The Element of Surprise

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.

The Element of Surprise
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
The Source

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.	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.