Announcement: E-40’s “Function” Certified Gold
Featuring California Heavy Hitters YG, IAMSU!, and Problem, “Function” Kickstarted the Resurgence of West Coast Party Music
11.08.2016
Critical Praise for E-40
“Whoever you are, and whatever your low-grade malaise, E-40 is here to banish it. The Bay Area rap forefather is a human exclamation point, a superhero whose power is remaining helplessly in love with his work. E-40 works harder and more joyfully at making great rap music than you or I have ever worked on anything” – Pitchfork
“The Bay Area’s ambassador E-40 is one of those rare veterans in hip-hop that gets better with time.” – Complex
The Song:
Just as E-40 prepares for the release of his upcoming new double album The D-Boy Diary Books 1 & 2 on November 18th, the RIAA has certified his 2012 hit “Function” Gold. The lead single from his 2012 album Block Brochure: Welcome To the Soil Vol. 2 , “Function” featured YG, IAMSU!, and Problemand a high-energy, bass-heavy beat supplied by League of Starz. An instant hit, the track captured national attention leading to the resurgence of West Coast party music. “Function” marks the second Gold plaque 40 has earned this year, with his smash hit “Choices” having been certified back in May.
E-40 explained why the song was so successful, stating, “‘Function’ changed the sound of the West Coast. The energy rejuvenated memories of 2006. I put myself, YG, Problem and IAMSU! all on one song with two of us representing Northern California and two of us representing Southern California. We went gold independently and sold over 500,000 singles, now that is an accomplishment!” Nationally syndicated radio host Big Boy agreed, explaining “[‘Function’ is] one of those records that gave the world what they needed from the West Coast. ‘Function’ is certified Gold with the RIAA, but it is Diamond on turf.”
Brian Shafton, CEO and Founder of RBC Records, a consultant for E-40 and Sick Wid It Records since 2004, put this achievement in perspective, explaining “Going Gold as an indie artist is a major feat. Not only does the artist have to deliver a hit record, but he also must market his material with an indie budget. It doesn’t happen often in this era. Some may even call such an accomplishment a fluke but when it happens to the same artist twice in a year, it is a major achievement. The industry is officially on notice with this tremendous movement.”
Never one to rest on his laurels, E-40 has stayed active since the release of “Function.” Later the same year he released History: Function and Mob Music, a joint double-album with fellow Bay Area legendToo $hort. He followed that up with volumes four through six of his Block Brochure: Welcome to Soilseries of albums and then a double album, Sharp On All Four Corners. Last year he released his morst recent project, the online-only Poverty and Prosperity EP. He is currently gearing up for the release of his upcoming double album The D-Boy Diary Books 1 & 2. Last month he released the lead single, “On One,” featuring fellow West Coast rapper AD. The new club banger, which was premiered by GQ, is just a taste of what’s to come on 40 Water’s 44-track album that will mark his 26th and 27th solo releases, slated to hit the streets on November 18th.
Watch “Function”: https://youtu.be/DsDyZNIkO6Q
Steam “Function”: https://open.spotify.com/track/5PR09nMAHAOOklMQMJchch
Purchase “Function”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/function-feat.-yg-iamsu-problem/id714908750?i=714909019
Listen to “On One” ft. AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6sSu88Aas
Purchase the song on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/on-one-feat.-a.d./id1161554833?i=1161554952
Pre-order The D-Boy Diary: Books 1 & 2 on…
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/TheDBoyDiary
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/TheDBoyDiary_Amz
Google: http://smarturl.it/TheDBoyDiary_GP
Purchase tickets for E-40 at Webster Hall in NYC this Saturday (11/12): http://www.ticketmaster.com/e-40-webster-hall-new-york-ny/venueartist/140/761240
The D-Boy Diary Tracklist
Book 1
Stack it to the Ceiling
Straight To The Point (ft. Ezale and G-Eazy)
Savage (ft. Jazze Pha and B-Legit)
Puttin’ in Work
Mr. Arm and Hammer (ft. Stresmatic)
Hunedz (ft. Rick Rock)
Fired Up (ft. Cousin Fik)
Bag On Me (ft. K.D. Stunts)
Say So (ft. iStevie)
Stay Away (ft. Eric Bellinger)
Somebody (ft. Ricco Barrino)
All Day (ft. Gucci Mane)
The Grit Don’t Quit (ft. Nef The Pharaoh)
Fake Lit (ft. June Onna Beat)
Goon Music (ft. Stresmatic)
Gangsta Song (ft. Kent Jones)
Blessed By The Game
We Flip (ft. Cousin Fik, Choose Up Cheese and Stresmatic)
I Had It In a Drought (ft. Stresmatic)
Check (ft. Willy Will)
Made It Out (ft. Young Chu)
Book 2
Bring Back The Sideshow (ft. Mistah F.A.B. and Nef The Pharaoh)
Money (ft. Mozzy and Jay Rock)
This Goin’ Up (ft. Husalah and Turf Talk)
On One (ft. AD)
Get Money or Get Lost
Highway (ft. B-Legit and TreSolid)
Sick Out Here (ft. Droop-E)
Thank U (ft. Willy Will)
Military Time (ft. Salsalino and Baby Treeze)
Uh Huh (ft. YV)
2 Seater (ft. Kid Ink)
What It’s Gone Be (ft. D-Day and Tamoya Bell)
How Do U Like That
I Know a Guy
All I Know (ft. K Camp and Casey Veggies)
Waitin’ On a Play (ft. Nicamari)
Tycoon
Broke Bitches (ft. Joe Moses and Jay 305)
Flash On These Bitches (ft. Lil B)
Too Many
Paid Off (ft. Stresmatic)
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic for more info.
E-40 Background:
One of the most celebrated rappers of all time, E-40 has attained legendary status in hip-hop. Since making his debut with The Click almost 30 years ago and becoming one of the first West Coast rap artists to sign to a major label, his name has become synonymous with the independent music movement. E-40 has released 24 solo albums, become a platinum recording artist and collaborated with artists including Tupac, UGK, and Snoop Dogg. At age 48, E-40 is an anomaly in hip-hop, maintaining his relevance over a career that spans three decades. In the past few years alone, he’s been featured on several Billboard charts (“Choices,” Big Sean’s “IDFWU”, Ty Dolla $ign’s “Saved”), he’s earned an RIAA-certified Gold plaque (“Choices”) and starred and had his 2006 smash hit “Tell Me When to Go” featured in a Beats By Dre commercial. Says E-40, “What’s happening at this point in my career defies logic. Name another 48-year-old rapper with one Gold record, let alone three in the same year. My fans stretch much further than the Bay Area, further than just the West Coast. I brought so much shit to hip-hop. I’ve been relevant in each generation and each decade and I’ve done it as an independent artist.”
E-40’s success extends beyond the music industry, most notably through his entrepreneurship in the adult beverages industry. His wine business, Earl Stevens Selections, distributes high-quality wine to stores across the country, including BevMo, Safeway, and local liquor stores. He has made inroads into the pre-mixed cocktail business with Sluricane, a signature bottled-mix named after his 1995 hit “Hurricane,” with The Click, which was the top-selling beverage at BevMo when it was first released. In 2015, E-40 released an eponymous brand of 40-oz. malt liquor. E-40 is continuing his unprecedented longevity and success as an independent artist with his next album, scheduled for late 2016.
Links:
twitter | facebook | youtube | soundcloud | instagram | spotify
“On One” ft. AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-6sSu88Aas
The D-Boy Diary: Books 1 & 2: http://smarturl.it/TheDBoyDiary
“Petty” ft. Kamaiyah: https://soundcloud.com/e40/e-40-petty-feat-kamaiyah
“All The Way Up” Westside Remix ft. E-40, The Game & Snoop Dogg: https://soundcloud.com/empire/fat-joe-remy-ma-snoop-dogg-the-game-e-40-all-the-way-up-westside-remix
“Slappin’ ft. Nef The Pharaoh & D.R.A.M.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxgTmM-7rm0
“Choices”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPtXW7L0dfQ
30-Second Beats By Dre Advertisement featuring E-40 & Draymond Green: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23cchXZnEdY
90-Second Beats By Dre Web Advertisement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G_9RPyF6nE
“Choices” (Warriors Remix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfYvtz3NbKE
“Tell Me When To Go”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GZbaXdK8Js