E-40 also known as The Ambassador of the Bay came on the scene with a refreshing flow, some interesting vocabulary and a knack for entertaining people. While the emcee has gone unrecognized for a lot of his efforts, E-40 has gained respect for being the father of slang terms often used in Hip-Hop and for making successful underground rap in the Bay for more than a decade. Forty Fonzarelli also dabbled in business, literature, radio and film to make himself a chameleon in the game.

For his 12th release, My Ghetto Report Card, E-40 teamed up with various Hip-Hop heavyweights. The album, which features Mike Jones, Too Short, and Juelz Santana will also have The King of Crunk, Lil Jon as an executive producer. With a new album, book and a possible DVD in the works, E-40 still found time to talk to DX about life, family, slang-biters and the Hyphy movement. He was even nice enough to offer fans some business tips.

Working with various artists for your entire career, what has made this album different with Lil Jon on board and what sets this album apart from the rest?

It’s the beginning of a new beginning. You know, I’m on here and my vocal punch is real high powered. I’m using colorful words. I’m touching down on all kinds of angles. I’m spittin’ punch-lines and metaphors and I’m giving it to ‘em straight across the board and I’m telling it like it is. This is a vintage E-40 type of album but with a new school, new millennium twist. With a new machinery, new producers along with the vintage producers I got on there. It’s the beginning of a new beginning baby. The album is bananas man. It’s coconuts.

As a father, you’ll be working with your son (producer Droop-E) on this project. How has that experience been?

Aw, man wonderful. You know, it’s something that we didn’t really design like that but it just ended up happening. My lil’ young mustache, my son...You know he’s been around it all his life you know and, he delivered. He did his thang. He’s one of the hottest producers in Northern Caliscrillia. And de’s spreadin’ man, you know what I mean?

Aside from music, you are known as one of the illest with the slang. How did that originate and when will fans be able to check out the E-40 Dictionary?

Where I’m from...I’m from the Yay Area, the Bay Area in Northern Caliscrillia. Up top, you know the 1300 block, Magazine St. Out there in Northern Caliscrillia you gotta realize there’s a lot of slick talkers and collar poppers out there. Me being a young mustache and a student of the game, I analyzed the OG’s you know what I mean? They laced my tennis shoes and taught me how to stay sharp, you smell me? Sharper than a porcupine’s spine. So, ever since I was a young mustache, that’s what I do. We got the gift of gab out there. I’m one of the dudes that come with those words that a lot of these rappers be sayin’, you smell me? Continued on page 2 »