E-40 - Best Of Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow (CD)

All Music Guide

E40 is a rapper who was long overdue for a bestof collection, which finally came in 2004 when Jive/Zomba released Yesterday, Today Tomorrow. The Bay Area eccentric debuted his tonguetwisting style for Jive back in 1994 with the Mail Man EP, so this collection spans an entire decade and a busy one at that, given that 40 put out roughly an album a year over that span. He didn't score many genuine hits over those years none at all, in fact but his fresh style did influence a legion of rappers who began to emulate his slangtastic rhyming style. So, given 40's lack of hits, Yesterday, Today Tomorrow is somewhat of a grab bag. Some of the tracks are clear career highlights: "Carlos Rossi," "Captain Save a Hoe," "Rapper's Ball," "Zoom," and "Automatic" in particular. Others are excellent and exemplary if somewhat unexceptional, likewise the few previously released inclusions that close the compilation. That means Yesterday, Today Tomorrow is liable to miss a great many fan favorites lik...e, say, the Nate Dogg gem "Nah Nah" from Loyalty Betrayal or his mostrecent single, "Quarterbackin'." The emphasis here on 40's early, lessheard albums also means some fans may quibble too about the lack of latterday inclusions. That's all to be expected, of course, for the only way this bestof could be definitive would be if it were a doubledisc collection (and even then it'd a bit short of definitive given 40's especially deep canon and generally consistent level of quality, not to mention his innumerable guest appearances elsewhere). Yesterday, Today Tomorrow is excellent for what it is, however: a singledisc sampler of 40's long, influential decade with Jive that rounds up some of his most obvious highlights in the process and leaves a few gems in the rough for you to discover on your own. And besides, Yesterday, Today Tomorrow isn't the last word on 40. It's simply a selective look back at his first decade that happens to result in the most enjoyable and listenable disc of his colorful career to date. - Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide Read more Less