Vallejo rap artist E-40 took no chances that his last-minute holiday toy drive would bring in the booty. He also brought a bunch with him Thursday night to a Toys for Tots event at Vallejo”s Kentwig Lanes, his promoter said.

“He doesn”t like to say so, but he brought a ton of toys himself, bless his heart,” promoter Brandon “B12” Rodegeb of Vallejo said. “He brought a limo full.”

A Vallejo native, Earl Stevens, known to his fans as E-40, said he wanted to help the children of Vallejo. It”s his first Toys for Tots effort here, he said.

“I grew up in Vallejo, in this neighborhood,” E-40 said. “Kentwig was my hangout.”

Joining E-40 in Thursday”s effort was UFC lightweight contender Nathan Diaz, who echoed the rapper”s sentiment that the event was “all about the kids.” The two joined forces as mutual fans, said E-40 who, at 45, called himself “the oldest new rapper in the world.”

The 27-year-old Stockton fighter said he”s “been listening to E-40 since the third grade, and he actually called me to do this, and it was really an honor, to help make a great holiday for the kids around here.”

An expected 1,000 people over the three-hour length of the event, stood in line for their turn to see the celebrities, get a poster or their own memorabilia signed and, in many cases, drop off a new toy for the less fortunate, Rodegeb said.

Michael Pruitt, 11, and Rashawn Wisdom, 13, each dropped toys in the box attended by U.S. Marines Andres Carcano, 22, of Vallejo and Don Edwards, 24, of Napa, in exchange for a signed poster and handshakes from the rapper and the fighter.

“I wanted to give to people that can”t afford it,” said Pruitt, a Solano Middle School sixth-grader who said he”d brought a Barbie doll.

His friend, Wisdom, a Hogan Middle School seventh-grader, said he brought a monster truck, also for altruistic reasons, and “to support E-40 in what he does,” he said.

Not everyone brought a gift, however.

Amarion Hill”s parents said they brought the 7-year-old Patterson Elementary School student to see his musical hero, not realizing it was a toy drive.

“He”s my favorite,” Amarion said, beaming.

And that was OK, Rodegeb said.

“We did this great event recently at Kinder”s in Pleasant Hill with San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo, and (E-40) asked if we could do something like it on short notice in Vallejo,” he said. “We know Vallejo”s struggling, so everyone gets to see him, even if they don”t bring a toy.”

Twenty-six-year-old Pinole resident, Lilly, and her friend, Brittney, 25, of Vallejo, neither of whom wanted their last names published, brought two new toy cars to Thursday”s event.

“We”re here for the toy drive,” Brittney said. “And to see Nate Diaz.”

The Marine Corps was expected to distribute the toys collected at Fighting Back Partnership”s headquarters today.

Contact staff writer Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824 or rzrihen@timesheraldonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at RachelVTH.