On their sixth album, 2001’s AOI: Bionix—the second volume in a never-completed trilogy—De La Soul took on a gently robotic feel for their head-nodding-est project ever. There’s a little bit of hedonism in here, with a few breezy songs about what they used to call “buddy”: “Pawn Star” is like X-rated Curtis Mayfield, “What We Do (For Love)” features Slick Rick with an adult update of “Children’s Story”, mild hit “Baby Phat” is a celebration of thicker women. And there’s a little weed smoke in the air, too, on “Peer Pressure”—though, in true Delacratic fashion, Posdnuos abstains, even when going toe-to-toe with Cypress Hill’s B-Real. However, De La Soul had not turned into a mellow party crew, as the gospel-tinged “Held Down” and the child-chant-abetted “Trying People” attest—they are existential soul jams with raps about jealousy, growth and the changing rap world.
Tracklisting
- Intro (0:29)
- Bionix (2:43)
- Baby Phat (3:50)
- Simply (4:05)
- Simply Havin (0:48)
- Held Down (4:54)
- Rev. Do Good #1 (1:05)
- Watch Out (3:35)
- Special (3:37)
- Rev. Do Good #2 (1:14)
- The Sauce (2:25)
- Am I Worth You? (4:01)
- Pawn Star (4:07)
- What We Do (For Love) (5:05)
- Rev. Do Good #3 (2:20)
- Peer Pressure (5:09)
- It’s American (1:10)
- Trying People (4:31)
Apple Music
Videos
Peer Pressure
Release Images
Release Information
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia URL | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AOI:_Bionix |
| Format | Vinyl 2× LP Album Reissue |
| Label | AOI Records |
| Catalog Number | RMM-056-1 |
| Notes | The release date is August 11, 2023, in the U.S. and September 15, 2023, worldwide. The “MADE IN CZECH REPUBLIC” sticker is on the back shrinkwrap. |
| Discogs URL | De La Soul - AOI: Bionix |