Customer Reviews

Sex Packets

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sex Packets is a great hip-hop album that still sounds fresh and never fails to sound like a party. Although the grooves are based heavily on Parliament/Funkadelic, the grooves don't overwhelm the album like some of the gangsta rap albums that appeared after this. In addition to the grooves and stellar production, Digital Underground come up with some of the most hysterical lyrics ever in hip-hop, particularly on their most well-known tracks.

This album is best known for the hits "The Humpty Dance" and "Doowutchyalike", two of the best hip-hop party jams ever recorded. The lyrics on these tracks are downright hysterical and the break in the latter track advising DJs to end the song and even providing the fade out is priceless. But while these tracks are excellent, many of the remaining tracks are just as strong. "Underwater Rimes (Remix)", "Rhymin' On The Funk", and "Packet Man" are all great tracks relying on grooves from P-Funk. "Gutfest '89" and "The Way We Swing" are killer jams with the latter sampling Jimi Hendrix's "Who Knows." The more laid-back stoned out funk of "Freaks Of The Industry" and "The Danger Zone" are great tracks. The title track is the only slow track here and it's also very good. This is one of the best hip-hop albums ever recorded. Highly recommended.

I remember first buying the cassette at my local swap-meet back in the day. It was when I was fooled into believing that Shock-G and Humpty were 2 different people. I still have that cassette to this day. I did notice that on that cassette, there was a track that isn't included with this CD. That track was called "Hip Hop Doll". It was also a B-side of Doowutchyalike on the 12" back in the day. Other that this missing classic, it is a good CD to purchase. If it had "Hip Hop Doll" on here, it would be worth 5 stars instead of 4 stars.

This CD does not contain all of the songs from the original album.

Another reviewer mentioned that the original casette of Sex Packets had three extra songs and a full version of "Gutfest." Well, if you just want "The Humpty Dance" then this CD is fine. But know that if you're getting this current version of Sex Packets, you aren't getting the real thing. Some of the songs missing are fantastic and superior to some of the tracks which do remain on the CD. Also, the missing complete 8 minute version of "Gutfest" explains more about its concept in fuller scope and allows the groove to set in better - it was a funky highlight on the cassette issue, but here it seems irrelevant and awkward.

If I'd realized the CD was missing the original songs and sequencing, I wouldn't have paid for it, I would have just downloaded the tracks. I advise you to do the same, and wait for someone to acquire Tommy Boy=(now defunt)'s original version to reissue as the whole album in its entirety.

That said, "Humpty Dance" is one of the funniest, wittiest songs ever, as well as extremely funky. "Dowutchalike" is equally funky.

The "Sex Packets" theme of the rest of the album is okay, a kind of juvenile attempt at creating a George Clinton-like concept, but overall it's just sort of silly, unexceptional joke and nothing more. And not until the bouncy "Packet Man," built around a Fred Wesley sample, does the concept really do anything musically entertaining, making it all worthwhile.

Several songs are missing from the mix, as I've said. I remember one called "Hip Hop Doll" and my one of personal favorites "Tribute to the Early Days."

As it stands, 4 stars. But the complete version of the original cassette tape, if you ever can find it, is worth 5.

These dudes are the dope! Shock-G, Humpty, the whole crew. Cool concept record that is an infectious and fun ride through an amusement park full of hedonism and funk. Great beats and samples with raucous vocals. These holmies know how to peep!

Some of my favorite tracks are: "The Humpty Dance"/"Underwater Rhymes"/"Gutfest"/"Freaks Of The Industry"-This has got to be a high point with X-Rated lyrics and hot Donna Summer sample! /"Doowutchyalike".

This is a classic party CD. Throw this on and grab a 40...Yo!

This is the first compact disc that I ever owned. This CD turned me on to George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic. Every song is great but a few of the funkiest and highest points are Humpty Dance, Freaks of the Industry, Gutfest, Sex Packets, Underwater Rhymes, and Packet Man. Like I said the whole record is funky and fun. I like all the parilament and funkadelic samples used in really creative ways. One of the best records of the genre. In my opinion, a collectors item. Funk on - Underground!

yall know the classics, but get this one for 'underwater rimes'!
and if you time it just right, you just might make a baby off 'packet prelude'-real seductive! this is a true cornerstone for any hip-hop collection...but yall know this already, right?

Many people might not remember Digital Underground, and if they do, they probably remember the debut single "The Humpty Dance". Digital Underground consited of: Shock G., Humpty Hump, Fuze, Money B., Kenny K. (and later on 2Pac, Saafir, and Pee Wee). The whole album has a mix of goofy tales mixed with a laid back vibe, at the same time can make you dance at some points.

Aside from the lead single, there are many funky tracks all over this album. "The Way We Swing" is a laid back head nodder. "Gutfest '89" has a funny concept behind it. "Danger Zone" is inspired by The Parlament with a recognizable sample used in that song. I believe the best track on the album is "Doowhutchyalike", that song is hilarious. "Sex Packets" is another long and mellow track with a weird sample. The last actual track is "Packet Man" where Shock G. and Humpty Hump go back and forth selling sex packets. Then the last track on the album closes off with a short instrumental of the title track.

"Sex Packets" is a wonderful album. This is one I would recommend to fans of early 90's rap. Even if you never heard of this group, I still would recommend that you check this album out, because the album is just so great. If you enjoyed this album, I also recommend you check out their next two full length albums Sons of the P & The Body-Hat Syndrome as well. Peace.

P.S.: Like a lot of reviewers said, some of the tracks were omitted from the CD version of this album that were origonally on cassette tape. I know "Hip Hop Doll" and a longer version of "Gutfest '89" were some of the songs, and you might be able to find those track floating around on the internet to download.

Lyrics: A
Production: A+
Guest Appearances: N/A
Musical Vibes: A+

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Doowutchyalike
2. The Humpty Dance
3. Sex Packets
4. Danger Zone
5. The Way We Swing

Honorable Mention Tracks:
1. Gutfest '89
2. Rhymin' On The Funk

I used to play this tape all the time especially Gutfest '89, but it wasn't until a couple of years later I picked a CD version and was disappointed that all the songs weren't included. Nowadays, I get were the record label was coming from. Not a lot of people were buying CD's at the time of this release, cassettes were still hot and easier access to the average hip hopper (not to mention cheaper than CD's,) plus, no one in hip hop even thought of doing a double CD and the remixes weren't done yet for Doowutchyalike & Packet Man until after the release of the single for The Humpty Dance, domestically anyway. There may be a very rare double CD found in the UK, but I won't know for a while. As far as a re-issue, Tommy Boy is long Out Of Business and the last re-issue of any CD was 3Ft. High and Rising and Stet's first two albums...

In 1990 I had very little intrist in hip-hop. This album did more than any released before it to change my opinion. It's fun, and a great blend of hip-hop, funk, R&B and pop, drawing on old school funk influences like George Clinton and Ohio Players. "The Humpty Dance" invaded my head when it invaded the airwaves, and when "Doowutchyalike" and "Packet Man" got a little late-night and speciality show airplay, I was hooked to the point I had to go buy the cassette. It looked pretty out of place in the tape collection I had in 1990, but it certainly got it's share of play and then some. It was shocking how many of my goth and metal-head friends at the time had to admit that this is really good [stuff]. The lyrics have little substance, and are never much more than fun and games, but that really is the appeal of this album. It's dancable party music that's stood the test of time, and who wants deep lyrics bringing them down while they're partyin'?

Shock-G's mixes will simply blow your mind. 'The Way we Swing' is oft copied. 'Underwater Rimes' and 'Packet Man' groove harder than hell but don't take themselves too seriously. Take a listen to Digital Underground and remember when Rap was a hell of a lot more fun.