Last week saw the release of E-40’s latest drop The Curb Commentator: Channel 1, the first of a series of EPs from the Bay Area hip hop legend. In promotion of the new project, he delivers a new visual for the single “Up Or Down,” which features Wiz Khalifa and sees the two flexing over some bouncy production from DJ Fresh:
“I got a flight to catchIf I ain’t eatin’ that Tau, then I’m at Catch , hardly ever use force, ‘cause I like finesse /
Always rollin’ up joints, I don’t like the stress , I want all ten rings, heard I get a lotta change/
All I hear was cha-ching, I got a couple queens, one rap, one of ‘em seen , q uarter million dollar car, I have to keep it clean /
I’m the last of a dyin’ breed , bad b***hes lookin’ at me like I won the lottery…/”
The accompanying visual comes courtesy of Chris “Broadway” Romero, which shows animated versions of the collaborators performing the song in different locations. In addition to a cameo from E-40’s Earl Stevens brand, we can also see rap veteran riding an old-school past a collection of rockets heading into space.
In a past interview with Thrasher Magazine, E-40 spoke on his legacy as a proven leader and teacher within hip hop culture:
“I’ve always been ahead of my time. The youngsters, I embrace them as well. I do feel I’m a teacher and leader and I always tell people, ‘Don’t be a follower, be a leader and if you’re going to be a follower, follow the right leader!’ Ain’t nothing wrong with being a follower—just follow the right leader. With me, I always felt like, each one teach one. I got a thang, you know—when I’m speaking to a youngster or someone my age or close to it or whatever, if I’m telling ’em something and they do something opposite from what I tell ’em they really need to be doing, I say ‘The more I teach you, the dumber I get!’”
You can press play on “Up Or Down” below.