E-40 Brings Bay Area Flavor to Tiny Desk Concert
West Coast icon Earl Stevens delivers intimate NPR Music set spinning hits and new tracks.
Image: Instagram
E-40 Takes The Tiny Desk Stage
Bay Area rap icon Earl Stevens, better known as E-40, stepped into NPR Music’s Tiny Desk series this week for a stripped-down live session. Shared on both npr.org/tinydesk and NPR Music’s YouTube channel, the performance coincides with Black Music Month, offering fans a rare glimpse of the hyphy pioneer in an intimate setting.
NPR’s official Instagram account posted two behind-the-scenes images of E-40 behind the microphone and keyboard, captioning them “TINY DESK @nprmusic x @e40 @youtube @the.tinydesk.concert.” These snapshots capture the laid-back atmosphere that defines the Tiny Desk format—no stage lights, no pyrotechnics, just raw talent.
Intimate Vibe Meets Iconic Hits
In a setlist spanning roughly 25 minutes, E-40 squeezed in three decades’ worth of career highlights. He kicked off with his 1996 breakout track “Sprinkle Me,” then moved through fan favorites like “Tell Me When to Go” and the chart-smashing “Choices (Yup).” The mix also included deeper cuts, giving casual listeners a taste of his Sick Wid It Records era.
Fans familiar with NPR Music’s own hype got an early tease from an Instagram teaser post last month. In that update—shared at https://www.instagram.com/p/DKXTX_RTAMe/—NPR hailed E-40 as a “Bay Area ambassador,” promising “three decades worth of hits at the Tiny Desk for Black Music Month 🔥.” The post reminded viewers that the concert video would be available “tomorrow only on npr.org/tinydesk or @nprmusic’s YouTube❗”
A Career In Full Flow
E-40’s appearance on Tiny Desk underscores just how prolific his career has been. Born Earl Stevens in 1967 in Vallejo, California, he launched his debut album Federal in 1993 and soon founded Sick Wid It Records. Over the years, he’s released 17 studio albums, collaborated with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Bruno Mars, and played a key role in popularizing the hyphy movement in the late 2000s.
That legacy was on full display at the Tiny Desk. Between songs, E-40 chatted with the NPR Music host about his early vinyl-pressing hustle and the DIY ethos that guided his rise. Without the usual concert trappings, the performance felt like a living-room jam—complete with hand claps, call-and-response shouts, and the occasional shout-out to his hometown fans.
What’s Next For E-40?
Beyond the Tiny Desk session, E-40 has kept busy. Earlier this spring, he appeared in the front row at Chase Center to back NBA star Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors’ halftime show. Offstage, he continues to expand his Earl Stevens Selections wine label and his ReadyRock clothing line.
On the music front, a new single titled “Beating They Ass” dropped in April, marking his first solo release since 2023’s collaborative album The D-Boy Diary. Fans can stream that track on all major platforms now, and rumors suggest a full-length project could arrive in early 2025.
For anyone who missed the live feed, NPR Music’s Tiny Desk video remains available online as part of a limited-time Black Music Month celebration. Whether you’re a longtime 40 Water fan or discovering his flow for the first time, the Tiny Desk session distills his larger-than-life persona into a few minutes of pure, unfiltered hip hop.
From Vallejo beginnings to global stages, E-40’s Tiny Desk Concert offers a concise tour of his evolution—and a testament to why he’s still one of rap’s most inventive voices.
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