OPTIMUS GRYME
New Zealand
Passion is the driving force behind Charlie B, better known as Optimus Gryme, as he relentlessly follows his dreams in his pursuit of music.
In 1994 he started a hip hop group with his mates, rapping in the schoolyard and talent quests. In 2001 he found himself performing to thousands, his set time sandwiched between Che Fu and King Kapisi, rapping on beats he made on a borrowed computer.
That was where Charlie crossed paths with Billy Fluid, the best freestyle MC in Aotearoa. This encounter led Charlie to concentrate on beat production while Billy took center stage on the mic.
In 2008 they joined forces with DJ Funkshun to host ROLL TV - NZ’s only nationwide TV show dedicated 100% to Drum and Bass.
Charlie then went on to snag the role of Drum and Bass editor at INFUSION magazine and began hosting the NZ Electronic show on KIWI FM.
In 2009 Charlie made history by releasing New Zealand's first-ever Dubstep 12-inch record. He followed this up with a solo album and official remixes for Shapeshifter, Shihad, Six60, Tiki Taane and Dub FX.
During a 20 period he played over a thousand shows and performed at NZ’s biggest festivals including Homegrown, Rhythm & Vines and Northern Bass.
In 2018 he took a much needed 2 year hiatus, and returned in 2020 with his DNB EP 'Welcome to the Streets'.
Even after dedicating more than two decades of his life to music, Charlie still feels like he's merely scratching the surface. Don't miss what's to come.
