| The Element of Surprise | |
| Type: | studio album |
| Artist: | E-40 |
| Cover: | E-40 - The Element of Surprise.jpg |
| Released: | August 25, 1998 |
| Recorded: | 1997–1998 |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Length: | 107:59 |
| Prev Title: | Tha Hall of Game |
| Prev Year: | 1996 |
| Next Year: | 1999 |
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.[1] 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.[2]
The Element of Surprise debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, with first week sales nearing 78,000 units.[3] To date, the album has been certified Gold by the RIAA for selling and shipping 500,000 copies.