The Element of Surprise

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	[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]

The Element of Surprise debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales nearing 78,000 units.^[5] To date, the album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for selling and shipping 500,000 copies.