Casual
Casual performing in 2006
Casual performing in 2006
Background information
Birth nameJon Owens
Born (1975-12-19) December 19, 1975
OriginOakland, California, United States
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper/producer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1992–present
Websitecasual1.bandcamp.com

Jonathan Owens (born December 19, 1975), known by his stage name Casual, is an American rapper, producer, and one of the founding members of the alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics.[1][2] 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 tha 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.[3] Casual has been acclaimed for "wielding his metaphors and sinewy delivery with lethal grace"[4]

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:

It came about from us getting dropped from major labels, and instead of folding and succumbing to defeat, we hit the ground running. We took what we had and ran with it, we landscaped and we built something. We had to be resourceful, creative, and clever to gain our niche but now...it's been 10 years since we've busted out independent.[5]

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.[6]

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."[7]

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

Chart history

Albums

Year Album Billboard 200
2012 Respect Game or Expect Flames
2005 Smash Rockwell
2001 He Think He Raw
1997 Meanwhile
1993 Fear Itself 108

Singles

Year Song Hot Rap Singles Album
1999 "VIP" 43
1994 "I Didn't Mean To" Certified Gold US 34 Fear Itself
1993 "That's How It Is" 22 Fear Itself

References

  1. ↑ ArtistInfo Casual, 1975
  2. ↑ Casual
  3. ↑ Michael Dibela. "Casual Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  4. ↑ Cheo H. Coker (March 1994). Fear Itself. Vibe Magazine. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  5. ↑ Mickey Hess (November 2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide: Volume 1: East Coast and West Coast. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9780313343216. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  6. ↑ DJ Pizzo. "Wake Up Show: Hieroglyphics Vs. Hobo Junction Battle". HipHopSite.com. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
  7. ↑ Colin Larkin. "Casual Biography". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
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