E-40 - Tha Hall of Game

Released way back in 1996, Tha Hall of Game was E-40's third release (of eight) on Jive following Federal and In A Major Way, in a prolific career that would see him release a massive fourteen albums (or nineteen if you count his double and triple releases post 2010).

E-40's abstract flow and trademark vocabulary have always appealed to my ears since I first caught him and The Click on Ain't Hard to Find on 2Pac's All Eyez on Me but this is first time I've dived into his discography any further back than the turn of the century.

Looking back at Tha Hall of Game this seemed to be the time in his career that Earl started to question his lack of success, due to what he deemed as unfair treatment, outside of the West Coast, 'messy hoes got my name stuck between they teeth, just because I'm from the West and not the East'. This is a theme that would manifest itself into 40's later works as his frustrations grew (To Whom This May Concern on Loyalty & Betrayal, Why They Don't F**k Wit Us on Grit and Grind). The album starts on this basis as 40 comes hard out of the traps on Record Haters, firing shots at Rasheed Wallace, AZ and those questioning his place in the rap game. 

Although E-40 has unquestionably honed his inimitable style since Tha Hall of Game and expanded his vocabulary in later years, he was still just as original back in 1996 and every track features some 40-slang be it 'marinating on the corner' or 'sprinkle me mayne'. The first verse on the tribute song I Wanna Thank You highlights the capabilities of his flow as he jumps up, down, speeds up and slows down to ride the beat in an almost cartoonish manner. In between the partying and pimping, E-40 throws in a couple of socially conscious songs, a trait that would continue into the future. These songs, The Story (with Beastie Boys sample) and Things'll Never Change (released prior to 2Pac's Changes but with the same The Way It Is sample) are among the albums stronger moments.

Unlike some of his later releases, the guest appearances keep the album a straight Bay area jam, as the likes of Spice 1, Too $hort, B-Legit and 2Pac appear on tracks. I can't help but wonder that perhaps by not branching out to a more varied cast of guests, without compromising his style as he would do in later years with his Lil' Jon collaborations, E-40 is partly responsible for his low exposure on the East Coast.

Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the production on the album. The G-funk tracks have aged poorly in comparison with similar tracks from this era and for me quite a few of the Bay area numbers (produced by Studio Ton or Rick Rock) just aren't interesting enough to make the album a really enjoyable listen worth coming back to. The best songs come from Mike Moseley and Femi Ojetunde who are responsible for Million Dollar Spot, The Story and Things'll Never Change. The beat on Ring It is an atrocity and it doesn't help that the track itself is pure throwaway filler.

Although Tha Hall of Game has some stand-out moments, I really expected more from a much championed entry into the E-40 discography.

Best guest: 2Pac

Standout tracks: I Like What You Do To Me, Rapper's Ball, Million Dollar Spot 

Best bars: (Record Haters)
This game is so damn haemorrhaging, that I be delivering
These n***as don't understand my shit, but they surrendering
Simmering, remembering things that done jumped off
Lyrics spit on n***as like a bad cough
Messy hoes got my name stuck between they teeth
Just because I'm from the West and not the East
Graduated from the dope game, phat ass wallets
What's that n***as name, Rasheed Wallace!

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