E-40 is back with a brand new album. My Ghetto Report Card drops on March 14th.

I've always wanted to ask you this. Can you tell me the idea behind Captain Save A Hoe?"You know how you came up with the idea for writing the song?
E-40-Yeah you know out there in the Bay area that's what a lot of cats do. There are a lot of Rescue Ronnie's out there. Hector the Hoe Protector. Captain Save A Hoe is like a dude at a club… say for instance there is a dude at a club and a girl that he just met but there are like 4 or 5 dudes who want to have at her. He buying her drinks, "I can take you around the world," "I'll send a limo for you," going all out the way. He's just a captain. Or say a girl gets into with boyfriend at a club or something and they just actually its just a small little fuss and fight, that could be just temporary, they could be right back cool but he comes through with his cape on and he's like "Man leave her alone" and they aren't even fighting or anything. You smell me? Dude comes with his cape on like "Dude, leave her alone." He's a Captain Save A Hoe.

What inspired you to name your new album Ghetto Report Card?
E-40-I just feel like I ain't never did nothing foul in the game. My ghetto report card has always been straight A's across the board. So I said let me go ahead and name this "My Ghetto Report Card," and I'm touching down on all 4 angles of the game you smell me? I'm touching it from all basis. The album ain't banana's, it's coconuts.

What artists do you have on the album with you, if any?
E-40-I got um of course the Sic Wit It umbrella, B-Legit, Al Capone, Turf Talk, T-Pain, I got Too Short, Mike Jones, Bun B, 8 Ball, I got Pimp C, I got Juelz Santana, its 17 songs and three skits on the album and they are all thorough.

You're video was a featured hip-hop MYSPACE video. It seems like you are just bigger than ever. Did you know a lot about MYSPACE before your video was featured?
E-40-I used to always hear about it. I knew more about it before my video was featured but I learn more about it everyday. Like I say, I never really was deep into the computer world and some of these new millennium devices and baller gadgets. I've learned to adapt to all of them the iPod, for real the T-Mobiles and the Blackberrys and just period the computer overall.

I used to live in California and I never even heard of Vallejo until you came out. You put Vallejo on the map so I wanted to ask you what other artists from the Bay do you consider hip-hop legends right along with you?
E-40-You know Spice One, Too Short, Digital Underground, Mack Dre, Mack Mall, Dru Down, The Luniz, The Click, RBL, Richie Rich, San Quin, Messy Mark, Easki, I don't want to leave anyone out, The Bay man. It's a lot of legends out there. Hammer, you know Hammer did his thing?

What's your sister Suga Tee been up to?
E-40-My sister Suga Tee is doing conscious rap. She speaks to the youth. She has an album coming out soon. She got saved but she is still doing her thing. She still spits good game. She's talented. She sings. I don't know if a lot of people know this but Suga Tee has a beautiful voice. So ya'll look out for her album you dig? And look forward to a future Clique album.

E-40 Official MYSPACE E-40 Official Website

I know you said the album is coconuts but are you really excited about this new project?
E-40- Awe man. See I'm one of them dudes where I am real humble and I try to pace myself, I aint never been one of the dudes like that, I put everything in the hands of God I am real excited I feel like this one is the one. The buzz…you tell me what you think about it from the outside looking in?

From the outside looking in..I wrote a few words down before the interview A whole new E-40, E-40 on a whole new level.
E-40- I totally agree. It's the beginning of a new beginning for me. Unlike a lot of rappers that started with me, no disrespect to them, I feel I was a little more hungry because I stayed at it. There are no big gaps in between my releases, I stayed readjusting and pushing re-set and re-adjusting myself to the times and reinventing. Keeping my ear to the street and continuing to be creative. I feel like this is my second wind here I have a whole new outlook and a whole new machinery. I feel like my best lyrical delivery to date. I'm on there bustin' like a 12 gage.

Listen to E-40

What do you do in your free time?
E-40- I try to spend time with my family. I got an 18 year old, my son Droopy who is a producer and I have an 11 year old, I'm sure everyone knows, well everyone might not know that I am a married man, been married for 15 years.

Congratulations.
E-40-Thank you. I listen to a lot of old school R&B soul, The Spinners, Earth Wind and Fire, The Chi-Lites, The Isley Brothers, cause its just something my mama used to listen to after coming home from working three jobs. Coming home sitting down drinking a glass of wine. Having a weekend off and playing "Living For The Weekend." It was embroidered in me. Of course I have business's. I run those too.

What kind of businesses?
E-40-You know I am a franchisee of Fat Burger with my business partner. Chester McLaughlin is my business partner. He is a former Oakland Raider pro-bowler retired. We went half on 10 Fat Burgers in the Bay area. The first one is open up in Pleasant Hill, California and the second one will be open in Redwood City in late April. So we going to continue to make em. As a matter of fact Pharrell just bought into ten of them in Virginia.

Yeah that's where I am at here in Virginia.
E-40-That's Pharrell. That's Pharrell from The Neptunes.

I think its in Chesapeake, Virginia. That's crazy too. Its not too far from my house.
E-40-Gravity, that's whats up. That's whats up with me you all go get My Ghetto Report Card March 14th.

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is an author and the webmaster For Thabiz.com.
E-40 interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, and Thabiz.com 2006
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is the author of Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure and the Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students. She is the founder of Thabiz.com and Imissthe80s.com and writes for the Rap, Teen, and 1980s section at Bellaonline.com. She is an ASCAP member as a writer and a publisher. Please contact Dorrie for advertising inquiries, lyric writing inquiries, reprint rights, paying entertainment jobs, or general comments.
Visit Dorrie on the web at www.sparkledoll.com or add her as a friend at MYSPACE.
E-40 interview may not be reprinted, copied or distribute without permission. You may link to this interview.Interview copyright Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, thabiz.com February 2006.