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1990 studio album by Digital Underground
Sex Packets Released March 20, 1990 (1990-03-20 ) Recorded 1989 Genre
Length 65 :26 (CD) / 81:14 (Cassette)Label Producer Digital Underground
Sex Packets is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground , released on March 20, 1990 (1990-03-20 ) .
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
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] The album was re-issued on February 8, 2005 by Rhino Entertainment . The album is broken down track-by-track by Digital Underground in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique .[ 10]
Legacy
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source ' s 100 Best Rap Albums Ever.[ 11] It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die .[ 12]
Track listing
CD
[ 13]
Title 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
[ 14]
Side A Title 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 Title 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" 4:12
Cassette
[ 15]
The cassette version of the album has 3 extra tracks, plus an extended version of "Gutfest '89"
Side 1 (Safe Side) Title Details 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) Title Details 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
Samples
"Underwater Rimes (Remix)"
"Doowutchyalike"
"Packet Man"
"The Humpty Dance"
"Freaks of the Industry"
"Gutfest '89"
"Rhymin' on the Funk"
"Sex Packets"
"The Danger Zone"
"The Way We Swing"
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
References
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas . "Sex Packets – Digital Underground" . AllMusic . Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press . ISBN 0-85712-595-8 .
^ Sandow, Greg (February 23, 1990). "Sex-Packets" . Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ Fields, Curt (June 15, 1990). "Digital Underground" . Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved April 2, 2017 .
^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (May 9, 2017). "Digital Underground :: Sex Packets :: Tommy Boy Records" . RapReviews . Retrieved December 16, 2018 .
^ 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 .
^ Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig, eds. (1995). Spin Alternative Record Guide . Vintage Books . ISBN 0-679-75574-8 .
^ Christgau, Robert (July 3, 1990). "Consumer Guide" . The Village Voice . Retrieved April 2, 2017 .
^ "Myspace" . Viewmorepics.myspace.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique : Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies . New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
^ "100 Best Rap Albums" . The Source (#100). New York. January 1998. ISSN 1063-2085 . Retrieved November 24, 2007 .
^ 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 .
^ "Digital Underground - Sex Packets (CD, Album) at Discogs" . Discogs.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ "Digital Underground - Sex Packets (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs" . Discogs.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ "Digital Underground - Sex Packets (Cassette, Album) at Discogs" . Discogs.com. Retrieved February 6, 2014 .
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved May 11, 2021.
^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 11, 2021.
^ "Digital Underground Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved May 11, 2021.
^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990" . Billboard . Retrieved May 11, 2021 .
^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1990" . Billboard . Retrieved May 11, 2021 .
^ "American album certifications – Digital Underground – Sex Packets" . Recording Industry Association of America .
External links
Studio albums EPs Compilation albums Singles