The Element of Surprise

The Element of Surprise
Studio album by
E-40
ReleasedAugust 25, 1998
Recorded1997–1998
GenreHip hop
Length107:59
Label
Producer
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
The Source

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. 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.

Commercial performance

The Element of Surprise debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales nearing 78,000 units. To date, the album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for selling and shipping 500,000 copies.

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 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.

References

  1. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Element of Surprise - E-40 - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  2. ^ "Tower.com: The Element Of Surprise (EXPLICIT) (CD) by E-40 ..." Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  3. ^ ((( The Element of Surprise > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums ))). All Media Guide, LLC. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  4. ^ "E-40 Ranks His Top 10 Albums". BET.com. December 26, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  5. ^ "Snoop Dogg's Da Game Holds Fast At Number 1". August 19, 1998. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  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.