The Element of Surprise

The Element of Surprise
Studio album by E-40
Released	August 11, 1998
Recorded	1997–1998
Genre	Gangsta rap, West Coast hip-hop, G-funk
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
"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

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, 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	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" (featuring Otis & Shug)	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 Levitti, D-Shot, Suga-T & The Mossie)	Studio Ton	4:31
11.	"My Hoodlumz & My Thugz" (featuring Mack 10 & WC)	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" (featuring Otis & Shug)	Ant Banks	4:07
8.	"Jump My Bone" (featuring Bosko)	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" (featuring Levitti)	Sam Bostic & Mike Mosley	4:22
13.	"One More Gen"	Sam Bostic	6:09

Samples

• "Broccoli" contains a sample of "Your Love Takes Me Out" by Cameo.
• "Do It to Me" contains a sample of "Do It to Me" by Vernon Burch.
• "From the Ground Up" contains a sample of "Never Had a Love Like This Before" by Tavares.
• "Hope I Don't Go Back" contains a sample of "Sun Goddess" by Ramsey Lewis.
• "Jump My Bone" contains a sample of "Pistolgrip-Pump" by Volume 10.
• "Lieutenant Roast a Botch" contains a sample of "Don't Fight the Feeling" by One Way and "Captain Save a Hoe" by E-40.
• "To Da Beat" contains a sample of "Dope Fiend Beat" by Too Short.
• "Zoom" contains a sample of "Zoom" by Commodores.

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	13
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	2