The Bay Area's E-40 should be the mayor of Oakland by now - or at least on City Council or something. From the release of Mr. Flamboyant in 1990 to 2010's Revenue Retrievin' E-40 has continued to solidify his legendary status on both coasts. And he isn't done yet either. E-40 has changed the game so much throughout the years in many ways, including bringing Bay Area slanguage into mainstream music, his invention of numerous catch phrases and always pushing the envelope with innovative beats. Since E-40's first album dropped in 1990, "Charlie Hustle" released albums in '92, '93, '95, '96, '98, '99, '00, '02, '03, '06, '08 and 2010 - and he already has two planned album releases for 2011, including one with fellow Bay Area legend Too $hort. This guy is as OG status as it gets. Come see your boy "Forty Fonzarelli" at Olympia's The Vault Friday. - Nic Leonard

[The Vault, with 2.0, Young n Brave, SP, 8 p.m., $20 advance, 425 Franklin St. SE, Olympia, 360.357.4721]