The Element of Surprise
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
;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
