Vallejo unveils honorary ‘E-40 Way’ for rap superstar – Vallejo Times-Herald

Earl ‘E-40’ Stevens looks up as the street sign named in his honor near his childhood home in Vallejo is unveiled on Saturday. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

Earl Stevens did indeed come home again Saturday, and hundreds of Vallejoans were all too happy to greet him.

The longtime rap superstar — “E-40” to his millions of fans — was honored with a street renaming ceremony on Magazine Street, just across from his childhood home.

Among those in attendance were Vallejo City Council members and representatives from the offices of state Sen. Bill Dodd and Assemblymember Lori Wilson. Each awarded Stevens with a resolution honoring his personal and music endeavors, to go along with the key to the city he received from Mayor Robert McConnell.

An emotional E-40 — who once delivered newspapers for the Times-Herald as a youngster— spoke about the support he received from his family and supporters, some of whom were in attendance.

“My mother always told me (and my siblings), ‘Get out there and be men,’” said Stevens. “We were activated in real life, and I love her for that.”

Council members approved in July the renaming of a nearly mile stretch of Magazine Street — from Laurel Street to Old Glen Road — followed by issuing Vallejo’s second key to the city to Stevens in October. Saturday marked the first key McConnell has personally issued.

“Many times, a key has been used to express and honor people of significance to a city. I think ours is better representative of unlocking the promise of youth,” McConnell said. “Please remember it is the youth whose future you are unlocking.”

The city recognized the multiplatinum artist for serving as a role model to Vallejoans. The “Ambassador of the Bay Area” holds the record for most solo album entries onto Billboard 200 charts — with 32 — by a hip-hop artist. He’s rapped about Magazine Street on numerous occasions, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of his freshman album, “Federal.”

Fairfield resident Andre Lamar Holmes returned to Vallejo, where his mother resides, to witness what he described as a full circle moment for Stevens. Holmes said the Saturday morning ceremony served as a reunion for the city and people such as himself, who grew up with Stevens.

“I used to get whuppings from his mom when we were little,” he laughed.

“If they would have told me this 30 years ago, that the city wants to name the street after E-40, I would’ve laughed,” Holmes said. “We were nobody, we were young and trying to find our way in life. It was just different, but it’s deserving.”

Stevens’ accolades also recognize his philanthropic work in the city. Stevens has made donations to schools within the city — he donated $25,000 of materials to Franklin Middle School in 2016 — provided bicycles for youth, and distributed pallets of turkeys to community members during the Thanksgiving season. He contacted Vallejo’s Mod Pizza this summer in preparation for Saturday’s event, collaborating with the chain restaurant to give 150 mini pizzas to attendees.

“A lot of y’all might not understand that E-40 put Vallejo on the land,” he said. “Because I’m global — not local.”