Watch: E-40’s Tiny Desk Debut Is a Celebration of Bay Pride and Legacy

 

Bay Area rap icon E-40 brought Vallejo flavor and hyphy energy to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts on Monday, kicking off Black Music Month with a spirited, career-spanning set that celebrated his legacy in hip-hop and his hometown roots.

Backed by a live band and in front of an intimate audience, the veteran MC born Earl Stevens ran through a medley of his biggest hits, including "Tell Me When to Go," "Choices (Yup)" and "U and Dat." Throughout the set, he showcased not only his signature slang and unmistakable delivery but also the cultural pride and storytelling that have made him a cornerstone of West Coast rap for over three decades.

“Tell the people that Water is back!” he declared midway through the performance, nodding to both his longtime nickname and his return to the spotlight.

The set marked E-40’s first appearance on the popular YouTube concert series, which has become a landmark platform for both emerging and legendary artists. Known for revealing raw talent in stripped-down formats, Tiny Desk has previously featured performances from artists like T-Pain, Too Short, Kehlani and LaRussell.

The band elevated the energy of each track. On "Choices (Yup)," musicians leaned into the mic to echo the iconic “yup” and “nope” ad libs, creating an organic, in-the-room feel. During "U and Dat," background vocalist and music director Bosko Kante filled in seamlessly for T-Pain’s auto-tuned hook.

E-40 also used the platform to promote his entrepreneurial ventures, sipping from a glass of his Earl Stevens Mangoscato and reminding viewers it’s available at Costco and Total Wine.

Between verses, he shouted out his longtime friends and collaborators, including a heartfelt tribute to the late Stomp Down. The performance was not only a musical celebration but a nod to the community that built him.

Despite a career that spans generations, E-40 remains culturally relevant. His music still blares from Bay Area car stereos and his impact extends beyond music, with a road named after him in Vallejo and surprise political appearances — including a surreal cameo at a Joe Biden rally.

With Monday’s set, E-40 joins a growing list of Bay Area legends who’ve brought their game to the Tiny Desk stage. The show continues to affirm the cultural weight of the Bay, one classic track at a time.

‘I Feared His Wrath’: Inside the Explosive Testimony Rocking Sean Combs’ Sex Trafficking Trial

 

Testimony continued Monday in the federal trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, highlighted by emotional statements from a former employee alleging fear, coercion, and intimidation, alongside hotel records showing unusual cleaning charges associated with Combs' stays.

"Mia," testifying under a pseudonym, concluded her appearance on the witness stand following intense questioning from defense attorney Brian Steel. Mia testified she never reported alleged physical and sexual abuse by Combs to law enforcement or company human resources, fearing immediate termination and public humiliation.

“Human resources only punished me unjustly," Mia said, adding that if she had spoken out, she would have been branded as "a crazy person making everything up."

She detailed being coerced into promoting events and projects on social media as part of her job, explaining that failure to do so would result in being "screamed at, humiliated, made fun of, and my job would be threatened." Mia said that even posting birthday messages for Combs on social media was considered mandatory, and failing to do so would lead to consequences.

Defense attorneys highlighted messages Mia sent to Combs after the alleged abuse, including birthday greetings and expressions of support. Mia testified that maintaining a positive front was part of her survival strategy. “Because when he was happy, I was safe,” she said. She also said she remained psychologically under his control even after she stopped working for him.

Mia said she felt unable to leave her job, fearing retaliation, loss of credibility, and threats to her physical safety. “I just knew his power and his wrath,” she testified.

Following Mia's testimony, Sylvia Oken, director of sales and marketing at the Beverly Hills Hotel, took the stand, presenting records showing unusual cleaning expenses during Combs’ hotel stays. Bills revealed charges such as $500 for “oil damage” and $300 for cleaning drapes. Oken noted Combs frequently used the alias "Frank Black," referencing rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s "Frank White."

In a related development, Marion "Suge" Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records and currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for manslaughter, spoke out after his name was mentioned multiple times during the trial. Knight urged Combs to testify, stating, "I think it'd be a great thing to let Puffy tell his truth. Tell the real truth, and bring everybody accountable."

Knight emphasized that while Combs committed "terrible things," these actions were influenced by the environment and industry culture he was exposed to. He added, "I feel that people in [Combs'] life, going on his journey growing up, they failed him."
People.com

The trial is expected to continue with testimony from Eddie Garcia, a former security employee at the InterContinental Hotel, who is anticipated to testify under an immunity order. Prosecutors have indicated that additional witnesses, including forensic video expert Frank Piazza and Combs' former employees Derek Ferguson and Bryana Bongolan, may also be called to testify in the coming days.

Pardon Power: Trump Clears NBA YoungBoy’s Record

Courtesy Atlantic Records

President Donald Trump granted a full pardon Wednesday to platinum-selling rapper Kentrell Gaulden, known professionally as NBA YoungBoy. The clemency fully absolves the 25-year-old of federal convictions for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and alleged involvement in a prescription-drug fraud ring.

Gaulden pleaded guilty in 2024 and drew a 23-month sentence in federal prison in Utah. He was released in March 2025 after credit for time served and completed a period of home confinement in April.

In an Instagram Story, Gaulden wrote, “I want to thank President Trump for granting me a pardon and giving me the opportunity to keep building — as a man, as a father, and as an artist. This moment means a lot. It opens the door to a future I’ve worked hard for, and I am fully prepared to step into this.”

The pardon follows Trump’s January 2021 clemency actions in the hip-hop community, when he pardoned Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) after a federal firearm conviction and commuted Kodak Black’s (Bill Kapri) sentence for making false statements during a gun purchase.

Trump also commuted Larry Hoover’s federal life sentence; that move does not affect his 150-to-200-year state term in Illinois, which he must still serve. His next state parole hearing is later this year, with eligibility in October 2062.

Fans flooded social media with #FreeYoungBoy, while advocates warned that individual pardons highlight the need for broader criminal-justice reform.