Rap legend E-40 is undoubtedly in a league of his own. When an artist becomes a legacy act, however, there’s a risk that their new music will start to lack allure. His 2016 release, The D-Boys Diary, was muddled by its bloated length. But on The Gift Of Gab, his 25th solo album and the first part to his The Definition Series, the Bay Area legend takes a more focused approach by delivering a dozen mostly successful songs that occasionally push his sonic boundaries.
The album opens with “Ballhog” a by-the-numbers hyphy banger that features a wonky bass, E-40’s clever rhymes, and a minimal chorus from Stressmatic. The veteran MC reminds his audience of his larger than life quirkiness with oddball bars like, “Hallelujah the Lord blessed me with gouda, you can find me on vacation in Barbados or Aruba.”
A good chunk of the tracks refines this classic, hyphy energy. While songs like “Who You Talking To” and “Wicked” are bangers, “Winning” shows the limits to the formula. The repeated sample of someone saying “winning” is blaring and obnoxious, stealing the thunder from E-40’s much more vibrant energy. (Not to mention “Choices (Yup!)” still goes and a clone wasn’t needed.) But when it comes to landing punchlines and accentuating syllables for comic effect, he still remains unmatched. It’s hard to think of anyone else who can make the line “If you a bitch, you a bitch, own it” so enticing and wacky.
Besides serving up summertime hyphy, The Gift Of Gab also has E-40 expanding his sonic palette and collaborating with a new generation of artists. “Ain’t Talkin Bout Nothing,” featuring Vince Staples and G Perico, is an album highlight. Over an off-kilter beat, Staples once again proves he’s one of the most interesting rappers out there by delivering a distorted verse and an equally dynamic chorus. G Perico also shines with a set of energetic bars. However, not all features aren’t as successful. E-40 takes a stab at dancehall and teams up with Ty Dolla $ign and Jamaican singer Konshens for “One Night.” Despite definitely being a tracklist curveball, the song never finds its groove.
The project closes with “When Life Shows Up,” a socially conscious song that features Mike Marshall and the political activist Dr. Cornel West. Following a clip of West giving a lecture about the power of black culture, E-40 raps about numerous topics ranging from him mourning at a funeral to the healthy evolution of his diet. Accompanied by a soulful chorus, E-40’s lyrics might be all over the place but the overall mood is definitely much more somber.
Regardless of the occasional misfire, The Gift Of Gab is a bold way to kick off a trilogy. At 50 years old and on his 25th album, E-40 has once again proven that he’s not scared to keep things fresh and weird. Yee!
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Yep it was short and sweet, like all the records of this day and age, but it delivers the street-savvy, bay-area slang all brand new
Forty water
Gangsta shet aint dead muthafuckaz just throw our shet!!!!!!
This wack ass motherfucker has the worst flow in history of hiphop.
Motherfucker you crazy 40 is a motherfuking legend
Put some respeck on his man boobs
Its almost like when you focus on one concise album instead if 2 or 3 albums at once, the project becomes better for it. Love E-40, but he should do this all the time.
It’s still the same way, he got two more comin
He’s got another two albums in this series dropping before the end of the year, look at his instagram, so he’s definitely not focussing on one concise album
Trash. He made this shit 200 times already.
I think you’re referring to Future
Lyrics, punchlines and grinds.
Junk Music Ever
Don’t Listen ! Keep Playin Nat Bullshit You On !
Since when do VC Gooks get a pass to the N word?
Since we said so lil boy, you can’t say it tho
40 can have a weird flow at times, and I admit, I don’t love alll his music, but he made most of this slang that everyone in the game uses. In his own right, he is a legend and a certified OG.
The realist, uniqunessness ever. Always comes thru with the sickest beats, and collabs. 40s albums are the only ones I buy. He definitely has the gift to gab. Very intelligent on his lingo and play with words.. Can’t fucc wit 40.. SCORPIO 4 LIFE.. 11-12. Love this ninja like no other. Listen to 40 all the time old and new. He gets me hyphy ready for the work day
uniqunessness is not a word. GAY AREAAAAAAA LIKE THAT, TELL THE PEOPLE THAT 40 WATER IS GAY!!!! TELL ME WHEN TO GO (TELL ME WHEN TO GO) DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB GAY GAY GAY GAYYYYYYY!!!!!
Homophobic Bullshit Fuc….you…..
Hating on forty…fuck all u wack rappers…e40 the ambassador of the bay…
Disappointed again. Just like “Connected and Respected”, average productions with average lyrics. I know 40 can do a lot better than this.
Like that track “choices yup” he did couple years back, that was very good.
E-40 is one of my absolute all time favorite rappers and he deserves way more recognition. To anyone on here dissing him, play his album and then play something from 69 or Lil Xan, how can you say you’re a fan of hip hop if you think those guys are more deserving of all their money and fame than E-40?
He probably uses too many words y’all don’t understand. His flow is so good and he actually talking about stuff that’s real.
Fuck all the fakes on here. If you don’t fuck with 40 Water, you a clown.
40 is the best of all times. I have been a fan since before the click. 40 is the shit!!
Never disappoints
Another great album from an OG. AOTY runner, good variety and he can fuckin spit.
Only 2 decent tracks on here to me. “The Pots & Pan Man” and “When Life Shows Up”(dont like the corny singin on the hook doe)
He just keeps getting better and better like wine
Charlie Hustle does it again!
GAY AREAAAAAAA LIKE THAT, TELL THE PEOPLE THAT 40 WATER IS GAY!!!! TELL ME WHEN TO GO (TELL ME WHEN TO GO) DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB GAY GAY GAY GAYYYYYYY!!!!!
Yeah Talk About Yourself ! Bustuh !
Pay no mind to Rob Jizzhead, ladies and gentlemen, he’s just another Gay Area Homo with E-40’s schlonger donger jammed up his bungle. TELL ROB WHEN TO GO GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAY GAYYYYYY!!! HE GHOSTRIDE THE TRANNY WHIP BREH!!!
GAY AREAAAAAAA LIKE THAT, TELL THE PEOPLE THAT 40 WATER IS GAY!!!! TELL ME WHEN TO GO (TELL ME WHEN TO GO) DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB GAY GAY GAY GAYYYYYYY!!!!!
This is his best album in like 16 years or so. I’m happy as hell that he’s still so damn good.