E-40 Element Of Surprise CD

Personnel: E-40, B-Legit, A-1, D-Shot, Suga T, LeVitti, The Mossie, WC, Mack 10, Busta Rhymes, Silk E, C-Bo, Too Short, K-Ci, JoJo, Master P (vocals); Bosko (various instruments); Sam Bostic (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Carl Burnett, Flat Top (guitar); Keith Eaddie (bass); Mike Mosley (keyboards, drum programming); D.J. TNT (scratches); Otis, Shug, Alechia Campbell, Kaveo (background vocals).
Producers include: Rick Rock, Big Tyme, Bosko, Ant Banks, Studio Ton.
Engineers include: D-Wiz, Bosko Kante, Ant Banks, Studio Ton, Joel Pierre.
Personnel includes: E-40, B-Legit, Jayo Felony, A-1, D-Shot, Suga T., LeVitti, The Mossie, WC, Mack 10, Busta Rhymes, Silk E, C-Bo, Too Short, K-Ci & JoJo, Master P (vocals); Bosko (various instruments); Sam Bostic (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Carl Burnett, Flat Top (guitar); Mike Mosley (keyboards, drums programming); Keith Eaddle (bass); D.J. TNT (scratches); Otis & Shug, Kaveo, Alechia Campbell (background vocals)
Producers: E-40, Rick Rock, Big Tyme, Bosko, Ant Banks.
Engineers include: D-Wiz, Bosko Kante, Ant Banks.
Personnel: E-40 (vocals); Busta Rhymes (vocals, background vocals); D-Shot, Too Short, Jayo Felony, JoJo , K-Ci & JoJo, Levitti, Mack 10, Master P, WC (vocals); Sam Bostic (guitar, keyboard programming, drum programming); Carl Burnett (guitar); Michael Mosley (keyboard programming, drum programming); Kaveo, Otis (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: D-Wiz; Lance Pierre; Ant Banks; Carlos Warlick.
Recording information: Chicken & Beats Studio; Cosmic; Digital Studios; Michael Denton Studios; Orange Room; Plant Studios.
It can be argued that the worst hip-hop trend in the late '90s was not the incessant recycling of The Chronic (although that did grow rather tiresome), but the proliferation of double-disc sets. Even if an artist has a lot to say, it's hard to fill two hours with compelling music. Out of all the rappers who released double-discs, only the two that inaugarated the trend -- 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. -- produced records that came close to being continually interesting. The others were bloated and overwrought, and E-40's The Element of Surprise is simply the latest contender in this sweepstakes. It's too long and doesn't progress musically from the typical Bay Area bumpin' that is his trademark. That doesn't mean that The Element of Surprise is worthless. Quite the contrary; E-40 is such a gifted rapper, with impeccably smooth delivery and startling images, that it's a pleasure to hear him -- it's just that the length of the album has the effect of diluting his power, since the music gets monotonous and he doesn't find enough new topics to keep the songs engaging. If it was trimmed by nearly two thirds, The Element of Surprise would be truly compelling. As its stands, only the dedicated could search through all these songs to find the good stuff. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
E-40's ELEMENT OF SURPRISE is like a cold splash of water in the face, startling the listener with a head-on dose of street reality. The most startling aspect of the album is E-40's unique rapping style; with his mile-a-minute rhymes, he makes Onyx sound like a bunch of slackers. His lyrics go by at such a breakneck pace that, while one is able to glean the general intent of the lyrics, his voice becomes another instrument, taking a place in the mix that's more physical than cerebral. He's pretty prolific, too, as evidenced by the 24 cuts spread out over ELEMENTS OF SURPRISE's two discs. Too Short, Master P and others make guest appearances on these funk-inflected tracks, but this is E-40's show all the way.

2cd

Vibe (9/98, p.286) - "...E-40 casts a lyric spell with a nonstop flow of vividly engaging rags-to-riches tales..."
The Source (9/98, p.244) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "When it comes to creativity, originality and personality in today's hip-hop music, there are few rappers who can hang with E-40....40 Water sticks to his original recipe--elastic flows that stretch rhymes out of shape against beats funkier than a can of sardines..."
Rap Pages (10/98, p.119) - 4 (out of 5) - "...E-40 returns to the Hip-Hop lecture hall with a collection of songs that mentor those in the struggle....40, again, proves that he is a trailblazer and not a follower..."