The Element of Surprise
Studio album by
E-40
ReleasedAugust 11, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
Genre
Length107:59
LabelJive, Sick Wid It
ProducerAnt Banks (exec.), Big Tyme, Bosko, Dave Everingham, E-40 (exec.), Funk Daddy, Keith Kinlow, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock, Sam Bostic, Studio Ton, Tone Capone
E-40 chronology
Tha Hall of Game
(1996)		 The Element of Surprise
(1998)		 Charlie Hustle: The Blueprint of a Self-Made Millionaire
(1999)
Singles from The Element of Surprise
  1. "Hope I Don't Go Back"
    Released: July 30, 1998
  2. "From the Ground Up"
    Released: November 12, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Source[3]

The Element of Surprise is the fourth studio album by American rapper E-40, released August 11, 1998, on Jive and Sick Wid It Records. The album features production by Ant Banks, Bosko, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock, Sam Bostic, Studio Ton & Tone Capone. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 13 on the Billboard 200.[4] The album features guest performances by fellow members of The Click: B-Legit, D-Shot and Suga-T, as well as Jayo Felony, C-Bo, Mack 10, WC, Busta Rhymes, Levitti and Master P. The second to last track, "Ballin' Outta Control", originally appeared on the 1993 extended play, The Mail Man.

Along with a single, a music video was produced for the song "Hope I Don't Go Back", featuring Otis & Shug. A second single, "From the Ground Up", was also released as a music video, featuring Too Short and K-Ci & JoJo. The album eventually went Gold. In 2013 E-40 ranked what he considers to be his ten best albums, and named The Element of Surprise as his best album overall.[5]

Track listing

Disc 1 (Yellow)
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."The Element of Surprise"Rick Rock4:21
2."Trump Change"Big Tyme (Randy Jefferson) and Michael Banks4:30
3."All Tha Time" (featuring B-Legit)Bosko3:21
4."Dump, Bust, Blast"Bosko4:11
5."Hope I Don't Go Back"Ant Banks4:38
6."$999,999 + $1 = A Mealticket"Rick Rock4:32
7."Money Scheme" (featuring Jayo Felony)Bosko6:20
8."Zoom"Bosko4:09
9."Mayhem" (featuring A-1)Rick Rock5:09
10."Personal" (featuring D-Shot, Suga T, The Mossie & Levitti)Studio Ton4:31
11."My Hoodlumz & My Thugz" (featuring WC & Mack 10)Keith Kinlow4:44
Disc 2 (Orange)
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Do It to Me" (featuring Busta Rhymes)Tone Capone3:40
2."Lieutenant Roast a Botch" (featuring Sylk-E. Fyne)Studio Ton4:41
3."It's On, On Sight" (featuring C-Bo)Funk Daddy4:13
4."From the Ground Up" (featuring Too Short & K-Ci & JoJo)Ant Banks4:52
5."Flashin'"Studio Ton4:54
6."Doin' Dirt Bad" (featuring B-Legit)Bosko4:24
7."Broccoli"Ant Banks4:07
8."Jump My Bone"Bosko3:57
9."Back Against the Wall" (featuring Master P)Bosko4:16
10."To Da Beat"Studio Ton4:12
11."Dirty Deeds"Dave Everingham & E-403:46
12."Ballin' Outta Control"Sam Bostic & Mike Mosley4:22
13."One More Gen"Sam Bostic6:09

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[6] 13
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1998) Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8] 89

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[9] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Bromfield, Daniel (June 6, 2018). "Ski Mask the Slump God: Beware the Book of Eli". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  2. ↑ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Element of Surprise - E-40 - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Tower.com: The Element Of Surprise (EXPLICIT) (CD) by E-40 ..." Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  4. ↑ ((( The Element of Surprise > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  5. ↑ "E-40 Ranks His Top 10 Albums". BET.com. December 26, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ "E-40 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  7. ↑ "E-40 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ "American album certifications – E-40 – The Element of Surprise". Recording Industry Association of America.
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