1990 studio album by Digital Underground
Sex Packets |
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Studio album by Digital Underground |
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Released | March 20, 1990 (1990-03-20) |
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Recorded | 1989 |
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Genre | Hip hop |
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Length | 65:26 (CD) 81:14 (Cassette) |
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Label | |
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Producer | Digital Underground |
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Digital Underground chronology |
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Singles from Sex Packets |
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- "Doowutchyalike"
Released: October 18, 1989 - "The Humpty Dance"
Released: January 20, 1990 |
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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] 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
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
CD
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Humpty Dance" | 6:30 |
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2. | "The Way We Swing" | 6:48 |
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3. | "Rhymin' on the Funk" | 6:16 |
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4. | "The New Jazz (One)" | 0:37 |
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5. | "Underwater Rimes (Remix)" | 4:23 |
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6. | "Gutfest '89 (Edit)" | 5:50 |
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7. | "The Danger Zone" | 5:31 |
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8. | "Freaks of the Industry" | 5:38 |
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9. | "Doowutchyalike" | 8:51 |
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10. | "Packet Prelude" | 0:57 |
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11. | "Sex Packets" | 7:21 |
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12. | "Street Scene" | 0:33 |
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13. | "Packet Man" | 4:41 |
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14. | "Packet Reprise" | 1:23 |
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LP
Side ANo. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Humpty Dance" | 6:00 |
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2. | "The Way We Swing" | 6:48 |
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3. | "Packet Prelude" | 0:57 |
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4. | "Sex Packets" | 7:21 |
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5. | "Street Scene" | 0:33 |
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6. | "Packet Man" | 4:41 |
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Side BNo. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Freaks Of The Industry" | 5:38 |
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2. | "Underwater Rimes (Remix)" | 4:23 |
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3. | "The New Jazz (One)" | 0:37 |
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4. | "Rhymin' On The Funk" | 6:16 |
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5. | "The Danger Zone" | 5:31 |
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6. | "Packet Reprise" | 1:30 |
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7. | "Doowutchyalike (Edit)" | 4:12 |
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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 |
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1. | "The Humpty Dance" | | 6:30 |
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2. | "The Way We Swing" | | 6:48 |
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3. | "Hip Hop Doll" | Cassette-only track | 5:30 |
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4. | "Underwater Rimes (Remix)" | | 4:23 |
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5. | "Rhymin' on the Funk" | | 6:16 |
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6. | "The New Jazz (One)" | | 0:37 |
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7. | "The Danger Zone" | | 5:31 |
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8. | "Doowutchyalike" | | 8:51 |
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Side 2 (Sex Side)No. | Title | Details | Length |
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9. | "Freaks of the Industry" | | 5:38 |
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10. | "Gutfest '89 (Full)" | Cassette-only version | 8:17 |
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11. | "Sound of the Underground" | Cassette-only track | 5:06 |
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12. | "A Tribute to the Early Days" | Cassette-only track | 3:06 |
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13. | "Packet Prelude" | | 0:57 |
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14. | "Sex Packets" | | 7:21 |
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15. | "Street Scene" | | 0:33 |
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16. | "Packet Man" | | 4:41 |
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17. | "Packet Reprise" | | 1:30 |
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Charts
Weekly charts | Year-end charts Chart (1990) | Position | US Billboard 200[17] | 57 | US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] | 26 | |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
United States (RIAA)[19] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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.
- ^ Leland, John (Jan 7, 1990). "The Sounds to Watch in the '90s". Part II. Newsday.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
- ^ "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
- Shock G
- Kenny K
- Chopmaster J
- Money-B
- DJ Fuze
- Schmoovy-Schmoov
- Ramone "Pee Wee" Gooden
- Saafir
- Tupac Shakur
- Kent Racker
- Nzazi Malonga
- Esinchill
- BINC
- Cleetis "Clee" Mack
- 2Fly Eli
- Kim Morgan
- Mystic
- DOT
- Roniece Levias
- Numskull
- Metaphysical
- Dialect Lector
- Eric "Kenya Gruve" Baker
- Boni Boyer
- Big Money Odis
- Juan Carlos
- DJ Nu-Stylez
- Young Mass
- Jeremy "DJ-JZ" Jackson
- Young Hump
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Albums | Studio albums | |
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EPs | |
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Compilation albums | - The Lost Files (1999)
- No Nose Job: The Legend of Digital Underground (2001)
- Playwutchyalike: The Best of Digital Underground (2003)
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Singles | |
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Authority control databases | - MusicBrainz release group
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