The Element of Surprise

The Element of Surprise
Studio album by
E-40
Released August 11, 1998
Recorded 1997–1998
Genre
Length 107:59
Label Jive, Sick Wid It
Producer Ant 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
Source Rating
AllMusic
The Source

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. 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.

Track listing

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

Charts

Weekly charts

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

Year-end charts

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

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.