De La Soul

Editor's Review:

Actually a 2001 release, it's taken some time to build up the gumption and correct phrasing to actually put pen to paper when considering the second installment in De La Soul's Art Official Intelligence trilogy, Bionix. Though Bionix starts with a dope soul-steeped rap track that lets each De La member take a short but impressive turn at the mic, from there it's a downhill ride into a realm of predictable R&B. As a fan of just about everything else that De La has released, perhaps I just don't get it, but whereas previous releases like the Prince Paul Produced De La Soul Is Dead and the coming-of-age Stakes is High relied on the expression of true talent through beats and rhymes, the music on Bionix is sugary, sickeningly sweet and just not lyrically or musically inventive. It reminds listeners of an age-old piece of De La wisdom: "It might blow up / but it won't go pop."
- Max Sidman


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Record Label Tommy Boy Released February 2002

Tracks Intro Bionix Baby Phat Simply Simply Havin Held Down Rev. Do Good #1 Watch Out Special Rev. Do Good #2 The Sauce Am I Worth You? Pawn Star What We Do (For Love) Rev. Do Good #3 Peer Pressure It's American Trying People