Casual (rapper)

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Jon Owens, known by his stage name Casual, is an American rapper. Born in Oakland, California, Owens is a member of the influential alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. In addition, he has released five full-length LPs over the span of his twelve year career. Although none of his solo releases have achieved significant commercial success, Owens has garnered a following amongst devoted hip hop fans, partially due to the rise in popularity of Bay Area hip hop.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2.1 LPs 2.2 Singles 2.3 Appearances 3 Chart history 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 4 References

[edit] Biography

1994's Fear Itself is of significance to Owens' career. It is his only major label-marketed album and features various members of his crew, Hieroglyphics, on vocals and production. The album also features a prominent cameo from Bay Area rapper Saafir. The album follows a traditional format: its songs adhere to a verse-chorus-verse arrangement, and the up-tempo and slower tracks are contrasted against each other. The popularity of the album's second single, "I Didn't Mean To" exposed Owens to a wider audience. He released three follow-up albums after "Fear Itself", one of which ("He Think He Raw") was distributed by Sony-affiliated distributor Red Urban.^[1] Owens is now a community activist. In 2006, he took on a role as Music Production and Media Arts Consultant at Youth Uprising ^[2]. Jonathan Owens currently holds a seat on the City of Oakland Board of Cultural Affairs. Owens is also CEO of Hiero Jeans.^[3]

[edit] Discography

[edit] LPs

• Fear Itself (1994, Jive Records)
• Meanwhile... (1997, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings)
• He Think He Raw (2001, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings)
• Truck Driver (2004, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, web-only release))
• Smash Rockwell (2005, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings)

[edit] Singles

• That's How It Is (1993, Jive)
• I Didn't Mean To (1993, Jive)
• Me-O-Mi-O (1994, Jive)
• VIP (1999, Hieroglyphics Imperium)
• Blind Date (2001, Hieroglyphics Imperium)
• Same O.G. (2001, Hieroglyphics Imperium)
• We Don't Get Down Like That (2002, Hieroglyphics Imperium)
• My Whole Intent (2004, Hieroglyphics Imperium)
• Rap Game b/w Things I Need (2004, Hieroglyphics Imperium)

[edit] Appearances

• 1994: "Baby Bust it" (from the Kurious Jorge album A Constipated Monkey)
• 2000: "Big Business (Featuring Tajai)" (from the Ed O.G. album The Truth Hurts)
• 2004: "It's Like That" (from the Handsome Boy Modeling School album White People)
• 2007: "Hot And Cold (Remix)" (from the Dilated Peoples album The Release Party)
• 2007: "Connect 4 (feat. Shabaam Sahdeeq & U.G.)" (from the Sean Price mixtape Master P)

[edit] Chart history

[edit] Albums

Year	Album	Billboard 200
2005	Smash Rockwell
2001	He Think He Raw
1997	Meanwhile
1993	Fear Itself	108

[edit] 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

[edit] References

v • d • e Hieroglyphics Casual | Del tha Funkee Homosapien | Domino | Pep Love | Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, Tajai) Albums 3rd Eye Vision (1998) | Full Circle (2003) Compilation Albums Hieroglyphics B-Sides (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II (1998) | The Corner (2005) | Over Time (2007) Hiero related artists A Band Called Pain | Beeda Weeda | Encore | Goapele | Handsome Boy Modeling School | Knobody | Musab | O.C. | Prince Ali | SupremeEx | Z-Man