Downsyde are an Australian hip-hop group from Perth, WA, comprised of Optamus (Scott Griffiths), Dazastah (Darren Reutens) and Dyna-Mikes (Shahbaz Rind).

Optamus and Dyna-Mikes started out together as a duo in 1996 while at Craigie Senior High School. After the release of their demo tape, Behind the Bucket, Dazastah and DJ Armee (Damien Allia) joined, and later on, they would also add percussionist Salvatore Pizzata (ex-Beaverloop) and Mat “Cheeky” Cheetham (ex-Circus Murders) on keyboards, loops & samples. Salavatore left in 2005 and Dazastah’s brother, “Catastrophe”, briefly took his place until 2006 while they were touring. Downsyde took a hiatus in 2010, but Optamus, Dazastah and Dyna-Mikes reformed the group in 2015, and have been active ever since.

Fun fact: The band have never stayed on a label for more than one album; they released their demo tape independently, their debut studio album Epinonimous on Syllaboliks, Land of the Giants on Hydrofunk Records, When the Dust Settles on Obese Records, All City on Illusive Sounds, ClassicILL on Shake Down Records and Stereotypez on Optshop (Optamus' own record label.) Optamus explained the reason behind this in an interview on The Drum:

We specifically sign one album deals, whereas a lotta artists get bullied into three album deals and get shockingly ripped off, spat out, and are not a musician two years later.