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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After dropping a pair of albums on the same day in both 2010 and 2011, E-40 goes one better this time around with the release of his Block Brochure trilogy, all of which dropped on the same day. Now 44 years old, 40 Water deserves some serious props, not just for still producing albums, but the fact that he is producing more than ever before. Obviously these props would be dependent on the quality of the 60 songs being turned out across the three albums. Most artists probably select their album tracks from a similar number of recordings so it makes you wonder if 40's cutting floor is simply empty. I think the truth is a combination of an insane work ethic and no more filler than any typical rap album (although three times over).
Anyway, to Welcome To The Soil 3. After flirting with the Atlanta crunk scene in the mid-noughties, E-40 is definitely 100% back to the West Coast and within that his beloved Bay area. Snoop, Dogg Pound and Kendrick Lamar represent L.A. but after that guest spots are divided out to Bay area family B-Legit, Too $hort, Hieroglyphics and son Droop-E. 40 employs a wide range of producers, of eighteen tracks Rick Rock has the most input with four and there are thirteen different producers involved. As a result, the production seems uncohesive and surprisingly, distinctly similar. The best tracks hands down are those with Rick Rock or Droop-E in the studio. Too many of the beats are hard, dark and in places sinister sounding, maybe all the lighter production is found on Vol 1 or 2.
E-40 himself is on form, would you expect anything less, his rhymes and ''slanguages'' are as creative as ever. Album opener Jealous finds 40 reminding his listeners he's been around since 1988 and as with many West Coast artists he didn't ''come up under Dr. Dre, I came up under me''. He closes the track questioning why he has never received any love from the East Coast. What You Smokin' On is a classic West Coast smoking anthem featuring Snoop, Kurupt, Daz and Kokane. Other highlights include the very un-G-Funk Warren G produced What Happened To Them Days, although it is a bit cringing hearing Stevens rhyming Red Dead Redemption with PlayStation in his ode to today's generation and I Ain't Doin' Nothin'. Salute You is a heartfelt E-40 'Keep Ya Head Up' style tribute to the women of the world.
All in all a reasonable album from E-40 but one that could easily be stripped of half of the weaker tracks and combined with the other Block Brochure volumes for a more rounded and greater album. Although loaded with some strong efforts, listening to Welcome To The Soil 3 certainly wouldn't make me reach for volumes 1 or 2 straight away.
Best guest: B-Legit
Standout tracks: I Ain't Doin Nothin, What Happened To Them Days, Jealous, What You Smokin' On
Best bars: (Jealous)
I do this from the heart,
Vallejo, Calaharmonia is where I got my first start
Giant, Davis & Park
believe me when I say (say)
I didn't come up under Dr Dre, I came up under me
and the C-L-I-C
you could be MVP back in the day (day)
most valuable players way back in 1988 (88)
don't let these haters mislead you
I'm a for real street n***a, n***as be gettin' amnesia
my style is vertical, horizontal
all over the f***in' place (place)
this sh*t ain't for everybody my n***a
it's an acquired taste (taste)...
....
E-40 slow it down man you hurtin' 'em
don't waste your time steppin' on these sucka's...
step over 'em
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