Sex Packets (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

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. 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." 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. 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". It is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album is broken down track by track by Digital Underground in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique. In 2022, Rolling Stone placed it at number 114 on their list of the "200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time".