Fear Itself

Casual

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 1994)
• Original Release Date: February 1, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jive
• ASIN: B00000050H
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,394 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Compared to the complex psyche of Del and the Souls of Mischief's interwoven rhyme schemes, Casual was the most conventional of the Bay Area's Hieroglyphics, yet few would to be foolish enough to dismiss him as any average MC. The very essence of a battle rapper, Casual was a braggadocio maestro who badgered the competition into submission with his freestyle-infused lyrics. Fear Itself perhaps represented the zenith of the Hiero's abilities. The most lyrically and musically consistent album the collective ever put out, Fear Itself had no end of impressive lyrics or tracks. On the latter end, producer Domino and fellow Hiero members put many of their obscure breakbeats to use, filling the album with thick, rolling bass lines ("Me-O-Mi-O") expressive jazz melodies ("Thoughts of the Thoughtful") and crashing drum marches ("Chained Minds"). Holding up his end of the bargain, Casual was relentless, straight-smacking MCs down on "That's How It Is," "You Flunked," and "Lose in the End," but still taking enough time to sleep with his best friends' girls ("I Didn't Mean To"). --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fear Itself helped put Hieroglyphics on the map, August 5, 2000

By	J Schultz (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

Fear Itself is butter. Coming with high energy flows and great jazz/funk beats from the 70's, Casual delivers an album that is just as good today as it was in 94. Guest appearences by Del, Extra Prolific, Saafir, Pep Love, and others only serve to make this album more in-depth. "Get off It" features a slick sample of jazz man Freddie Hubbard's "Mr Clean" that will stick in your head forever. "Who's It On" features is a high energy track that features Pep Love and Del and an insanely tight sample of Nathan Davis's "Tragic Magic". If you liked No Need For Alarm, 93 Til Infinity, Digable Planets, or any other groups that lace their albums with buttery jazz samples and tight lyrics, then you'll love this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most underrated rap album of all-time, March 9, 2000

By	Phesto (OKC, OK) - See all my reviews

This has to be the most slept on hip-hop masterpiece to ever get a commercial release. Most Hiero fans inexplicably seem to prefer Del's solo release "No Need for Alarm" released around the same time, and although that album is good, this one is much better. Even Del comes off better in two songs on this album than he does on his own. While other Hiero members' best work often shows up on other places than their widely released albums, this record contains many of Casual's best songs. The beats are incredible, the flow is dope, and the lyrics have depth. Even Saafir comes off good on one track. "Get Off It" is probably my favorite song, but there are many great ones. Better than "No Need for Alarm" and very close to the apex reached by "93 til Infinity".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars '94 'Til Infinity?, February 5, 2008

By	ctrx - See all my reviews

Oakland rapper Casual released his solo debut "Fear Itself" in early 1994 following noteworthy appearances and production on Hieroglyphics projects. "Fear Itself" displays the pure appeal of Hieroglyphics. Although Casual isn't the endearing character that Del tha Funkee Homosapien is, and the album lacks the timelessness of Souls of Mischief's 93 'Til Infinity and the musical beauty of Extra Prolific's Like It Should Be, it is an enjoyable album on multiple levels that captures Hiero's genius. Casual is a pure battle rapper, and one could imagine him in the Souls of Mischief lineup. He has a soulful, rich voice (imagine a very deep Cee-Lo Goodie) and an excited delivery, and he is full of clever punchlines. He's a skilled freestyler, and most of the album consists of battle raps. Production is consistently great. Domino, the man behind the Hiero sound, produces 7 tracks, Casual does six, and Del and Jay-Biz each do one. With these duties kept inside the family, the vibe is fluid and coherent, usually upbeat and always using classic soul and jazz samples for a deep and rich sound. It's not too far from the music on 93 'Til Infinity, but with Casual manning the microphone, the effect is unsimilar. Guests are also kept within the camp, and on collabos Cas shines. Without a classic single and a few less-memorable tracks that run together, "Fear Itself" isn't quite of the same quality as its more revered early Hiero brethren, but for the fans of the artistic Hiero sound, I highly recommend it.

Following a dope intro, the album opens with "You Flunked," asserting his superiority ("You're weaker than seven days / You should find a way to bring a weaker thought like crime pays") on the mic over a rich, spinning track. Further insight is provided on his self-described autobiography "Me-O-Mi-O," which has a great drum pattern. "Get Off It" is clever and polished, and "That's How It Is" provides some honest criticism of concurrent MCs ("Enough with the wackness, enough is my check / Enough with these garbage rappers bitin' Das EFX"). Newcomer Saafir kicks a nice freestyle on the brief "That Bulls...," followed by the solid "Follow the Funk." The best song is "Who's It On," a catchy collaboration with Pep Love and Del tha Funkee Homosapien and an excellent sax sample. "I Didn't Mean To" is a highlight both lyrically and musically, telling the story of a noteworthy female encounter over a soaring trumpet line. Another of my favorites is "We Got It Like That," a fast, funky production boasting wonderful sax instrumentation. Del gets a brief spotlight on "A Little Something," and the decent "This Is How We Rip S..." precedes the fun "Lose in the End." "Thoughts of the Thoughtful" is a nice song, and the LP closes strongly with "Chained Minds" and the storyteller "Be Thousand."

"Fear Itself" is an awesome LP of battle raps, Hiero antics, and excellent production. Bottom line, pick up 93 'Til Infinity first, and if you enjoy that album, add "Fear Itself" to the collection. It's one of the albums that helped to build the Hieroglyphics legend and possesses all the qualities of their best albums. Hiero's product was one of the best to be found in the 90s, and it's easy to see why on albums like these. Cas has released numerous solo LPs, rapped on Hiero group albums, and is still doing his thing today, but most fans will admit that he has yet to top his debut effort. Hip hop heads are sure to enjoy "Fear Itself."