Casual (rapper)

Casual
Casual performing in 2006
Background information
Birth name	Jon Owens
Born	(1973-12-19) December 19, 1973 (age 50)
Origin	Oakland, California, United States
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper producer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Years active	1992–present
Website	casual1.bandcamp.com

Jonathan Owens (born December 19, 1973), known by his stage name Casual, is an American

Biography

After high-profile appearances on

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

• 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)
• 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