Earl Stevens (born November 15, 1967) best known by his stage name E-40, is a Bay Area rapper, part of the Bay Area rap group The Click an founder of Bay Area hip-hop record label Sick Wid It Records. The "40" in "E-40" was chosen by Earl as a reference to "40s" - 40 ounce bottles of malt liquor. The "E" was simply derived from Earl Stevens's first name. The "E" has also been claimed to signify his habit of drinking 5 forties in one night, since "E" is the fifth letter. After the release of The Click's first album Down and Dirty, E-40's local solo debut was released.