Sex Packets

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.

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/sex-packets-mw0000204367 |title=Sex Packets – Digital Underground |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=February 6, 2014}}

| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=0-85712-595-8}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = C+{{cite journal |last=Sandow |first=Greg |author-link=Greg Sandow |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808054800/https://ew.com/article/1990/02/23/sex-packets/ |title=Sex-Packets |work=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 23, 1990 |access-date=February 6, 2014}}

| rev4 = Orlando Sentinel

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last=Fields |first=Curt |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1990/06/15/digital-underground-2/ |title=Digital Underground |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 15, 1990 |access-date=April 2, 2017}}

| rev5 = RapReviews

| rev5Score = 8/10{{cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve "Flash" |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_sexpackets.html |title=Digital Underground :: Sex Packets :: Tommy Boy Records |work=RapReviews |date=May 9, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2018}}

| rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Digital Underground |last=Harris |first=Keith |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=Simon & Schuster |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/238 238] }}

| rev7 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

| rev7score = 8/10{{cite book |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=Vintage Books |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8}}

| rev8 = The Village Voice

| rev8Score = B{{cite news |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv690-90.php |title=Consumer Guide |work=The Village Voice |date=July 3, 1990 |access-date=April 2, 2017}}

}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=279359168&albumId=124699&page=2 |title=Myspace |publisher=Viewmorepics.myspace.com |access-date=February 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820001435/http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture |archive-date=August 20, 2009 }} 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."{{cite news |last1=Leland |first1=John |title=The Sounds to Watch in the '90s |work=Newsday |date=Jan 7, 1990 |department=Part II}} 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.{{Cite journal |last=Mr. Reef |date=May 1990 |title=Digital Underground "Sex Packets" LP |journal=The Source |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=42-43}} The album was re-issued on February 8, 2005, by Rhino Entertainment.

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source{{'}}s "100 Best Rap Albums".{{cite journal |url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/source.htm#100albums |title=100 Best Rap Albums |access-date=November 24, 2007 |magazine=The Source |issue=#100 |date=January 1998 |location=New York |issn=1063-2085}} It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=March 23, 2010|publisher=Universe|isbn=978-0-7893-2074-2}} The album is broken down track-by-track by Digital Underground in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique.Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Details

| title1 = The Humpty Dance

| length1 = 6:30

| title2 = The Way We Swing

| length2 = 6:48

| title3 = Rhymin' on the Funk

| length3 = 6:16

| title4 = The New Jazz (One)

| length4 = 0:37

| title5 = Underwater Rimes (Remix)

| length5 = 4:23

| title6 = Gutfest '89 (Edit)

| length6 = 5:50

| title7 = The Danger Zone

| length7 = 5:31

| title8 = Freaks of the Industry

|

| length8 = 5:38

| title9 = Doowutchyalike

| length9 = 8:51

| title10 = Packet Prelude

| length10 = 0:57

| title11 = Sex Packets

| length11 = 7:21

| title12 = Street Scene

| length12 = 0:33

| title13 = Packet Man

| length13 = 4:41

| title14 = Packet Reprise

| length14 = 1:23

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side A

| extra_column = Details

| total_length =

| title1 = The Humpty Dance

| length1 = 6:00

| title2 = The Way We Swing

| length2 = 6:48

| title3 = Packet Prelude

| length3 = 0:57

| title4 = Sex Packets

| length4 = 7:21

| title5 = Street Scene

| length5 = 0:33

| title6 = Packet Man

| length6 = 4:41

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side B

| extra_column = Details

| total_length =

| title1 = Freaks Of The Industry

| length1 = 5:38

| title2 = Underwater Rimes (Remix)

| length2 = 4:23

| title3 = The New Jazz (One)

| length3 = 0:37

| title4 = Rhymin' On The Funk

| length4 = 6:16

| title5 = The Danger Zone

| length5 = 5:31

| title6 = Packet Reprise

| length6 = 1:30

| title7 = Doowutchyalike (Edit)

| length7 = 4:12

}}

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

{{Track listing

| headline = Side 1 (Safe Side)

| extra_column = Details

| title1 = The Humpty Dance

| length1 = 6:30

| title2 = The Way We Swing

| length2 = 6:48

| title3 = Hip Hop Doll

| length3 = 5:30

| extra3 = Cassette-only track

| title4 = Underwater Rimes (Remix)

| length4 = 4:23

| title5 = Rhymin' on the Funk

| length5 = 6:16

| title6 = The New Jazz (One)

| length6 = 0:37

| title7 = The Danger Zone

| length7 = 5:31

| title8 = Doowutchyalike

| length8 = 8:51

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side 2 (Sex Side)

| extra_column = Details

| title9 = Freaks of the Industry

| length9 = 5:38

| title10 = Gutfest '89 (Full)

| length10 = 8:17

| extra10 = Cassette-only version

| title11 = Sound of the Underground

| length11 = 5:06

| extra11 = Cassette-only track

| title12 = A Tribute to the Early Days

| length12 = 3:06

| extra12 = Cassette-only track

| title13 = Packet Prelude

| length13 = 0:57

| title14 = Sex Packets

| length14 = 7:21

| title15 = Street Scene

| length15 = 0:33

| title16 = Packet Man

| length16 = 4:41

| title17 = Packet Reprise

| length17 = 1:30

}}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Digital Underground|title=Sex Packets|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|refname=riaa}}

{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/U2V4IFBhY2tldHM=/Sex%20Packets Sex Packets] (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)
• [http://www.myspace.com/humptyfunk/music/albums/sex-packets-us-release-8123995 Sex Packets (US Release)] (Adobe Flash) at Myspace (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Digital Underground}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990 debut albums

Category:Digital Underground albums

Category:Tommy Boy Records albums

Category:1990s concept albums