De La Soul Album: “AOI: Bionix”

I find that the main things about "getting" De La Soul's brand of hip-hop are:

1. They are cerebral rappers, forcing you to thorougly chew their lyrics before mental-digestion in order to understand their perspective.

2. At the time of this writing, they are well into their 30s (Pos was born "Out of the heavens August one-seven, sixty-nine... ") and have been in the game for 16 years, almost unheard of today (outside of LL, Dr. Dre, Snoop, and a few others, who even comes close).

Accordingly, they tend to rhyme about things that their peers can relate to, especially if said peers are trying to "make it" in life. Unfortunately for De La - like Dave says in Bionix - they have had to "get on that ol' bulls--t" to get the later generations used to their flow.

My take? This is one of their better efforts, though it does not crack the the top three for me*. I won't go into detail about the tracks, except to say that I regard "Held Down" and "Tryin' People" as two of the finest songs I've heard recently. Many won't get the cleverness of "Peer Pressure", or the satire of the (overly?) explicit "Pawn Star", and will criticize the R&B-tainted "Special", but you can't please all the people all the time.

Bottom line: if you fit the demographic, or don't but appreciate the music of those that do, then pick up the CD. The more you listen, the more you will appreciate it.

* My preference:

1. "De La Soul Is Dead": outstanding ode to how De La Soul as everyone knew them (DaISY Age) was no more; clever, witty, though some of the skits went over the heads of those outside of the NY tri-state area, or those that don't know of De La's background (i.e., they used to work at Burger King... )

2. "Buhloone Mind State": severly under-rated recording that comments on what's wrong in the hip-hop industry; sadly, still applicable today. So on-point, that Tommy Boy didn't know how to promote it! ("It might blow-up but it won't go 'pop'")

3. "Three Feet High & Rising": only rated number three because I don't play it as much anymore; the first, the innovative, the album some people are STILL trying to understand after 16 years.

4. "AOI: Bionix, Part 2"

5. "Stakes Is High" - the first post-Prince Paul production, where De La tries re-establish themselves; weak in spots, but overall quite good, especially cameos from Common & Mos Def.

For the second installment in their Art Official Intelligence trilogy, De La Soul go back to an old school style. They are just letting their rhymes rule. Mosaic Thump had numerous guest MC's, but outside a couple of guests, Bionix lets Dave and Pos flow. There are some goofy tunes like "Baby Phat" and "Pawn Star", but the album has a deeper feel. Songs like "Am I Worth You?", "Held Down" and "Trying People" have a weight and depth to them. De La Soul is always at their best when they are making social commentary and while Bionix is not Stakes Is High or De La Soul Is Dead, it is a strong album.

Okay, maybe this album by De La Soul is closer to a 4, but it is still very strong. In 2001, De La quietly dropped this second installment in the AOI series after the first one garnered them some long-lost mainstream attention the year before. This is being called by many here as 'their worst album,' and if this is so, it only shows how incredible their catalog is. I mean, really, Posdnous and Dave are MC'in at as high a level as they ever have for the majority of this showing. The production, MOSTLY handled by Dave West and De La themselves, is entertaining and outstanding on a few tracks.

I can see a reason for the choice low grades because people were disgusted by the track "Pawn Star." I wasn't feeling it either, but this track is just like "De La Orgee" only with some explicit lyrics. I think nobody expected this from such upstanding individuals at this stage in their career. Nobody seemed to complain about "Orgee" of their debut album, but everybody seemed to be fainting in light of "Pawn Star." Sure, I know there's some hidden joke behind it, which isn't necessary, so it should have been left off. De La should simply get a slap on the wrist for this, but we shouldn't be calling for their heads. I can see if people didn't like the controversial "Peer Pressure"(w/ B-Real). I liked it, though, especially how Pos keeps his head admist the pressure from B-Real and Maseo. It's obvious that this track is like reverse-psychology regarding smoking weed. It's trying to demonstrate how smokers try to get others to join with them because they are lonely and empty. Then De La really takes a shot at smokers with the following interlude, "It's American."

As a whole, we witness De La taking it to their highest soulful and inspirational level with the three standout tracks, "Held Down,"(ft. Cee-Lo) "Am I Worth You,"(ft. Glenn Lewis) and "Trying People." All three rank among De La's greatest works. "Held Down" especially for Posdnous' lyrics and the choir, and "Trying People" because it is moving(and humbling). I am hypnotized by the beautiful surreal and melodic beat of "Am I Worth You"(prod. by Dave West) which should make Pete Rock happy. The chorus is hit-or-miss. I like it.

Otherwise, the title track starts it all off and is awesome, especially Pos' verse("if I ever joined a gang, it would be Gang Starr" etc.) The main single "Baby Phat"(ft. Devin the Dude and Yummy) is a little lusty, but smooth and memorable. The racy "What We Do (For Love)" with fellow old-schooler Slick Rick is similar, but I can see if some are turned off by this song. "Special"(ft. Yummy) is nice. It has sincere lyrics by Dave and Pos, but it might be one R&B chorus too-much. "Watch Out" has a unique hook and really gets rolling with Dave and Pos' second verses on the song, while "The Sauce" is a slick, short song with Philly Black that is satisfying. "Simply" is one of the great tracks here. It's upbeat and a little poppy, but calls upon the vibes of a "Me Myself & I" to liven the mood.

De La shows signs of the "De La Soul Is Dead" days with the Reverand Do Good skits, and especially the "It's American" skit. They do some uncanny solo joints like Pos on "Held Down," the one-verse of "Simply Havin,"(a short update of A Tribe Called Quest's "Footprints") and Maseo, B-Real, and Pos without Dave on "Peer Pressure." Just Dave and Shell Council participate in the infamous "Pawn Star." In case y'all didn't notice, De La was taking a different direction as always with "AOI: Bionix." You don't just have to be a blind De La fan to enjoy this, you just have to know your Hiphop music. Like all their others, this album is essential because of it's creativity and unique place in the De La catalog. It quickly went out of print due to the low-marketing and the collapse of Tommy Boy. The overall soul and insight put this cd over the top, and make your quickly forget about the couple controversial songs. HEADS: don't sleep, realize that this De La album may be hard to find, but it definitely deserves your time!

This album makes me very sad. Its really horrible to hear such a great, once innovative group make an album that is so...blah. The vibrant neon colors of the first three albums are now washed to grey. The production, for the most part is pedestrian, and De La sound like tired old men. This album is very unfortunate. They need to get some hip hop viagra.

Don't get me wrong. I thought AOI:Mosiac Thump was okay. They had a few standout cuts on it. But this one AOI:Bionix is much "better, stronger,....faster"!! De La did their thing on this one. A good mix of good ol'fashion lyrics that De La only provides, with up to date production, and even soul sounding R&B to go along with it!! The cuts that standout to me are (in no particular order) "Baby Phat", "Watch Out", with the Latin-feel to it, "The Sauce", "What We Do(for love)" w/ Slick Rick - Slick Rick did his thing on that on, "Peer Pressure"w/B-Real of Cypress Hill (that was real good), but the real deal is what my peoples Deaf 2 U produced "Trying People". The Rev. Do Good skits are funny also. The other cuts are very good too but those are my favorites. De La continues to stay a step ahead. And they are very good at keeping their sound fresh. So to anyone who liked the first installment, you will definetly feel Bionix!!

Note: To my peeps of Deaf 2 U Productions. (Luck, Purple, and Van)"Trying People" That is a hot beat!!(...)