The Element of Surprise

1998 studio album by E-40

Studio album by

E-40

Released

August 25, 1998

Recorded

1997–1998

Genre

Hip hop

Length

107:59

Label

Sick Wid It
Jive

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

"Hope I Don't Go Back"
Released: July 30, 1998
"From the Ground Up"
Released: November 12, 1998

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
The Source	^[2]

The Element of Surprise is the fourth studio album by American rapper E-40. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Sick Wid It Records and Jive 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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^[5]	13
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[6]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1998)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[7]	89

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)^[8]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Element of Surprise - E-40 - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ "Tower.com: The Element Of Surprise (EXPLICIT) (CD) by E-40 ..." Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ ((( The Element of Surprise > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
^ "E-40 Ranks His Top 10 Albums". BET.com. December 26, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
^ "E-40 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
^ "E-40 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
^ "American album certifications – E-40 – The Element of Surprise". Recording Industry Association of America.