AOI: Bionix

Ten years is an eternity in hip-hop, yet De La Soul has lasted an even dozen without losing their way. Their sixth album tosses the map out altogether, with thrust-and-moan-heavy funk that would make 2 Live Crew blush (“Pawn Star”), reflections on love and spirituality (“Special,” “Trying People”), and the best tribute to plus-size women since Sir MixaLot’s “Baby Got Back” (“Baby Phat”). The moral? Digging porn and big asses doesn’t make you a bad guy—or a bad hip-hop act. Now there’s a message we can get behind.