All City

Released in 2008, All City marks a pivotal moment for Downsyde as they transitioned to the Illusive Sounds label. Moving away from the guest-heavy format of their previous records, the group focused on a more cohesive internal sound, supplemented by carefully chosen vocalists like Porsah Laine. The album's most significant historical footnote is the collaboration with Guru (Gang Starr) on 'Watucamehere 4,' a track born from a chance encounter during his Australian tour. Sonically, the album is characterized by its 'smack in the head' production philosophy - Optamus and Daz aimed for high-impact percussion and engaging hooks. It received significant support from Triple J and solidified Downsyde's reputation as leaders of the WA hip-hop scene. The record successfully blends the group's foundational boom-bap loyalty with a more mature, jazz-fusion and funk-oriented palette, making it one of the most polished entries in the Australian hip-hop canon of that decade.