The song E-40 described as letting “my nuts out”
E-40 was an integral part of the rap scene in Northern California during the 1990s. Along with figures such as Too $hort and B-Legit, he gave the region legitimacy and helped cultivate local talent. Having released an unfathomable 27 albums and five EPs, the emcee has etched his way into hip-hop history and is considered a legend in the culture.
The emcee, as part of The Click (comprised of B-Legit, D-Shot and Suga-T), had a massive impact on America’s view of California. He showcased the depth, diversity and variety of music the state could produce outside of just Los Angeles.
E-40 encouraged The Click to record music and try to make a career out of their obvious talent, resulting in the crew releasing their 1990 EP Let’s Side. Picking up a fair amount of traction in East Oakland and Vallejo, in 1992, the group signed with Sick Wid It Records to release their second album, Down And Dirty.
The local buzz quickly turned into nationwide fame and during the 1990s, E-40 was a household name on the West Coast. He has since become a hero and continues to be astounded on a regular basis by some of his own achievements over the years. From the ‘90s to the 2000s, the Vallejo lyricist has been a mainstay and during an interview with Complex, the musician once broke down his 25 most essential tracks and one he described as letting “my nuts out.
Highlighting his 1993 Studio Ton-produced track, ‘Bring the Yellow Tape’ from his EP The Mail Man, Stevens explained, “I say, ‘Studio Ton, gimme one of those sinister mob, something just like a movie theme, like I’m telling a story.’ Back then, storytelling was really in effect. That’s what it was about, and when you paint a picture, it’s always classic music—and that’s why I went back to telling my stories.”
Speaking about the meaning behind the song title, the Vallejo native added, “So basically, ‘Bring the Yellow Tape’ was a way of saying something went down on the block, and the streets is blocked off. Yellow tape, they got the white chalk, the body outline, all that, you know it’s a crime scene. I was just imagining that, and I turned it into a story.”
The legend concluded, “This is how it really go down though. My lyrics complimented the music and the music complimented my lyrics. I got a great imagination, and I pay close attention to my surroundings and I’m very observant. When I was young I was a student of the game.”
The track is one of the rapper’s finest efforts and it perhaps lands most sweetly because of his unabashed verses and willingness to lay himself on the line when he recorded it.