The Element of Surprise | ||||
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Studio album by E-40 | ||||
Released | August 11, 1998 | |||
Recorded | 1997–1998 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
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 | ||||
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Singles from The Element of Surprise | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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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 1994 EP, 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 thirty three times Platinum and won a total of 71 Grammys. 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.