Downsyde

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Downsyde

Background information
Origin	Perth, Australia
Genre(s)	Australian Hip-Hop
Years active	1996–present
Label(s)	Virgin/Hydrofunk Obese Records
Website	Official Downsyde Website
Members
Optamus Dazastah Dyna-Mikes DJ Armee Cheeky Salvatore

Downsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group comprises six members, Optamus, Dazastah, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky (bass player) and Salvatore(drums). They are all members of the Syllaboliks Crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth. Downsyde is currently signed to the Obese Records record label.

1 History
2 Style
3 Members
4 Discography
- 4.1 Albums
- 4.2 Singles
5 Awards/Nominations
6 Major Event Appearances
7 External links

[edit] History

Downsyde started as a MC trio in 1996 and for seven years Optamus, Dazastah and Dyna-Mikes have produced beats and rhymes and played at hundreds of gigs, parties & MC battles culminating in the release in September 2000 of their debut album, Eponimous, a release of recordings made by the band between 1996-2000. Along the way they met DJ Armee, percussionist Salvatore (ex-Beaverloop) and Cheeky on keyboards, loops & samples. As an independent release the group did not receive much publicity from their debut album, nor from their first single, "Gifted Life", which was released two years later.

The big breakthrough came in 2003 with the release of their second album, Land of the Giants, in particular the hit track "El Questro". Downsyde is a diverse act with Middle Eastern, Aboriginal, Aussie, South American, Asian and European roots all represented within the ranks. This diversity is displayed both within and through the tracks on Land of the Giants.

Downsyde went on tour, putting on shows in all of Australia's capital cities. They performed alongside some of hip hop's heavyweights, including Jurassic 5, Cypress Hill, Grandmaster Flash, Black Eyed Peas, Naughty By Nature, Spearhead, Hilltop Hoods, Resin Dogs, Mark B, Koolism. The band also performed at a number of major festivals, including Splendour in the Grass. The band then signed with Obese Records.

In 2004, the group released the single, "Lesfortunate" and followed this up with their third album in December, When The Dust Settles. The album tackled issues such as greed, love, sex, drugs and power. The album featured special guest appearances from Layla, Drapht, Hunter, MJ, Porsah Laine, Loius Slipperz and Paula.

The group are currently recording their fourth album (as yet untitled) which will be released in early 2007.

[edit] Style

Downsyde's music is derived from a combination of regular hip hop beats, as well as Middle Eastern, Aboriginal, South American sounds. Unlike most hip hop groups, Downsyde uses live instruments played by Cheeky (bass) and Catastrophe(drums). They also use digital music to incorporate salsa flutes, middle eastern organs and orchestral strings into their music. Their influences have come from artists such as N.W.A., Nas, DJ Q-bert, Dynamite MC and DJ Craze.

Downsyde Logo

[edit] Members

Optamus - MC
Dazastah - MC
Dyna-mikes - MC
Armee - decks
Salvatore - drums/percussion
Cheeky - sampler/keys

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Eponimous
(2000)

Land of the Giants
(2003)

When The Dust Settles
(2004)

[edit] Singles

Gifted Life
(2002)

El Questro
(2003)

Clap Your Hands
(2003)
download only

Lesfortunate
(2004)

[edit] Awards/Nominations

2006 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music Act
2005 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Urban Music Act
2005 WAMi Awards - Winner - Best Live Electronic Act
2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Album - Land of the Giants
2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Single - "Gifted Life"
2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Australian Hip Hop Act
2003 Australian Dance Music Awards - Winner - Best Debut Artist
2003 WAMi Awards - Winner - Most Popular Original Local Album - Land of the Giants
2003 WAMi Awards - Winner - Most Popular Local Original Music Video - "El Questro"
2003 WAMi Awards - Winner - Most Popular Local Original Urban Music Act
2002 Australian Dance Music Awards - Nominee - Best Australian Hip-Hop act