E 40's best shit that originally blew him up and got him famous in the independant scene was the years 95-97 When Mike Mosely and Sam Bostic did the beats.
E-40 In A Major Way, Hall Of Game,The Click - Game Related (40's Group),Celly Cel - Killa Kali,B-Legit Hemp Museum
At this time 2Pac did All Eyez On Me and featured on many of 40's albums.
Also YBB dropped a bunch of albums the same time with the likes of Mac Dre,Mac Mall,Young Lay,Dubee,Ray Luv..whick IMO where better than anything outta Cali ever.
Anyways these where 40's best albums...you might get some older heads sayin Federal and The Mail Man but that was just the start...Element of Surprise and after was not so much 4 me.
40 also did a Compilation called Southwest Ridas back in the day and that shit is really dope.