E-40 throws out the first pitch at a game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on June 9, 2023. Nate McKinley/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — East Bay rapper E-40 threw out the first pitch and was the star guest at Oracle Park as the San Francisco Giants honored Bay Area hip-hop in the genre’s celebratory 50th year. The game included appearances by by Richmond’s Iamsu! calling out “play ball!”, Oakland’s Adrian Marcel delivering a soulful and vibrato-filled “Star-Spangled Banner” and Vallejo’s Rexx Life Raj, among a panel discussion with the other artists before the game.

Wearing a black Giants jersey with his last name emblazoned on the back and his signature orange beanie, Earl Stevens debated whether to throw from the mound or in front of it, before deciding he had the oomph to deliver all the way to the catcher. Minutes later, he was surrounded by fans and friends in a tunnel, speaking to RIFF about the honor from his favorite baseball team.

E-40 and Lou Seal high-five before a game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on June 9, 2023.

“It feels great, man, just to be able to have this privilege,” E-40 said. “They rolled out the red carpet for me. … I’ve been a long-time Giants fan. I tell people I go way back to Willie Mays, Jack Clark. People … don’t know who Jack Clark is. One of my favorite players of all time is Barry Bonds. He’s one of my favorite athletes of all time, along with Steph Curry.”

And the Giants fans loved E-40 right back, cheering every time he was shown on the screen, dancing in his seat.

Speaking before the game, manager Gabe Kapler said he’s been listening to E-40 since his first year playing in the minor leagues.

“In 1995, I played for the Jamestown Jammers. This is a New York–Penn League short season team,” Kapler said. “It was my first time away from home, and I lived with five other guys in what amounted to a two-bedroom apartment. That summer, “Sprinkle Me” was played on regular rotation. In a Major Way was the name of the record … and it was just getting played non-stop in our apartment. … Earl, as I now call him, was somebody that I thought to be a brilliant Bay Area rapper even in 1995 and still do to this day.”

Kapler said he makes time for Stevens whenever the rapper visits the ballpark, as well as other events around the Bay Area.

Rapper Rexx Life Raj and friends photographed before a game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on June 9, 2023.

“Once in a while, we send some congratulations back and forth. I think the world of him,” Kapler said.

While the event was centered on E-40, Bay Area hip-hop overall was also a focus. Kapler said that when he was growing up, Hayward rapper Spice 1—”he was pretty raw and rough”—was a big musical influence. But nobody tops Tupac Shakur in his eyes. Although he was from New York and is claimed by other cities like L.A. as their own, he’s got his own Bay Area connection.

“I consider Tupac at least in part a Bay Area rapper and my favorite all-time artist in any genre,” Kapler said.

Rexx Life Raj, meanwhile, came to the game with his own entourage, walking onto the field pre-game and taking pictures behind home plate. Raj’s favorite Bay Area rapper of all time? Mac Dre. Raj was also in a celebratory mood.

East Bay artist Adrian Marcel sings the “Star-Spangled Banner” before a game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Oracle Park in San Francisco on June 9, 2023.

“I think it’s beautiful. Just for anything of this size and this magnitude to honor the culture; I think it’s really clean,” he said. “To be able to come out here with the legendary E-40 and Iamsu!, it’s really tight.”

Before the game and between innings, DJ Umami spun tunes like “Mistadobalina” by Del the Funky Homosapien, P-Lo’s “Hella Fun” and “Same Squad,” Mistah F.A.B.’s “Ghost Ride It,” Mac Dre’s “Radio Activity,” “Mood,” by up-and-coming San Francisco rapper 24K Goldn, and plenty of E-40 tracks, of course.

E-40, speaking on Kapler’s compliments, said he was honored.

“That means a lot to me. He’s a fixture, man,” Stevens said. “I got nothing but love and respect for him. He’s doing a great job with our team.”

At the conclusion of the game, which the Cubs won 3–2, the Giants were supposed to close out the night with a hip-hop-themed drone and fireworks show, but it was announced mid-game that it was postponed due to technical difficulties.

Follow editor Roman Gokhman at Twitter.com/RomiTheWriter. Follow photographer Nathan McKinley at Instagram.com/memories.by.mckinley.