“The kind of career I’m having at this age defies logic,” says E-40 on Revenue Retrievin’ (Night Shift), but the Bay area legend’s continued relevance in a genre that places youth at a premium isn’t hard to explain. Surround yourself with talented youngsters like the Jacka and Laroo to keep you honest, rap over hyphy bangers (many of which are produced by your own son) that perfectly complement your one-of-a-kind elastic flow, and stop trying to force crossover hits. After all, he scored one organically with “Bitch.” But there’s an even simpler reason why the 43-year-old E-40 isn’t going anywhere — he’s still rapping his ass off. In an age when rapping seems like just one of many things a rapper must check off his list to get a deal, that still counts for a lot. —Renato Pagnani
Download:
MP3: E-40 ft. Suga Free & Dru Down-“Attention”
MP3: E-40 ft. Too Short, Snoop Dogg & Jazze Pha-“Can’t Stop the Boss”
