Having been active for several years in the hardcore/hip-hop scene the band Social Justice basically gets a major record deal and changes the name to downset. This band of five members releases their first album "downset." in 1994. All 10 songs have strong lyrical content which does not always represent the opinion of all band members. Rey A. Oropeza seems to be the key writer and he likes to present himself as a messenger rather than a singer. Once you'll hear what he has to say, you'll know why...
Having toured with several bands, downset has played a lot recently, but now they finally have put out a second full album: "do we speak a dead language?" As with most bands that are under the pressure of getting big downset too makes a line-up change. Rogelio Lozano leaves the band and downset continues as a foursome. The message on this new CD seems to be of the same level, allthough the lyrics themselves show more of the band's history. The fact that downset has seen more of this world than the city of LA since their last CD, seems to broaden their horizon (for the better).
A mix of harcore and rap will always raise questions. downset too has had it's share: people accusing them of duplicating Rage Against The Machine seem to have been present even from the days of Social Justice. Fact is, that downset makes a whole different style with the same concept and with that they deserve more credit than they've got. Listen to the lyrics...they'll make you think.
