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Sex Packets

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Sex Packets
Studio album by
Digital Underground
ReleasedMarch 20, 1990 (1990-03-20)
Recorded1989
GenreHip hop
Length65:26 (CD)
81:14 (Cassette)
Label
ProducerDigital Underground
Digital Underground chronology
Sex Packets
(1990) 		This Is an EP Release
(1991)
Singles from Sex Packets
  1. "Doowutchyalike"
    Released: October 18, 1989
  2. "The Humpty Dance"
    Released: January 20, 1990

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

Album background

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[3]
Orlando Sentinel[4]
RapReviews8/10[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide8/10[7]
The Village VoiceB[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 album was re-issued on February 8, 2005, by Rhino Entertainment.

Legacy

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In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's "100 Best Rap Albums".[11] It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[12] The album is broken down track-by-track by Digital Underground in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.[13]

Track listing

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CD

[edit]
No.TitleLength
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

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Side A
No.TitleLength
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.TitleLength
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

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

Side 1 (Safe Side)
No.TitleDetailsLength
1."The Humpty Dance" 6:30
2."The Way We Swing" 6:48
3."Hip Hop Doll"Cassette-only track5:30
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.TitleDetailsLength
9."Freaks of the Industry" 5:38
10."Gutfest '89 (Full)"Cassette-only version8:17
11."Sound of the Underground"Cassette-only track5:06
12."A Tribute to the Early Days"Cassette-only track3:06
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

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  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. ^ "100 Best Rap Albums". The Source (#100). New York. January 1998. ISSN 1063-2085. Retrieved November 24, 2007.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  16. ^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  18. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  19. ^ "American album certifications – Digital Underground – Sex Packets". Recording Industry Association of America.
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