Disco de E-40: “Grit & Grind”

I really liked the changes that 40 made in this album. He's still the same artist, but he's definitely trying to crossover, trying to reach a bigger fanbase and get at least some of the rec he deserves.

Songs like "Automatic", feat. Fabolous are a perfect example. The beat is on point, the two artists definitely sound good on track together (unlike some of 40's other collabs)..

The thing that I really enjoy about 40s albums is that he keeps it real, with songs like "plastic cup". I know that most all of us have, at one point or another, by choice or desperation have decided to parkin lot pimp it with a plastic cup and some liquor.. 40 definitely keeps his ears to the streets.. and all these other so called "stars" keep their ears to 40's lyrics and slanguage.

The one complaint I have about this album, as with the other 40 album i have (charlie hustle), is that while most of the songs are hot, the ones that aren't nice are really bad. basically i break it down to 75% of the songs are hot, 25% are wack, with no in between. I definitely recommend this album to anyone who is an E-40 fan, and anyone who is curious to hear him spit..

NEW BUYER BE WARNED: E-40s lyrics and style are not "pop" and are by most standards, fairly unconventional. He is definitely an acquired taste, but his genious and knowledge of the game are unparalleled.

This album shows a big change in E-40's style - mainly in terms of the production. On this one - Rick Rock handles a major part of the beats - 7 out of 16 songs. Some of his beats are great, and some are kind of weak. Lyrically, y'all know where E-40 is at. He keeps coming out with some new slang (sometimes a little but too much, but it's all good!), and those fast flows (which makes his sound off-beat at times). But the thing is - E-40 spits nothing but game. I think the best songs on the album are "Pimps, Hustlas" (An AWESOME beat by Tone Capone, great verses by 40 Water and a remarkable guest appearence by Levitti - best song on the album, so addictive!), "Fallin' Rain" (a laid-back song, with a classic R&B sample, produced by Rick Rock, where 40 talks about his life), "The Slap", "It's a Man's game" (the hardest songs on the album, both produced by Rick Rock"), "Mustard and Mayonaise". And you gotta mention "Rep Your City" - the club banger of the album. It's got a very good beat by Lil' Jon, and all rappers (E-40, Petey Pablo, Bun B and Eightball) deliver tight verses, but all that screaming and shouting by Lil' Jon is getting way too annoying!! Without it, the song would be perfect... There are quite a few other songs worth mentioning, showing that this is another VERY solid record by Charlie Hustle. Only about 3 or 4 songs out of the 16 are not that good. Producers include Rick Rock, Tone Capone, Bosko, Mike Dean, Mike Mosley & Sam Bostic and a few others. As I said earlier, E-40 changed his style on this album quite a bit, and fans that has been following him since his "Federal" days (like myself) will miss the Mobb Sound, but it's still a very good album. With 40, it's all about consistancy and quality - he's been in the game since the late 80's and he never fell off.

Everybody needs to purchase this funky piece because E-40 is the most underrated player in the game... Please stop Hattin. Get yours today before I buy all of them

Like any successful businessman, Earl Stevens is understandably reluctant to tamper with the formula that got him where he's at. From his days selling tapes out of his trunk in the Bay Area to his major label deal, E-40 has always stayed true to his hustle--booming, big-bottomed beats topped with crude but good-natured rhymes, given an occasional twist via his invented slang--and it's paid off handsomely.

But as its title suggests, his workmanlike seventh album offers more perspiration than inspiration, barely getting over on a handful of decent tracks (including the goofy "I Got My Cup" and "Higher Power," a personal history that makes the very un-thuggish observation, "I guess it really was worth joining the marching band") and the star's charisma. Neither E-40 nor guests like Fabolous, Petey Pablo, and Lil' Jon can save repetitive, hookless shout-outs like "Rep Your City," however, and too many of these 18 long cuts grind on in similar fashion.

E-40 delivers a solid album in "Grit and Grind." He made a smart decision in using "Automatic" as the first single. He and Fabolous contrast well with 40's slang-filled flow and Fab's cut-throat style. "Whomp Whomp" and "'Til the Dawn" have good collaborations from the Bay Area's finest and "Slap" provides a good opening and solo flow from E-40. Towards the last tracks, the album loses some of its fire in "End of the World," "Pimps, Hustlas," and "Fallin' Rain." I was also somewhat disappointed in "Roll On" featuring Afroman. There was not much rap on the track, but that could have been 40's intention to end his song wit just tha music playing. Overall, E-40 shows he is unique in the game with his one-of-a-kind slang, metaphors, and comparisons and proves that he could be da best artist in the Bay Area.