The Element of Surprise
Encyclopedia
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 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 Gold.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American rapper E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, released August 11, 1998 on Jive
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
and Sick Wid It Records
Sick Wid It Records
Sick Wid It Records is a United States based hip hop record label owned and founded by rapper E-40.- Current artists :*B-Slimm*Big Omeezy*E-40*Laroo 'The Hard Hitta'*DB'z *Issue*Droop-E*Nump*Turf Talk*Cousin Fik- Former artists :...
. The album features production by Ant Banks
Ant Banks
Anthony Banks, known simply as Ant Banks, is a producer and rapper from Oakland, California.-Biography:As a child he took part in a band at school and from there learned to play a variety of instruments along the way. At school he only learned Classical, but at home he taught himself to play Funk...
, Bosko, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock
Rick Rock
Rick Rock is a hip-hop music producer from the Bay Area.-Albums with Rick Rock production:*1996: All Eyez on Me by 2Pac*1996: Tha Hall of Game by E-40*1996: Seasoned Veteran by Richie Rich...
, Sam Bostic, Studio Ton & Tone Capone. It peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
and at number 13 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The album features guest performances by fellow members of The Click
The Click
The Click is a hip hop group consisting of 4 members from Vallejo, California. The groups members are E-40 , his cousin B-Legit , his brother D-Shot , and his sister Suga-T...
: B-Legit
B-Legit
Brandt Jones, better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California.He is a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his cousin E-40. He was featured on the track "Aint Hard 2 Find" by 2Pac in All Eyez on Me. He has been on several independent labels such as...
, D-Shot
D-Shot
Dannell Stevens, better known as D-Shot is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. D-Shot got his start as a member of the rap group, The Click, which also included his siblings E-40 and Suga T, as well as his cousin B-Legit...
and Suga-T
Suga-T
Tenina Stevens, better known by her stage name Suga-T, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. She is a founding member of The Click, a rap group that also includes her brothers E-40 and D-Shot and her cousin B-Legit....
, as well as Jayo Felony
Jayo Felony
James Savage, better known by his stage name, Jayo Felony is a rapper from southeast San Diego, California. He is known for being the first San Diego rapper to be signed to a major label...
, C-Bo
C-Bo
Shawn Thomas, better known by his stage name C-Bo is an American rapper. He was born and raised in the south area of Sacramento, California. He has sold over 3.5 million albums independently since 1993...
, Mack 10
Mack 10
Dedrick Rolison, , better known by his stage name Mack 10 is an American rapper and actor. He was a member of hip hop trio Westside Connection, along with Ice Cube and WC...
, WC
WC (rapper)
William L. Calhoun Jr. , better known by his stage name WC , is an American rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to South Central Los Angeles at an early age. He originally was a rapper in the group Low Profile, and later formed his group WC and the Maad Circle, which also included fellow rapper...
, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
, Levitti and Master P
Master P
Percy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
. The second to last track, "Ballin' Outta Control", originally appeared on the 1993 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, The Mail Man
The Mail Man
The Mail Man is an eight track EP by American rapper E-40. It was released by Sick Wid It Records in 1994 on LP's and cassette's. The album features production by Mike Mosley, Sam Bostic, Studio Ton and E-40...
.
Along with a single, a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was produced for the song "Hope I Don't Go Back", featuring Otis & Shug
Otis & Shug
Otis & Shug are an American singing duo from Oakland, California, with two members: Otis Cooper and David "Shug" Cooper. After releasing two singles, "Keep it on the Real" and "Journey", in 1995 and 1996 respectively, they recorded their debut album on Interscope Records, We Can Do Whatever. The...
. 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.
Disc One (Yellow)
- "The Element of Surprise" – 4:21
- "Trump Change" – 4:30
- "All Tha Time" (feat. B-LegitB-LegitBrandt Jones, better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California.He is a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his cousin E-40. He was featured on the track "Aint Hard 2 Find" by 2Pac in All Eyez on Me. He has been on several independent labels such as...
) – 3:21 - "Dump, Bust, Blast" – 4:11
- "Hope I Don't Go Back" (feat. Otis & ShugOtis & ShugOtis & Shug are an American singing duo from Oakland, California, with two members: Otis Cooper and David "Shug" Cooper. After releasing two singles, "Keep it on the Real" and "Journey", in 1995 and 1996 respectively, they recorded their debut album on Interscope Records, We Can Do Whatever. The...
) – 4:38 - "$999,999 + $1 = A Mealticket" – 4:32
- "Money Scheme" (feat. Jayo FelonyJayo FelonyJames Savage, better known by his stage name, Jayo Felony is a rapper from southeast San Diego, California. He is known for being the first San Diego rapper to be signed to a major label...
) – 6:20 - "Zoom" – 4:09
- "Mayhem" (feat. A-1) – 5:09
- "Personal" (feat. Levitti, D-ShotD-ShotDannell Stevens, better known as D-Shot is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. D-Shot got his start as a member of the rap group, The Click, which also included his siblings E-40 and Suga T, as well as his cousin B-Legit...
, Suga-TSuga-TTenina Stevens, better known by her stage name Suga-T, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California. She is a founding member of The Click, a rap group that also includes her brothers E-40 and D-Shot and her cousin B-Legit....
& The MossieThe MossieThe Mossie was an American rap group from Vallejo, California, composed of three members: Kaveo, Mugzi and Tap Dat Ass. They first appeared together on E-40's 1993 EP, The Mail Man...
) – 4:31 - "My Hoodlumz & My Thugz" (featuring Mack 10Mack 10Dedrick Rolison, , better known by his stage name Mack 10 is an American rapper and actor. He was a member of hip hop trio Westside Connection, along with Ice Cube and WC...
& WCWC (rapper)William L. Calhoun Jr. , better known by his stage name WC , is an American rapper. He was born in Texas, but moved to South Central Los Angeles at an early age. He originally was a rapper in the group Low Profile, and later formed his group WC and the Maad Circle, which also included fellow rapper...
) – 4:44
Disc Two (Orange)
- "Do It To Me" (feat. Busta RhymesBusta RhymesTrevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
) – 3:40 - "Lieutenant Roast A Botch" (feat. Sylk-E. FyneSylk-E. FyneSylk-E. Fyne is a female rapper from South Central Los Angeles and former member of the unreleased group G.B.M. from Eazy-E's Ruthless Records. She started rapping while in high school and, after getting a college degree, recorded her 1998 debut, Raw Sylk, on RCA...
) – 4:41 - "It's On, On Sight" (feat. C-BoC-BoShawn Thomas, better known by his stage name C-Bo is an American rapper. He was born and raised in the south area of Sacramento, California. He has sold over 3.5 million albums independently since 1993...
) – 4:13 - "From The Ground Up" (feat. Too Short & K-Ci & JoJo) – 4:52
- "Flashin'" – 4:54
- "Doin' Dirt Bad" (feat. B-LegitB-LegitBrandt Jones, better known by his stage name B-Legit, is an American rapper from Vallejo, California.He is a member of The Click, a rap group formed by his cousin E-40. He was featured on the track "Aint Hard 2 Find" by 2Pac in All Eyez on Me. He has been on several independent labels such as...
) – 4:24 - "Broccoli" (feat. Otis & ShugOtis & ShugOtis & Shug are an American singing duo from Oakland, California, with two members: Otis Cooper and David "Shug" Cooper. After releasing two singles, "Keep it on the Real" and "Journey", in 1995 and 1996 respectively, they recorded their debut album on Interscope Records, We Can Do Whatever. The...
) – 4:07 - "Jump My Bone" (feat. Bosko) – 3:57
- "Back Against The Wall" (feat. Master PMaster PPercy Robert Miller , better known by his stage name Master P or his business name P. Miller, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, and producer. He is the founder of the popular label No Limit Records, which went bankrupt and was relaunched as New No Limit Records through Koch...
) – 4:16 - "To Da Beat" – 4:12
- "Dirty Deeds" – 3:46
- "Ballin' Outta Control" (feat. Levitti) – 4:22
- "One More Gen" – 6:09
Chart history
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
13 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
4 |
External links
- The Element of Surprise at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- The Element of Surprise (Disc one) at MusicBrainzMusicBrainzMusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an open content music database. Similar to the freedb project, it was founded in response to the restrictions placed on the CDDB...
- The Element of Surprise (Disc two) at MusicBrainzMusicBrainzMusicBrainz is a project that aims to create an open content music database. Similar to the freedb project, it was founded in response to the restrictions placed on the CDDB...
- "Hope I Don't Go Back" single at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- "From the Ground Up" single at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...