E-40 kicked off NPR’s Tiny Desk Black Music Month spotlight with a celebration of his musical legacy and Bay area excellence. The rapper recognized the 30th anniversary of his In A Major Way sophomore album and performed a medley of fan-favorite records in the intimate setting.
The full concert included “Da Bumble,” “Yay Area,” “Snap Yo Fingers,” “Sprinkle Me,” and of course, “Tell Me When To Go.” The entrepreneur was joined Kev Choice, Howard Wiley, Marcus Phillips, Dame Drummer, Martin Luther, Silk-E, DJ KMP, and more to bring the 11-track setlist to life.
“This next song was done at Stankonia studios. That’s Outkast’s studio. Legendary. I called one of my partner’s up… He goes by the name of T-Pain. I love you T-Pain. I love you Lil Jon,” he shared before performing the 2006 club banger “U and Dat” which also features Kandi Burruss.
NPR announced its full slate of Black Music Month performances with graphics mirroring classic Black publications including Jet Magazine, ESSENCE, and VIBE. This year’s iteration focuses on landmark album annversaries with a plan to highlight nine influential artists across a wide range of genres, recognizing their contributions to the global soundscape.
This includes Amerie with The Backyard Band celebrating 20 years of Touch, CeCe Winans counting 30 years of Alone In His Presence, Wiz Khalifa recognizing 15 years of Kush & Orange Juice, Beenie Man spotlighting 25 years of Art and Life, and more.
“The idea of celebrating anniversaries came to me as I witnessed Chaka Khan deliver one of the most outstanding Tiny Desk concerts of all time last year. She reminded us that she’s been making music for 50 years. I tossed the idea around to my teammates, and they immediately came back with some heavy hitters reaching significant milestones in 2025,” explained producer and host Bobby Carter, per NPR.
“This year feels like the perfect time to stop and revere some of the greatest albums in Black Music. These artists might not be the first you hear in the Pop culture conversation, but they are crown jewels in Black culture. These are our icons.”
Watch E-40’s NPR Tiny Desk concert above and check out the announced lineup below.
- Amerie with The Backyard Band – 20 years of Touch
- CeCe Winans – 30 years of Alone in His Presence
- E-40 – 30 years of In a Major Way
- Keyshia Cole – 20 years of The Way It Is
- Living Colour – 35 years of Time’s Up
- Wiz Khalifa – 15 years of Kush & Orange Juice
- Stanley Clarke – 50 years of School Days
- Alex Isley – 10 years of LUXURY
- Beenie Man – 25 years of Art and Life
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