Casual (rapper)

Jonathan Owens (born December 19, 1973), known by his stage name Casual, is an American rapper, producer, and one of the founding members of the alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. He also reads and has been studying Egyptian Hieroglyphics for many years, makes videos on the subject on his YouTube channel Smash Rockwell as well writing about it on his blog Rap God. As a rapper Casual initially became known for his freestyle battle rhymes in the Bay Area hip hop scene and later developing into a solo artist. He is known for diverse lyrics, a complex multisyllabic East Coast influenced flow but with a distinctive Oakland accent. Casual's debut album '' Fear Itself'' released on Jive records in 1994 when he was 17 years old garnered both critical and commercial success. Along with Del the Funkee Homosapien Casual went on to become one of the most prominent and recognizable faces of the Hieroglyphics crew, releasing three albums all on the Hieroglyphics crew's own label, Hiero Imperium. He has released thirteen solo albums as of 2023.

Biography

After high-profile appearances on Del tha Funky Homosapien and Souls of Mischief albums, in 1994 Casual released '' Fear Itself''. The album was the second-highest charting album in Hieroglyphics' history. Casual followed a typical verse-chorus-verse structure but stood out with his ferocious but playful battle lyrics. Casual has been acclaimed for "wielding his metaphors and sinewy delivery with lethal grace"

After the release of ''Fear Itself'', Casual (as well as fellow Hieroglyphics members Souls of Mischief) was dropped from Jive Records. Casual documents the experience in the book, ''Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast'':

In 1994, Casual was involved in a high-profile battle with rapper Saafir. The beef originally started when Saafir appeared on Casual's debut album, and Casual did not appear on Saafir's. This ignited the infamous "Hiero vs Hobo Junction" battle, which involved some controversy when rumors surfaced that Saafir was using pre-written raps as opposed to Casual and Hieroglyphics expected freestyling. Despite this, it is regarded as an influential battle in underground hip-hop's history.

Casual has expressed, much like the rest of the Hieroglyphics crew the importance of competition in hip hop, stating "I think that MCing should be a competitive thing, almost like a sport. The only way an MC can keep polishing and sharpening his skills is to test them against the competition and the up and coming young bloods."

Discography

Albums

*'' Fear Itself'' (1994) No. 108 Billboard 200
*''Meanwhile...'' (1997)
*''He Think He Raw'' (2001)
*''Truck Driver'' (2004)
*'' Smash Rockwell'' (2005)
*''The Hierophant'' (2011)
*''He Think He #Rapgod'' (2011)
*''He Still Think He Raw'' (2012)
*'' Respect Game or Expect Flames'' (2012) (with J. Rawls)
*''Return of the Backpack'' (2013)
*''Big Head Science'' (2020)
* ''The Art Of Reanimation'' (Casual X Dead Perry) (2022)

EPs

*''Santa Claus'' (2013)

Singles

*"That's How It Is" (1993)
*"I Didn't Mean To" (1993)
*"Me-O-Mi-O" (1994)
*"VIP" (1999)
*"Blind Date" (2001)
*"Same O.G." (2001)
*"We Don't Get Down Like That" (2002)
*"My Whole Intent" (2004) (with Fat Jack)
*"Rap Game" b/w "Things I Need" (2004)
*"Say That Then" b/w "Oaktown (Remix)" (2005)
*"Rock My Shit" (2010)
*"101% Music" (2010)
The Win (the superior mix 2021)

Guest appearances

* Souls of Mischief – "Limitations" from '' 93 'til Infinity'' (1993)
*Del the Funky Homosapien – "No More Worries" from '' No Need for Alarm'' (1993)
* Extra Prolific – "Cash Money" from '' Like It Should Be'' (1994)
* Kurious – "What's the Real" from '' A Constipated Monkey'' (1994)
*Kool DJ EQ – "Three Emcees" (1997)
*Del the Funky Homosapien – "Checkin Out the Rivalry" from '' Future Development'' (1997)
*Everlast – "Funky Beat" from '' Whitey Ford Sings the Blues'' (1998)
*Soul Coughing – "Needle to the Bar" from '' El Oso'' (1999)
*Del the Funky Homosapien – "Jaw Gymnastics" from '' Both Sides of the Brain'' (2000)
* T.W.D.Y. – "No Win Situation" from '' Lead the Way'' (2000)
* Edo G – "Big Business" from ''The Truth Hurts'' (2000)
*Virtuoso – "All We Know" from ''World War One: The Voice of Reason'' (2001)
*INXS – "Tight (Dan the Automator Remix)" from '' The Best of INXS'' (2002)
* Aceyalone – "Let Me Hear Sum'n" from '' Love & Hate'' (2003)
*Rasco – "San Fran to the Town" from '' Escape from Alcatraz'' (2003)
* Goapele – "The Daze" from '' Even Closer'' (2004)
*Handsome Boy Modeling School – "It's Like That" from ''White People'' (2004)
* Tajai – "Fashion Fetish" from ''Power Movement'' (2004)
*Lyrics Born – "Callin' Out Remix" from '' Same !@$ Different Day'' (2005)
* Swollen Members – "Torture" from ''Black Magic'' (2006)
* Knobody – "Champion" from ''Tha Clean-Up'' (2007)
*Dilated Peoples – "Hot and Cold (Remix)" from '' The Release Party'' (2007)
* Sean Price – "Connect 4" from ''Master P'' (2007)
*Prince Ali – "The Majors" from ''Curb Side Service'' (2007)
* The Mighty Underdogs – "Laughing at You" from '' Droppin' Science Fiction'' (2008)
* Mochipet – "Mr. Malase" from ''Microphonepet'' (2008)
*Jake One – "Feelin' My Shit" from '' White Van Music'' (2008)
*Virtuoso – "No Fear" from ''The Final Conflict'' (2010)
*Pro the Leader and Dopestyle – "Triple Threat" and "Money Off Rap" from ''Hip Hop Depression'' (2010)
* Myka 9 – "Oh Yeah... Alright" from ''Mykology'' (2011)
*Zion I & The Grouch – "Plead the Fifth" from ''Heroes in the Healing of the Nation'' (2011)
* J. Rawls – "Find a New" from ''The Hip-Hop Affect'' (2011)
*DJ Q-Fingaz – "Watch I Spit" from ''Qllection'' (2012)
* Copywrite – Golden State (of Mind) from ''God Save the King'' (2012)
*First Light – "Valley of the Kings" and "Lighters" from ''Fallacy Fantasy'' (2013)
* Cannibal Ox – "Think Differently" from ''Gotham'' (2013)
* Deltron 3030 – "What Is This Loneliness" from '' Event 2'' (2013)
* Planet Asia & Tzarizm – "Via Satellite" from ''Via Satellite'' (2014)
*The Funk Junkie – "You & Me" from ''Moondirt'' (2017)
*ReauBeau – "On Fire" (2020)

Chart history

Albums

Singles

References

External links

Hieroglyphics
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Casual
1973 births
African-American male rappers
20th-century American male rappers
21st-century American male rappers
Hieroglyphics (group) members
Living people
Rappers from Oakland, California
Underground rappers
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American musicians