Sex Packets

Sex Packets is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground, released on March 20, 1990 (1990-03-20).

Sex Packets
Studio album by Digital Underground
Released	March 20, 1990 (1990-03-20)
Recorded	1989
Genre	Hip hop
Length	65:26 (CD) 81:14 (Cassette)
Label	Tommy Boy Warner Bros.
Producer	Digital Underground
Digital Underground chronology
Sex Packets (1990) This Is an EP Release (1991)
Singles from Sex Packets
"Doowutchyalike" Released: October 18, 1989 "The Humpty Dance" Released: January 20, 1990

Album background

The album is a concept album about "G.S.R.A." (Genetic Suppression Relief Antidotes), a pharmaceutical substance that is produced in the form of a large glowing pill about the size of a quarter, which comes in a condom-sized package and is allegedly developed by the government to provide its intended users such as astronauts with a satisfying sexual experience in situations where the normal attainment of such experiences would be counter-productive to the mission at hand.

Release and reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[3]
Orlando Sentinel	[4]
RapReviews	8/10[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	8/10[7]
The Village Voice	B[8]

The album was released in the spring of 1990 following the success of its two lead-off singles: "Doowutchyalike", a moderate club hit, followed by "The Humpty Dance", which reached No. 11 on the pop chart, No. 7 on the R&B chart, and No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. Sex Packets was released to positive reviews and eventually achieved platinum sales.^[9] Newsday noted that "as the romantic—and in the end, middlebrow—self-consciousness of the artist seeps into hip-hop, Digital Underground turns it on its head, shuffling the goofy indistinguishably with the avant-garde."^[10] The Source praised the album's experimental fusion of musical styles, with Digital Underground incorporating jazz piano and funk elements into their hip-hop production. The reviewer highlighted tracks like "Doowhutchyalike" as a "unique whimsical party jam" and noted how "The Humpty Dance" gained widespread appeal among dance floor audiences. The review also commended the group's production approach of combining live drums and turntables.^[11] The album was re-issued on February 8, 2005, by Rhino Entertainment.

Legacy

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's "100 Best Rap Albums".^[12] It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.^[13] The album is broken down track-by-track by Digital Underground in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.^[14]

Track listing

CD

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Humpty Dance"	6:30
2.	"The Way We Swing"	6:48
3.	"Rhymin' on the Funk"	6:16
4.	"The New Jazz (One)"	0:37
5.	"Underwater Rimes (Remix)"	4:23
6.	"Gutfest '89 (Edit)"	5:50
7.	"The Danger Zone"	5:31
8.	"Freaks of the Industry"	5:38
9.	"Doowutchyalike"	8:51
10.	"Packet Prelude"	0:57
11.	"Sex Packets"	7:21
12.	"Street Scene"	0:33
13.	"Packet Man"	4:41
14.	"Packet Reprise"	1:23

LP

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Humpty Dance"	6:00
2.	"The Way We Swing"	6:48
3.	"Packet Prelude"	0:57
4.	"Sex Packets"	7:21
5.	"Street Scene"	0:33
6.	"Packet Man"	4:41

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Freaks Of The Industry"	5:38
2.	"Underwater Rimes (Remix)"	4:23
3.	"The New Jazz (One)"	0:37
4.	"Rhymin' On The Funk"	6:16
5.	"The Danger Zone"	5:31
6.	"Packet Reprise"	1:30
7.	"Doowutchyalike (Edit)"	4:12

Cassette

The cassette version of the album has 3 extra tracks, plus an extended version of "Gutfest '89"

Side 1 (Safe Side)

No.	Title	Details	Length
1.	"The Humpty Dance"		6:30
2.	"The Way We Swing"		6:48
3.	"Hip Hop Doll"	Cassette-only track	5:30
4.	"Underwater Rimes (Remix)"		4:23
5.	"Rhymin' on the Funk"		6:16
6.	"The New Jazz (One)"		0:37
7.	"The Danger Zone"		5:31
8.	"Doowutchyalike"		8:51

Side 2 (Sex Side)

No.	Title	Details	Length
9.	"Freaks of the Industry"		5:38
10.	"Gutfest '89 (Full)"	Cassette-only version	8:17
11.	"Sound of the Underground"	Cassette-only track	5:06
12.	"A Tribute to the Early Days"	Cassette-only track	3:06
13.	"Packet Prelude"		0:57
14.	"Sex Packets"		7:21
15.	"Street Scene"		0:33
16.	"Packet Man"		4:41
17.	"Packet Reprise"		1:30

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position UK Albums (OCC)[15] 59 US Billboard 200[16] 24 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 8

Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position US Billboard 200[18] 57 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 26

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[20]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Sex Packets – Digital Underground". AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
2. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-85712-595-8.
3. Sandow, Greg (February 23, 1990). "Sex-Packets". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
4. Fields, Curt (June 15, 1990). "Digital Underground". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
5. Juon, Steve "Flash" (May 9, 2017). "Digital Underground :: Sex Packets :: Tommy Boy Records". RapReviews. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
6. Harris, Keith (2004). "Digital Underground". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 238. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
7. Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
8. Christgau, Robert (July 3, 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
9. "Myspace". Viewmorepics.myspace.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
10. Leland, John (Jan 7, 1990). "The Sounds to Watch in the '90s". Part II. Newsday.
11. Mr. Reef (May 1990). "Digital Underground "Sex Packets" LP". The Source. 3 (3): 42–43.
12. "100 Best Rap Albums". The Source (#100). New York. January 1998. ISSN 1063-2085. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
13. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (March 23, 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
14. Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
15. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
16. "Digital Underground Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
17. "Digital Underground Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
18. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
19. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
20. "American album certifications – Digital Underground – Sex Packets". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Sex Packets (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
• Sex Packets (US Release) (Adobe Flash) at Myspace (streamed copy where licensed)