On Saturday, Oct. 21, Hip-Hop legend E-40 was honored by the City of Vallejo with a street renaming ceremony on Magazine Street, across from his childhood home.
Vallejo City Council members and representatives from the offices of state Sen. Bill Dodd and Assembly member Lori Wilson attended the ceremony, according to the Times-Herald. In addition to the street renaming, E-40 was honored with a resolution recognizing his personal and music endeavors, to go along with the key to the city he received from Mayor Robert McConnell.
“My mother always told me (and my siblings), ‘Get out there and be men,’” said E-40, according to the Times-Herald. “We were activated in real life, and I love her for that.”
The street renaming was approved back in July, and it stretches over a nearly mile-long stretch of Magazine Street — from Laurel Street to Old Glen Road. In addition, the ceremony recognized E-40's philanthropic work in Vallejo, including donations to schools within the city — he donated $25,000 of materials to Franklin Middle School in 2016 — providing bicycles for youth, and distributing turkeys during Thanksgiving. He also collaborated with Vallejo’s Mod Pizza to give 150 mini pizzas to attendees of Saturday's ceremony.
This weekend, fellow Bay Area activist/rapper Mistah F.A.B., who hails from Oakland, shared that E-40 asked him to speak at the ceremony. After saying yes, F.A.B. thought about it and called 40 back.
"I called back and was like, 'You sure you want somebody from Oakland to do it?' We both laughed and confirmed. So today, I woke up super early, blasted to Vallejo, and stood tall in front of a crowd full of family and friends. I delivered a heartfelt testimony rooted in lived experiences, expressing the love I have for the AMBASSADOR… I appreciated you calling me," he wrote on Instagram.