Santa joins Bay Area rap legend E-40 for holiday shout-out

Click through the slideshow to see photos of the Bay Area rapper E-40 through the years. Click through the slideshow to see photos of the Bay Area rapper E-40 through the years. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images For BMI Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images For BMI Image 1 of / 34 Caption Close Santa joins Bay Area rap legend E-40 for holiday shout-out 1 / 34 Back to Gallery

E-40 shared a special holiday message with his fans on Facebook.

The short video packs a lot in in just seven seconds: a cameo by a jolly Santa Claus, a throwback to one of E-40's 1995 albums, and an inside joke for those familiar with his lyrics.

Forty, whose real name is Earl Stevens, kicks of the video by reciting a line from his song "Sideways."

"Santa, do you know E-40?" the rapper sings.

The bearded Santa jumps in with a cleaned-up version of the song's next line: "That's my homie!"

Santa do you know E40? Posted by E-40 on Sunday, December 3, 2017

The video racked up more than 16,000 views and over 2,000 likes on Facebook in two hours.

ALSO READ: E-40 appears on daytime TV, talks Tupac, sips Sluricane

E-40, who turned 50 this year, has had a long rap career with strong Bay Area ties.

Stevens was born in Vallejo and frequently references Bay Area cities in his hits. In August, the rapper performed at an end-of-summer block party in Oakland. A few days later he performed for students at UC Berkeley.

He has also been spotted courtside at more than one Warriors game.

More recently, E-40 has found success in a different arena: the alcohol business. Stevens has a line of malt liquors, premixed cocktail drinks called "Sluricanes," and a collection of wines sold as the "Earl Stevens Selections."

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.