Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire

E-40’s fifth solo album, Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire, was released on November 9, 1999, and sees 40 Water spit rapid fire rhymes over fat, synth enhanced Yay Area beats. He switches up his flow and delivery over these 17 “autobiographical” tracks, all while contributing new and inventive slang into the game. It features producers such as Ant Banks, Battlecat and Rick Rock. The album was supported by the singles “Earl, That’s Yo' Life” with Too $hort and his homage to Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Posse On Broadway” in “Big Ballin' With My Homies.”

In a 2012 interview with Complex, Kendrick Lamar cited this album as one of his 25 favorite albums of all time.