Vallejo to name street in honor of E-40

VALLEJO – The Vallejo City Council voted unanimously to name a street in honor of Earl Stevens — better known by his stage name as E-40 — the renowned hip-hop artist and entrepreneur who grew up in Vallejo.

Under the city’s honorary street renaming policy, the city will add signs underneath existing signage for nearly a mile of Magazine Street in South Vallejo, from Laurel Street to Old Glen Road, designating it E-40 Way.

The council voted unanimously to install the signage Tuesday.

E-40 grew up in the area where the street will be renamed and released a song called “Magazine Street” on his EP “Poverty and Prosperity” in 2015. When he visited the White House in January, E-40 wrote on his Instagram page, “From Magazine Street to the executive suite.”

This year marks the 30th anniversary of E-40’s first album “Federal.” Over the last three decades, E-40 has had a string of hit singles, including “U and Dat,” “Tell Me When To Go,” “Choices (Yup),” and “Function.”

In addition to his music, E-40 has also launched a series of food and drink products. He distributes 15 different varieties of wine, tequila, cognac, bourbon, vodka, gin, beer, and pre-mixed cocktails. E-40 also launched the food brand “Goon With The Spoon” in 2021, which sells sausages, burritos, ice cream, and a new soul food line.

A city presentation at the meeting on Tuesday also touted community work that E-40 has done in Vallejo, such as working with the Salvation Army and making food donations to local homeless shelters. It said he also plans to create a recording studio at a Vallejo school.

At the same meeting, the council also voted to name a portion of Calavares Street in honor of the Rev. Dr. Caroll Broadfoot, the longest serving pastor at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. That signage will be added for three blocks, from Springs Road to Florida Street, where the church is located.

According to the council presentation, the church experienced substantial growth in the 21 years that Broadfoot was its pastor, going from 350 to 1,500 members. Broadfoot became the senior pastor in 1975.

The church supports a variety of community services, including a community housing development and supporting the Willie B. Adkins Project, which encourages Black enrollment in colleges, and the Continental of Omega’s Boys and Girls Club, according to the city presentation.

The council encouraged others to apply for honorary street naming. Councilmember Mina Loera-Diaz said that she would like Vallejo Together founder Maria Guevara to be honored in a similar way. Under the city policy, the people requesting the renaming must pay the costs for the signs and installation.