After several years on the underground rap circuit,
E-40 released his first great album,
In a Major Way, in 1995, and a year later he released his second,
Tha Hall of Game, a similarly fashioned album that some fans believe is the better of the two.
E-40 once again turns to producers
Studio Ton,
Mike Mosely, and
Kevin Gardner, who had worked with him previously, but more importantly, he adds others to his production stable, employing the talents of Bay Area beatmakers
Ant Banks,
Rick Rock, and
Tone Capone. Consequently, the productions of
Tha Hall of Game are diverse while, at the same time, stylistically native to the Bay Area. As for featured guests,
E-40 also keeps his company regional, employing
2Pac and
Spice 1 -- who had previously appeared on
In a Major Way -- on "Million Dollar Spot" and "Ring It," respectively, plus
Too Short, K-Ci (of
K-Ci & JoJo), and
Keak da Sneak (then of
3X Krazy). "Player's Ball," featuring
Too Short's rapping, K-Ci on the chorus, and production by
Ant Banks, is a clear standout, as is "Things'll Never Change," which became a hit single, thanks partly to its interpolation of Bruce Hornsby & the Range's 1986 number one hit "The Way It Is." The two aforementioned collabos, "Million Dollar Spot" and "Ring It," are also highlights. Though not as solid as
In a Major Way,
Tha Hall of Game is the more diverse album and includes a handful of career highlights. At any rate, both albums are among the best, if not indeed the hands-down best, of
E-40's Jive output, as his subsequent releases for the label became increasingly spotty. ~ Jason Birchmeier