoughtful vibe with "No More Pain." A nod to West Coast unity, the Jonathan "JR" Rotem-produced cut features guest raps from Snoop Dogg and The Game, each of whom outlines the importance and persevering despite trying times.

Fortunately for rap fans, E-40 has persevered throughout a career that stretches back to the 1980s. It was then that the Northern Califoolya legend was born. E-40 was among the first rappers to make a major dent independently. With his own Sick Wid It Records, E-40 established himself as a street-certified, business minded rapper. Early hit releases such as "Mr. Flamboyant," Federal and The Mail Man spread like wildfire throughout the West Coast, Midwest and South.

All the while, E-40 was honing his remarkable ability to coin new slang through his music and introduce other talent (The Click, B-Legit, Suga-T, D-Shot). Through it all, E-40 emerged as one of rap's great narrators. He was able to rap with equal aplomb whether assuming the perspective of a cold-hearted drug dealer, a loving husband, a vicious pimp or a chest-thumping battle rapper.

In 2003, after releasing the acclaimed Breakin News album, E-40 concluded his relationship with Jive Records, his recording home since 1994. As he collected his thoughts, he examined the opportunities before him. "I had a few options, but the one that felt right as I prayed on it, God just got on me and was like, `Call Lil Jon,'" E-40 says with a chuckle. "I'm not putting extras on it. I explained my situation to him. Jon told me he was going to call his people. He said they were with it and we were going to get it going. Great things came out of that."

Product Description

2010 release, one of two albums from the veteran rapper released on the same day (the other being Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift). Both albums find E-40 returning to his roots and sounding better than ever. Day Shift features 19 tracks including guest appearances from Too Short, Gucci Mane, B-Legit, Mike Marshall, Suga T, J. Valentine, Droop-E and many others.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars E-40 the day shift is nice! April 1, 2010

By Tyrone Witherspoon

Format:Audio CD

this is what i have been waiting for from E-40! He still the front runner for the Bay and i love it. Theres everything in the Day Shift...bangers, slappers and slumpers all of the above. I highly recommend this CD...shoot i recommend both of the CD's. Personally i like the night shift better but either one you will not be disappointed with.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gettin Rich Twice off the Day and Night Shift March 31, 2010

By Nick S.

Format:Audio CD

I had the Ball Street Journal on repeat since last year and couldn't wait for the new E-40 album to drop. I was even more surprised when I heard it was going to be a double release; twice as many new songs to listen to. I was not disappointed.

E-40's done it again with this two album release. If you liked "The Ball Street Journal" then there is no reason you won't like these two albums. E-40's still got that quality west-coast sound and makes liberal use of the lows, the latter being something I am particularly fond of 40 Water for. So get yourself a set of subs and have a good listen to these discs. Support your favorite bay area artist by BUYING this album, not downloading.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Might make you become something you playa March 30, 2010

By Eugene Pinchback

Format:Audio CD

This is the fire the west need to be back in the game, Lyrics and real life punch lines that make you think twice. The beat are fast because his flow is perfected to sickness level I love not buying a bootleg copy of this one for show