The Element of Surprise
The Element of Surprise is the fourth studio album by American rapper E-40. It was released on August 11, 1998, by E-40#Sick [Wid It Records|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 1994 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 Recording [Industry Association of America|RIAA] for selling and shipping 500,000 copies.Track listing
Sample credits- "The Element of Surprise" contains a sample from "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted", written by O'Shea Jackson, Keith Shocklee, and Eric Sadler, as recorded by Ice Cube.
- "Hope I Don't Go Back" contains a portion of "Sun Goddess", written by Maurice White and Jon Lind.
- "Do It to Me" contains a portion of "Do It to Me", written by Vernon Burch.
- "Lieutenant Roast a Botch" contains:
- * "Don't Fight the Feeling", written by Kevin McCord.
- * "Captain Save a Hoe", written by Earl Stevens, Brandt Jones, Marvin Whitemon, Tenina Stevens, and Danell Stevens.
- "From the Ground Up" contains a portion of "Never Had a Love Like This Before", written by Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks, and Arnold McCuller.
- "Broccoli" contains a portion of "Your Love Takes Me Out", written by Larry Blackmon.
- "Jump My Bone" contains:
- * "Paul Revere", written by Rick Rubin, Joseph Simmons, and Darryl McDaniels, as recorded by the Beastie Boys.
- * "Pistolgrip Pump", written by Dino Hawkins, Roger Troutman, Eric Vidal, and Nick Vidal.
Charts