The Game Ain’t Changed—Just the Product: E-40 Talks Ownership at Taste of Black Spirits Detroit

“I don’t boycott temporarily—I just say, ‘I’m not rockin’ with you no more.’” That line from Earl “E-40” Stevens set the tone for one of the most electric Detroit is Different conversations yet — a masterclass in legacy, ownership, and staying power from a Bay Area legend whose hustle feels right at home in the Motor City. Recorded live at the 2025 Taste of Black Spirits Detroit, this episode captures the rare chemistry between E-40 and Detroit is Different host Khary Frazier as they dig deep into the parallels between Detroit and Oakland — two Black cities that built American culture from the ground up. E-40 breaks down how selling tapes out the trunk became selling bottles from his own distillery, how the “independent hustle” of the ‘90s hip-hop era birthed today’s Black spirits movement, and why “collective behavior” — Black folks choosing to work together — is the new currency of liberation. From the story of Mango Moscato to his upcoming ventures in Ghana, to his respect for Detroit’s own Lazar Favors and the network behind Taste of Black Spirits, this conversation is a toast to both past and future. It’s about turning cultural capital into generational wealth — and doing it with flavor, integrity, and fun. This episode bridges eras — from trunk sales to tech-driven distribution — showing how Black entrepreneurship, creativity, and community economics have always been two sides of the same Detroit coin. Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop, business, or Black excellence, E-40’s blueprint for ownership speaks directly to Detroit’s next generation of legacy builders.