E-40 - "Graveyard Shift" + "Overtime Shift"

I don't feel an ounce of hyperbole in saying that these two albums are the most important rap releases this year (the new Jacka/Freeway collabo and new Webbie album come closest, but this kinda has an unfair advantage when it comes to quantity). It's that balance of independent creativity and the kind of budget and focus that come with a major label that's so rare today ... can't wait. Both albums drop next Tuesday.

"Overtime Shift:

01. Mr. Flamboyant 2K11
02. Drugs f. B-Legit
03. Hillside
04. Gunz
05. Slow It Down f. J Stalin & Decadez
06. Me & My *****
07. Beastin
08. My Money Straight f. Guce & Black C
09. I Love My Momma f. R.O.D. & Mic Conn
10. I Am Your f. Droop-E & Laroo
11. In The Morning f. Beeda Weeda & Work Dirty
12. Punkin' Em Out
13. Born In The Struggle f. Dr. Cornell West & Mike Marshall
14. **** Em'
15. Rear View Mirror f. B-Legit & Stress
16. Lookin' Back f. Devin The Dude
17. Stay Gone
18. Movin' Organized Business
19. Tired Of Sellin Yola
20. Click About It f. The Click, Harm, & Bosko

"Graveyard Shift":

01. Barbarian
02. Serious f. T-Pain
03. Graveyard Shift f. Cousin Fik & Choose Up Cheese
04. My Lil Grimey *****
05. Yankin' f. Hot & Laroo
06. Concrete
07. Club On Lock f. Matt Blaque & Laroo
08. Fried f. Tech N9ne & Marty James
09. Back & Forth f. Turf Talk, Cousin Fik & Stress
10. Bad **** f. Stress & Droop-E
11. Takin 'Em Back
12. My **** Bang
13. The Streets Don't Love Nobody f. Turf Talk & DB Tha General
14. 43 f. B-Legit
15. That Candy Paint f. Bun B & Slim Thug
16. E Forty
17. Trapped f. Mike Marshall
18. Spooky f. Bosko
19. Don't Try This At Home f. Philthy Rich & Stevie Joe
20. Tuff Times f. Bosko & Netta B

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In all honesty, those two albums 40 dropped last year were probably the worst releases of his career. People can call it a return to mobb music all they want, but I can't see those records as much more than 2005-era hyphy leftovers. Mike Mosely and Studio Ton were never releasing tracks that were just distorted drum loop and a repetitive synth stab over and over. Droop-E was capable of better, but 40 should really be working with better producers, period. That said, it was also the most by-the-book 40 has ever been lyrically. You can say it's better than his Warner Brothers releases ... but ... go back and listen to them. They're actually pretty tight.

That said, 40 looks to have it right this time around. Whereas he seemed to be working backwards in time on the last album, replete with cameos from tons of people who haven't been relevant to the bay for years (Clyde Carson, Dem Hoodstarz, Mistah Fab, etc.), this time around he seems to have his finger on the pulse of what's hot in the bay - everyone from Stalin to Philthy Rich to DB Tha General (!) to Matt Blaque to Jacka is on this record. Plus there's cameos for the long time fans ... sooooooooooo happy to see Bosko all over this. There's even a track with Bosko and Harm on the same track! He put Guce and Black C on a track! Marty James is on a hook!

It'll be really interesting to hear how 40 can hold up against some of the younger blood in the bay ... in particular I'm interested in hearing how he holds up against Beeda Weeda - imo the best rapper in the bay today, a cat that has already out-shined him on a few tracks and, considering this is the most important verse of his life to date - man, I can't even wait to hear how sick this is gonna be.

I'll reserve further judgement until this comes out, but I can't give 40 enough applause for doing the right thing in an era where nobody seems to care about making good music anymore.

E-40 is just amazing how he keeps makign top notch albums.

When I look at all my old tapes and records from the late 80s and early 90s,. there is no rappers from that time that are still killing Sh*t like E-40 is. Scarface, Kool G Rap, KRSONE,etc.. smight spit some good features frmo time to time but they are not droppign AAA quality albums like 40 water still is. To me thats amazing, if you asked me back in 1991 what rapper would have the most longevity out of my top ten fav rappers I would not say it woudl be E-40, whats hes done is just amazing to me.

The dude has never had a bad album, just consisent as hell and the most original and unique voice in hiphop, one of a kind. Even the albums that had half hyphy stuff on it was good, while I like the mobb e-40 a bit more personally I can appreciate all his ****

Day one purchase for me as all E-40 albums are, still waiting for him to dissapoint me lol. Best rapper alive as far as im concerned. And I definatly dont agree with what you said about E-40's last two albums, while not my favorite beats they grew on me with time and they fit waht he was rapping about and his ****perfect, E-40 likes to change **** up and try new types of beats which I admire. Sure there was a few beats I would have liked more added to them, but for me sometimes less is better in production. While definatly not being his best albums, I still found them to be well done and better then most other albums last year.

If you have a good system let me tell you these two new albums will make your house, car or block shake, plus E-40 is on some storytelling **** on alot of these tracks. Review on the way early next week, but so far that Overtime Shift cd is I think his best since The Element Of Surprise (which is one of the best double discs ever and my 2nd fav e-40 album).

damn, 20 songs on both albums? there's bound to be a whole lotta filler in there when he's basically just dropping a 40 song double albumDaDukies

There is one skippable song out of both discs for me, extremely good albums.  E-40 is just a hardworking dude!

Was dissapointed with Day/Night Shift so am not in a rush to check this out quite yet. Good to hear this release is better than the last though.

However I haven't been psyched for new album in long time, as much as upcoming E-40/Too $hort album.