Optamus
Encyclopedia
Optamus is one of the MCs of the Perth
-based hip-hop group Downsyde
and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.
in 1996. It was the following year that they released a demo cassette Behind the Bucket which topped the independent charts within a week of its release. Optamus and Dyna-mikes met their third and last MC and producer, Darren Reutens Dazastah
at Leederville TAFE. The group further expanded adding Damien Allia (DJ Armee), Mathew Cheetham (Cheeky) on bass guitar and keyboard together with Salvatore Pizzata (Salvatore) on drums to form Downsyde. In 2000 they released their debut album, Epinonimous
, this was followed by Land of the Giants
in 2003 and When the Dust Settles
in 2005. The group went into hiatus for three years before releasing All City
in 2008.
As well as being a skilled MC, Griffiths is a producer and as well as working on beats for Downsyde he has produced for many Australian acts such as Hunter, Drapht
and Bias B
. In addition he runs his own local independent label, Opt Shop Records. Griffiths also conducts workshops for African immigrants and aboriginal
youth.
Optamus released his debut solo album Forever & A Day on 12 June 2010. Optamus is also the name of his group, a trio with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster (Mr Chops) and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Jonjsma (Moondog). The album includes a number of guest artists including Hunter, Trials (Funkoars
), Drapht
, Hau (Koolism
), Downsyde and MC Layla
.
Optamus previewed the album to a sold out home crowd (Rosemount Hotel W.A) and a huge tour through the southwest in June 2010.
When The Dust Settles
Clandestien
Hunter
Matty B
Culture of Kings III (2003) Track 1 (Obese Records)
Bias B
Drapht
Fdel
Hunter
Omni
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
-based hip-hop group Downsyde
Downsyde
Downsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group is composed of six members, Optamus, Dazastah, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.- History :...
and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' solo project.
History
Griffiths with fellow Craigie Senior High School classmate Shahbaz Rind (Dyna-mikes ) founded DownsydeDownsyde
Downsyde are an Australian hip hop group from Perth, Western Australia. The group is composed of six members, Optamus, Dazastah, Dyna-Mikes, DJ Armee, Cheeky, and Hi-Hat.- History :...
in 1996. It was the following year that they released a demo cassette Behind the Bucket which topped the independent charts within a week of its release. Optamus and Dyna-mikes met their third and last MC and producer, Darren Reutens Dazastah
Dazastah
Dazastah is one of the MCs of the Perth-based hip-hop group Downsyde.-History:Dazastah joined Downsyde when he met MCs Optamus and Dyna-mikes at Leederville TAFE in the late 90s...
at Leederville TAFE. The group further expanded adding Damien Allia (DJ Armee), Mathew Cheetham (Cheeky) on bass guitar and keyboard together with Salvatore Pizzata (Salvatore) on drums to form Downsyde. In 2000 they released their debut album, Epinonimous
Epinonimous
Epinonimous is the debut album released by the Australian Hip Hop group Downsyde. Although Downsyde are now quite well known throughout Australia, this album is hard to get hold of. It was released in September 2000.-Track listing :...
, this was followed by Land of the Giants
Land of the Giants (album)
Land of the Giants is the second album from the Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released through Virgin/Hydrofunk Records in March 2003. Guest on the album included DJ Fdel and Porsah Laine....
in 2003 and When the Dust Settles
When The Dust Settles
When the Dust Settles is the third full-length album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde and was released in December 2004 through Obese Records...
in 2005. The group went into hiatus for three years before releasing All City
All City (album)
All City is the fourth studio album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released in October 2008 through their new label, Illusive Sounds....
in 2008.
As well as being a skilled MC, Griffiths is a producer and as well as working on beats for Downsyde he has produced for many Australian acts such as Hunter, Drapht
Drapht
Drapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
and Bias B
Bias B
Bias B is an Australian hip hop artist. He started writing lyrics in 1989 and began performing in 1991 and released his first album, Beezwax, in 1998. The album took two years to sell its first 500 copies. In 1999, Bias B released an album called Boney & Stoney along with fellow crew members Len...
. In addition he runs his own local independent label, Opt Shop Records. Griffiths also conducts workshops for African immigrants and aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
youth.
Optamus released his debut solo album Forever & A Day on 12 June 2010. Optamus is also the name of his group, a trio with keyboardist Chris 'Imposter' Foster (Mr Chops) and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Jonjsma (Moondog). The album includes a number of guest artists including Hunter, Trials (Funkoars
Funkoars
The Funkoars are an Australian hip hop act from Adelaide. They are part of the Certified Wise crew, sixteen South Australian hip hop artists who often appear on each others tracks on various albums.-Members:...
), Drapht
Drapht
Drapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
, Hau (Koolism
Koolism
Koolism is an Australian hip hop duo originating from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.The members are lyricist Hau Latukefu and producer/DJ/musician Danielsan Ichiban .-History:Koolism started out in 1992 when Elleson joined a group by the name...
), Downsyde and MC Layla
MC Layla
- Biography :Layla Rose Hanbury was born in 15 October 1982. Her first gig was at an MC battle in Perth where she was the only female among 20 entrants....
.
Optamus previewed the album to a sold out home crowd (Rosemount Hotel W.A) and a huge tour through the southwest in June 2010.
Downsyde
- Behind the Bucket - Independent (1997) demo cassette
- EpinonimousEpinonimousEpinonimous is the debut album released by the Australian Hip Hop group Downsyde. Although Downsyde are now quite well known throughout Australia, this album is hard to get hold of. It was released in September 2000.-Track listing :...
- Syllaboliks (September 2000) - Land of the GiantsLand of the Giants (album)Land of the Giants is the second album from the Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released through Virgin/Hydrofunk Records in March 2003. Guest on the album included DJ Fdel and Porsah Laine....
- HydrofunkHydrofunk RecordsHydrofunk Records is an independent Australian hip hop record label that represents a number of Australian acts including the Resin Dogs and Def Wish Cast.-History:...
/VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
(HF 30) (March 2003) - When the Dust SettlesWhen The Dust SettlesWhen the Dust Settles is the third full-length album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde and was released in December 2004 through Obese Records...
- ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(OBR026) (December 2004) - All CityAll City (album)All City is the fourth studio album from Western Australian hip hop group, Downsyde. It was released in October 2008 through their new label, Illusive Sounds....
- Illusive RecordsIllusive SoundsIllusive Group is an independent Australian record label & touring company that represents a number of acts including Bliss n Eso, Lowrider, Paris Wells, Downsyde, Metals, True Live, Diafrix and X&Hell.-History:...
(ILL014CD) (4 October 2008)
Production
Downsyde- Behind The Bucket - Yirra Yaakin (1997) Whole Album
- Epinonimous - Syllabolix MGM (2000) 2,4,5,6,9,10
When The Dust Settles
- All City - Illusive (2009) 1,2,5,9,10,11,13
Clandestien
- Clandestien - Syllabolix (2001) Track 4
Hunter
- Done DL - Syllabolix (2002) Tracks 11, 16, 18
- Culture Of Kings II - ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(2002) Disc 1, Track 2 (Jam Roll)
Matty B
Matty B
Matty B is a former Australian rapper, now employed as a miner in Western Australia's booming mining industry.-Biography:Matthew Barrett grew up in Western Australia and was a member of Perth's Syllaboliks hip hop crew...
- The Courageous LP - ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(2002) Track 7
Culture of Kings III (2003) Track 1 (Obese Records)
Bias B
Bias B
Bias B is an Australian hip hop artist. He started writing lyrics in 1989 and began performing in 1991 and released his first album, Beezwax, in 1998. The album took two years to sell its first 500 copies. In 1999, Bias B released an album called Boney & Stoney along with fellow crew members Len...
- In Bed With Bias - Wordburner (2004) Tracks C1, D3
- Been There Done That - Obese Records (2007) Track 9
Drapht
Drapht
Drapht is an Australian hip hop singer from Perth, Western Australia. Drapht is a member of the Syllaboliks crew, which comprises fellow Australian hip hop artists from Perth.-Biography:...
- Culture Of Kings III - ObeseObese RecordsObese Records is an Australian hip hop record label. It is the largest Australian independent Hip-Hop label, a retail store and a touring and record distribution company.-History:...
(2004) Disc 1, Track 1 (Misunderstood)
Fdel
- Audiofdelity - Invada Records (2005) Track 8
Hunter
- Going Back to Yokine - Obese Records (2006) Track 15
Omni
- Batterie - NatAural High Records (2007) Tracks B1-B3
Guest Appearances
- 2001: "Lord of the Flies" (from Clandestien album Clandestien)
- 2002: "Have a Drink With Us" (from Hunter Album Done DL)
- 2002: "Co-Conspiriters" (from Hunter Album Done DL)
- 2002: "Jam Roll" (from Culture of Kings II - Hunter track)
- 2005: "Dusty Fingers" (from Fdel Album Audiofdelity)