The Optimen are MCs Sammsonite, Datsun and K-west and DJ Damage & DJ Sheep (Terntable Jediz).They formed around 2001 with the shared interest of making true-school hip-hop - with samples, breaks, raps and scratches.Their first release was an 8 track EP/demo called "O2: Breath Control", which was distributed nationally and drew some favourable ratings and reviews.In the meantime, The Optimen have been headlining shows locally, as well as playing support to international acts, such as Expansion Team Sound-System (Iriscience and Babu), Braintax, Mystro, Mista Sinista and Method Man and Redman.On stage The Optimen are known for their rawness and unpredictable antics, gallivanting around like coked-up rock-stars and making sure nobody in the first five rows goes home dry. In the studio the MCs work closely with the DJ - and their full-length is a cohesive, well thought-out testament to this, with clever lyrics and super-tight, hard-hitting flows punctuated by surgically precise scratches. The group site influences as varied as Gangstarr, Lazy Grey, Non Phixion, 9th Wonder, Trem/Lyrical Commission, Dilated Peoples, Cage, Nas and DITC.
A focal point of the crew's repertoire is definitely their signature sounding beats, with production shared between Sammsonite and Datsun. K-west also chips in raiding dusty crates to come up with most of the original samples.
Momentum has been gathering after producing for local acts The Serenity (Trouble EP), Remiks (Rated R) and The Terntable Jediz (All Out War). The Optimen sound is highly sought after - hard hitting samples over dirty percussion - and worldwide heads are beginning to take notice.
Most recently, The Optimen had some beats picked up by Thirstin Howell III (Lo-Life Records, New York City) for his forthcoming release "Low Down and Dirty" - the title track one of the Brisbane group's own.
Since finishing Boomtown, The Optimen have been busy producing their next own release and for other artists, as well as setting up their own independent record label, Red Tape Entertainment, which is looking to sign any like-minded groups within Australia that show promise and commitment.
