CASUAL  (December 2004) | Interview By: SGV

       Dubcnn.com caught up with Hieroglyphics member Casual to chop it up about his new record, the beef with Saafir, Hiero in general, the New Bay, Game & Yuk, touring, Too Short and Richie Rich collab'in for the first time on a track, and much more. Feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to sgv@dubcnn.com


Huge thanks to Casual for taking time out to answer the questions fans wanted to know! (Interview was done by email in December of 2004)

Questions Asked By : SGV
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dubcnn.com: What up Cas.

Casual: What up

dubcnn.com: Chillin' man...You killed that shit Acey{alone} and Big Arch.

Casual: Thanks dogg, I like that song...

dubcnn.com: Me too. It was something different. I never expected hearing Acey on some shit like that.

Casual: Ha!

dubcnn.com: You know what was hot too?That Callin Out Remix, with You, 40{E-40} and LB{Lyrics Born}...

Casual: Yeah... 40 on my album too.

dubcnn.com: Your new album?

Casual: Yeah.

dubcnn.com: If I wasnt coppin' it already, I will be now.

Casual: Haha

dubcnn.com: 40 is my favorite rapper ever man.

Casual: Yeah he's raw.

dubcnn.com: Hell yea. Yo, You still do shit with Alchemist?

Casual: I wish.

dubcnn.com: You ain't no more?

Casual: I tried, he's too busy.

dubcnn.com: Yea hes been doing a lot lately but damn. So no Alchemist...Who you working with then?

Casual: I Got J-Zone Jake One, Automator, Dante Ross, Domino, A-Plus.

dubcnn.com: Jake One got heat.

Casual: Stupid heat!

dubcnn.com: I bet if he was from Cali hed get more props. But he's from Washington right?

Casual: Yeah he's from Seattle.

dubcnn.com: What other features you got?

Casual: I got E-40 , Too Short, Richie Rich, Young Zee from the Outsidazs, Psalm One.

dubcnn.com: Oh damn!

Casual: Yeah...

dubcnn.com: That Richie Rich shit is probably gonna be hard.

Casual: Its the same song with Short.

dubcnn.com: Wow...

Casuall: "Oaktown Remix"

dubcnn.com: Thats some legendary Bay shit.

Casual: Yeah. Rich and Short never did a song.

dubcnn.com: Never? You know...You're right, I can't think of one. I always thought they did.

Casual: Me too.

dubcnn.com: Makes sense right?

Casual: You would think so...

dubcnn.com: You're making history then.

Casual: Ha. Bay history!

dubcnn.com: Hip-Hop history!

Casual: True.

dubcnn.com: Whats the album called?

Casual: Casual Presents Smash Rockwell.

dubcnn.com: Dropping?

Casual: March.

dubcnn.com: Major or indi?

Casual: Hiero/Imperium.

dubcnn.com: Oh ok...Whats the first single?

Casual: Don't know yet.

dubcnn.com: Gonna do anything with Goapele again?

Casual: Soon, but we didn't work for this album. I don't want to exaust her.

dubcnn.com: I get you. Shes talented though....

Casual: Yeah

dubcnn.com: Aight...I have to ask you. Hows the situation between you and Saafir?

Casual: It ain't shit no more.

dubcnn.com: So you coo?

Casual: I seen him the other day. I was on my Bike and he was on his, also.

dubcnn.com: Collab maybe?

Casual: Naw. haha

dubcnn.com: DAMN! Well it was worth a try right?

Casual: I was on my Yamaha... He was on a Beach cruiser. It looked like a parable to me.

dubcnn.com: haha. Where was this? In Oakland?

Casual: Yeah, on 68th.

dubcnn.com: Coo... Hopefully one day ya'll can collab. Not to beat a dead horse, but would you clarify the reason for the problems?

Casual: Sure...1 sec.

dubcnn.com: Aight

{Casual shows me an expert of his up coming book.}

"When that beef started, it was between Casual and Safir, and it really started because I didn't want to be on his album. (This is the first time I told anyone this.) Truth is, I asked Saafir to be on my album because he was my boy at the time. But in the short time we kicked it, I seen he was a fake ass nigga. I mean, I met Saafir, through A+. I needed some weed one day, and Plee was like, "my nigga got bomb." I was like, "Who," Plee was like, "this nigga Saafir, he be trying to rap and shit." I'm like, "cool." Saafir was a "street nigga" so when we met we was cool like that from the gate. I mean, I was blowing my money on weed and he had fat sacks, so we started to see each other often. We started to kick too. That nigga had a clean ass white 72 malibu, I had a 80 Z28 Camaro. And we was on some "nigga your shit ain't as tight as mine!" shit. Chillin though, now here comes the bullshit. First out, it took me a minute to notice how much this nigga was bashing 2 Pac (Pac was alive then). I would have been like, "yeah whatever" but this nigga and Tupac was really boys. He would tell me stories about how Tupac punked out and he had to whoop some niggas for him, hella shit like that. But I'm sitting there like, "damn I thought this nigga was Pac dogg?" Anyway his boastfullness and his betrayal qualities were starting to surface, I was like "I ain't fuckin' with dude know more"(subconsciencly). This is about the time he asked me to be on his album, I tell no lie, when he called, I was layed up. He asked me to come to the studio at bout 8. I was like "alright," but I really was thinkin', "damn, I don't wanna go." I called that dude back at about 7:45 and threw some drama about how I couldn't make it and he should work on something else. He was like whatever. A few days later I got a call from Sasfir, I was at Domino's house playing video games. I answered the phone, "Hello"? he was like, "Blood you wrong fa fakin' on me." I was like "what?! (still talking calmly), he said, "You made me lose money the other night." My sense went off instantly. Before I replied I was thinking "damn, he trying to play me, i fucked up," and to keep it real, i replied (verbatim) "Dude you putting too much on it." This is when the calm broke. "Too much on it!!!!!!!!! Nigga what!!! How am I putting too much on it? etc. blah blah nigga blah nigga!!!!!!!!" Next think I know, I got beef with these niggas.

Now every time I seen them niggas in the street, I was with some nigga that they probably didn't expect me to know. To keep it real, this shit was big, it was all in the streets, every body I knew was talking about this beef I had with Ssafir. Niggas started really fonkin'. The cold part is, them niggas was from Fresno, I was born and raised in Oakland. Don't get it twisted, Fresno is gangsta,
but when you start some beef with a well known artist, in the streets of his home city, its gonna be problems. What everyone didn't know is, me and Saafir would speak on occasions. If I seen that nigga in the club, I would always address him first, like "Whats up Saafir?" He would be like,"sup nigga" and we would go on about our business, no prob. But when other members of our crews seen each other there would be confrontations. It was all typa shit. (Buy the Book when it come out!)

Saafir came to my house in North Oakland a few days before the battle, bout 8:30.pm. I looked through the peep hole and said, "Hell haw!!!!!!" I went and grabbed that little 380 he was rappin bout, and tucked it in the pocket of my Hiero hoodie. I opend the doe', this nigga was like "blood i need to holla at you," i was like, "alright." We went outside, I'm thinking its about to get grimey. I see this nigga got his homie sitting in the car bout 15 feet away, I got my hand in my pocket, heart just pounding, then this nigga gonna start talking about his rap strategy!!!! "I'm gonna kick some written shit Cas, how you comin'?" This was the weirdest Hip Hop beef moment. I was like "What!! I'm coming freestyle dogg."

The night of the imfamous Wake Up Show Battle, dudes heard that and was coming out the woodworks!!! I tell know lie, when we entered the studio room before the battle it was Hiero and Hobo. After that two hour broadcast we exited the studio and it was all typa niggas, nigga from the block, niggas I was raised with, dudes I hadn't seen since the second fuckin' grade was like, " you alright my nigga?" Seagram(R.I.P), a local rapper at the time, was in the lobby of KMEL Punking them niggas!!! Dudes road all the way from Vallejo to San Fran to hold me down. It was big. The only thing that was in the back of my head was, them horrible freestyles I was kicking. I was so dissapointed in Kmel, Tech, Sway, Saafir, and mostly, myself. I don't know why, but I felt exploited. It really was the single biggest event in Wake Up Show history. And I didn't see how me or Saafir would benifit. After I was like, "Thats it?!! Did the beef end with the broadcast? Damn was this shit staged? Written ass raps? Hell naw!"

dubcnn.com: Aight so that explains it in depth haha. When can we expect that book?

Casual: Damn... I just been writing various event so far. But I'ma put it all together eventually.

dubcnn.com: Is it about your life? The Rap industry?

Casual: Hiero

dubcnn.com: Oh ok...Sounds good. I asked Del before but Ill ask you too, whats up on another Hiero album?

Casual: I think at the end of the year. But who knows...

dubcnn.com: You know the fans always want a Hiero album.

Casual: Yeah...but they need to go buy that last one.

dubcnn.com: haha

Casual: 70,000, I need 100,000.

dubcnn.com: Ya'll need another Hiero tour! haha. You'll get that 30 plus more.

Casual: True!

dubcnn.com: But for an indi release that ain't bad at all.

Casual: Never...

dubcnn.com: Whats your thoughts on the New Bay?

Casual: hahahahahaha. I got a line that says: "There is even hyphee youngsters tryin' to start up this NewBay Shit." it's not a problem, OG's taught them how to do they shit.

dubcnn.com: I feel you. You know...Balance reminds me of a younger version of you. Haha.

Casual: haha. He's my dogg. {And} I just met Lock the other day.

dubcnn.com: I'd like to hear that collab!

Casual: We're workin' on it.

dubcnn.com: Other Bay cats have a problem with them.

Casual: But thats because they ain't got thier Bars up. If you get your bars up you wouldn't be trippin' off the New Bay.

dubcnn.com: That's the truth though.

Casual: {By the way} Who are they?

dubcnn.com: I know Yuk said some things about them. Messy Marv, too. Not saying Yuk and Messy Marv ain't nice...Yuk's last album and Marv's last album were heaters.

Casual: Naw...Yuk bananas. We go back.

Casual: I ain't hatin' but Yuk my nigga.

dubcnn.com: You one of the illest out here..Who do you think reps the Coast the right way, lyrically.

Casual: Thanks... Well, Yuk kinda, Snoop. Snoop fasho. E-40 fa sho.

dubcnn.com: Lyrically though?

Casual: Well, you gotta feel Snoop. Them raps are so real, they aren't easy to write.

dubcnn.com: I get you.

Casual: The Game would never sound that real.

dubcnn.com: The rap game has changed since the Doggystyle days, but I feel you. Game is supposed to be the second coming of the West...A lot of people don't feel that way though.

Casual: The Game is Just OK at best, and the second coming of the West Coast ain't in G-Unit.

dubcnn.com: haha

Casual: We more indie out here than that.

dubcnn.com: True man. You know though, Game is a lot different now than he was with JT.

Casual: JT is a real nigga. He capitalize on all them niggas...

dubcnn.com: People don't feel me when I say Game owes JT.

Casual: That's Bay Pimpin'!

dubcnn.com: Haha yea JT is the King of Capitalizng.

Casual: Fa real... Gotta respect that.

dubcnn.com: Who are your favorite Bay rappers/producers ever?

Casual: Bay? Too Short & Ant Banks.

dubcnn.com: Where is Ant Banks?

Casual: Don't know...

dubcnn.com: He's been M.I.A. for a hot minute. Aight...Who are your 3 favorite emcees ever.

Casual: Chill Rob Gee, Lord Finesse, Big Daddy Kane.

dubcnn.com: That's a nice list. Very diferent from the typical "Jay, Big and Pac" lists.

Casual: ha! Dude, Jay, Big and Pac are my peers, or used to be.

dubcnn.com: I feel you

Casual: When I think of greats, I don't think of my peers. Although, them some legends.

dubcnn.com: Yea....

Casual: Thoses are legends, Jay is a Mogule. Pac is the hardest rapper ever.

dubcnn.com: I never felt Pac like that.

Casual: Some didn't, alot did.

dubcnn.com: Yea, At least you're understanding. Some foos wanna kill you when you say that

Casual: I know. Fuck em.

dubcnn.com: haha. Can't stand male groupies.

Casual: haha

dubcnn.com: How are you, a grown ass man, dickriding another grown ass man?

Casual: haha

dubcnn.com: What are you thoughts on the state of Hip Hop?

Casual: Better than ever. Have you noticed that theres no Gangsta Rap anymore? Everything is gangsta. haha R&B is gangsta? How is R&B gangsta?

dubcnn.com: haha I dont know man.

Casual: Neo Soul is gangsta dude.

dubcnn.com: Since R. Kelly? R&B Thug haha.

Casual: haha

dubcnn.com: I guess singing for women is gangsta.

Casual: I ain't mad but love would blow up right now. haha

dubcnn.com: haha

Casual: Love would go Platunim, hope would be triple.

dubcnn.com: Remember when only LL rapped about love?

Casual: Ja Rule?

dubcnn.com: You think Love Raps was the downfall of Hip Hop?

Casual: haha. Naw Common still does it.

dubcnn.com: But Common raw with it.

Casual: Fa sho.

dubcnn.com: Cuz he really means it.

Casual: Thats what I mean. Talib got love in his shit. Nas got Gangsta love.

dubcnn.com: I showed my moms the video for the "Light" and she loved it. She hates rap too.

Casual: Dope.

dubcnn.com: You like Kwelis new album?

Casual: I ain't heard it, but I hope it ain't the same song over and over.

dubcnn.com: haha

Casual: "I can't live my life!"

dubcnn.com: I think he did a lot with Kanye on the album, I aint heard it yet.

Casual: Well, Talib is raw so, it will be.

dubcnn.com: Yea...If you had to choose one album from the Hiero Catalog, be it solo or group, what would it be?

Casual: My new shit. It's shuttin' down our whole catalog. Watch "Casual Presents Smash Rockwell!"

dubcnn.com: haha Thats a big statement.

Casual: Yeah

dubcnn.com: How many tracks on it?

Casual: 13 watch dude...

dubcnn.com: Short and sweet.

Casual: haha

dubcnn.com: How about some word association?

Casual: Cool

dubcnn.com: Aight...Oakland.

Casual: Raiders.

dubcnn.com: Casual.

Casual: Footlooker. hahaha I don't know, it just came.

dubcnn.com: haha Hip Hop.

Casual: hoorray.

dubcnn.com: haha! Bush.

Casual: hmmm. Thoughtless.

dubcnn.com: Diplomats

Casual: Cam'Ron.

dubcnn.com: Hiero.

Casual: Del.

dubcnn.com: Smash Rockwell.

Casual: 100,000 indie!

dubcnn.com: ha! Sideshows

Casual: 73rd

dubcnn.com: One last one... 3rd Eye Vision.

Casual: Full Circle.

dubcnn.com: Tight...Go head and Plug your album one more time.

Casual: Well, Smash Rockwell is Casual at his finest, if you like Cas, you'll love Smash Rockwell. Coming in March to wake Hip-Hop up!! Watch!

dubcnn.com: Thats whats up. Thanks! Good luck with the project!

Casual: Thanks