Sex Packets

Sex Packets
Studio album by Digital Underground
Released	March 20, 1990
Recorded	April - September 1989
Studio	Starlight Sound (Richmond, California) Alpha Omega (San Francisco, California) Hayes Recording Studio (Tampa Bay, Florida) J-Jam Recording (Oakland Hills, California)
Genre	West Coast hip hop, Alternative hip hop, Golden age hip hop
Length	65:26
Label	Tommy Boy Records / Warner Bros. Records
Producer	Atro Gregory (exec.), Digital Underground, Raw Fusion

Digital Underground chronology
Next	This Is an EP Release (1991)

Sex Packets is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Digital Underground. It was released on March 20, 1990, through Tommy Boy Records. Recording sessions took place at Starlight Sound in Richmond, California, Alpha Omega in San Francisco, Hayes Recording Studios in Tampa Bay, Florida and J-Jam Recording in Oakland Hills, California from April to September 1989. Production was handled entirely the group themselves, with additional production from Raw Fusion. It is a concept album about "G.S.R.A." (Genetic Suppression Relief Antidotes), a 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 with a satisfying sexual experience in situations where the normal attainment of such experiences would be impossible.

Shock G, Digital Underground's frontman, is the lead vocalist on the album, and performs vocals under additional aliases, such as Humpty Hump and M.C. Blowfish. He also performs piano using the alias The Piano Man, and drew artwork in the album's liner notes as Rackadelic.

The album reached #24 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Sex Packets released the two lead singles: "Doowutchyalike" (which peaked at #19 on the Hot Rap Singles, #20 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles chart and #29 on the Hot R&B Singles chart) and "The Humpty Dance" (which reached #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart). Sex Packets was released to positive reviews from music critics. The album was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling 1,000,000 copies in the United States.

Track listing

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"The Humpty Dance"	Humpty Hump	Humphrey, Jacobs	The Underground	6:30
2.	"The Way We Swing"	M.C. Blowfish, Shock G	Blowfish, Hendrix, Jacobs	The Underground	6:48
3.	"Rhymin' on the Funk"	Shock G, Money-B	Brooks, Elliot, Jacobs	The Underground, Raw Fusion	6:16
4.	"The New Jazz (One)"	-	Jacobs, Waters	The Underground	0:37
5.	"Underwater Rimes (Remix)"	Shock G, Money-B, M.C. Blowfish	Blowfish, Jacobs	The Underground	4:23
6.	"Gutfest '89 (Edit)"	Shock G, Money-B	Brooks, Jacobs	The Underground, Raw Fusion	5:50
7.	"The Danger Zone"	Shock G, Kenny K	Jacobs, Waters	The Underground	5:31
8.	"Freaks of the Industry"	Shock G, Money-B	Brooks, Jacobs	The Underground	5:38
9.	"Doowutchyalike"	Shock G, Money-B, Humpty Hump	Jacobs	The Underground	8:51
10.	"Packet Prelude"	-	Jacobs	The Underground	0:57
11.	"Sex Packets"	Shock G, Schmoovy-Schmoov	Cook, Jacobs	The Underground	7:21
12.	"Street Scene"	-	Jacobs	The Underground	0:33
13.	"Packet Man"	Shock G, Humpty Hump	Clinton, Collins, Goins, Humphrey, Jacobs	The Underground	4:41
14.	"Packet Reprise"	-	Cook, Jacobs	The Underground	1:30

Notes

• Track 1 features background vocals performed by Money-B, DJ Fuze and Shock G.
• Track 2 arranged by Shock G.
• Track 4 features drums performed by Chopmaster J, and piano performed by The Piano Man.
• Track 8 features keyboard and sample arrangements by The Piano Man, and bass guitar performed by Kent Racker.
• Track 9 features keyboard and string arrangements by The Piano Man, drum programming by Shock G and Chopmaster J and handclaps by the Claphowyalike Crew.
• Track 10 features acoustic piano performed by The Piano Man, and arranged by The Piano Man and Earl Cook.
• Track 11 features sampling and sequencing by Shock G, piano and synthesisers by The Piano Man, and synthesised bass harmonics performed by Randy Brooks.
• Track 14 features sampling and sequencing by Shock G, piano and synthesisers by The Piano Man, and synthesised bass harmonics performed by Randy Brooks.

Credits

• Recorded by: Steve Counter (track 1-4, 6, 7, 10-14)
• Mixed by: Steve Counter (track 1-4, 6, 7, 10-14)
• Arranged by: The Underground
• Photography: Victor Hall
• Scratches by: Goldfingers, DJ Fuze
• Hip hop consultation: Ben "Beni B" Knickleberry
• Records supplied by: Ben "Beni B" Knickleberry
• Entire layout overseen by: Shock G
• Artwork: Rackadelic (uncredited)

Samples

The Humpty Dance

• "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly & the Family Stone
• "Humpty Dump" by The Vibrettes
• "Theme from the Black Hole" and "Let's Play House" by Parliament

The Way We Swing

• "Who Knows" by Jimi Hendrix

Rhymin' On the Funk

• "Flash Light" by Parliament
• "Pumpin' It Up (Special Club Mix)" by P-Funk All Stars

The New Jazz (One)

• "Beats to the Rhyme" by Run-D.M.C.

Underwater Rimes (Remix)

• "Chameleon" by Herbie Hancock
• "Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)" by Parliament
• "Paul Revere" by Beastie Boys

Gutfest '89

• "Theme From the Planets" by Dexter Wansel
• "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles
• "Shaft in Africa (Addis)" by Johnny Pate

The Danger Zone

• "You're a Customer" by EPMD
• "Flash Light" by Parliament
• "Bootzilla" by Bootsy's Rubber Band

Freaks of the Industry

• "Love to Love You Baby" by Donna Summer
• "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross

Doowutchyalike

• "I Get Lifted" by KC & The Sunshine Band
• "All the Goodies Are Gone" by Parliament
• "Westchester Lady" by Bob James
• "Keep Risin' to the Top" by Doug E. Fresh
• "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
• "Good Times" by Chic

Sex Packets

• "She's Always In My Hair" by Prince
• "Dr. Funkenstein (Live)" and "The Motor Booty Affair" by Parliament

Packet Man

• "Four Play" by Fred Wesley and The Horny Horns