Sick Wid It Records, founded in 1989 by Bay Area rap legend E-40, has left its mark on not only West Coast rap, but on Hip-Hop, period.

A blueprint for independent rap labels, both No Limit Records founder Master P and Birdman of Cash Money Records have acknowledged they learned a lot about the business of operating a label, and acquiring distributing, from the strategies that 40 implemented at Sick Wid It.

For the past three decades, Sick Wid It has been the home of E-40’s massive discography—he’s dropped over 26 albums, six collaborative projects, and had a single reach gold status at age 48 (2014’s “Choices (Yup).” But it’s Sick Wid It’s '90s run that established the label as a force in the industry. Mostly a family affair, the decade saw releases from E-40’s cousins, rappers B-Legit and D-Shot, and his sister, rapper Suga-T. Vallejo native, Celly Cel joined the roster and also dropped two albums before the decade ended, helping to solidify Sick Wid It as a giant in Bay Area rap, and a haven for inventive sound, anchored by E-40’s musical vision and prolific output.

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