E-40's gospel singing uncle (Saint Charles) helped them put out the record. They moved back to Vallejo and teamed up with D-Shot, E-40's brother, to form the group MVP or Most Valuable Players. In 1993, The Click had mainstream hit, "Captain Save a Hoe" (radio edit "Captain Save Them Thoe"). Federal, a nine-track LP/14-track CD produced by Studio Ton and released by Sick Wid It Records in association with SMG (Solar Music Group), a regional distributor. In 1992 they released a second album, Down and Dirty, and in 1993 E-40 made his solo album debut. The EP was co-produced by Mike Mosley and Al Eaton and was released on Sick Wid It Records, an independent label founded by E-40. The group later became The Click and released the EP Let's Side in 1990. After impressing fellow students with a rap remix of the school song and a Grambling State talent show, Most Valuable Players released a single, "The King's Men". Stevens made his rap debut as E-40 in 1986 with Jones (performing as B-Legit), sister Suga T, and brother D-Shot in the group Most Valuable Players. After high school, Stevens enrolled at Grambling State University in 1986 with his cousin Brandt Jones and attended the school for one year. Stevens played baseball in high school, recorded music with his siblings, and sold their recordings from the back of a car. Beginning in fourth grade, Stevens played the snare and bass drum. He grew up with his siblings raised by a divorced mother who worked three jobs, and he became interested in hip hop after hearing " Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang. Earl Tywone Stevens was born in Vallejo, California.