At first listen, Consequence comes across as a Kanye West copy-cat. A little more research will show that the Queens rapper originally made his hip hop debut on A Tribe Called Quest’s Beats, Rhymes, and Life album, and is cousins with Tribe member Q-Tip. Most likely Kanye’s biggest influence (10 seconds of any track and you will agree), there are moments where you cannot even tell them apart. Their rap style, phrasing, and even breathing techniques are identical. Consequence also appeared on both of Kanye’s records (though you probably couldn’t even tell).

It took a long time for Don’t Quit Your Day Job to see the light of day, but it’s finally out under Kanye’s own G.O.O.D. label (John Legend, Common). Kanye appears on “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” (“That’s bad meaning bad/not bad meaning good”), and the chemistry between these two rappers is impressive, and almost leaves you disappointed that Kanye did not appear on more of the album. John Legend makes an appearance on “Feel This Way,” which actually comes across more like a John Legend track featuring Consequence. Both songs are among the strongest on the record, and feature some of Kanye’s best production.

Judging from the scattered skits through-out the album (what’s a hip hop album without skits nowadays?), Consquence has been struggling since his Tribe days, and even takes a part time job at Banana Republic (ouch). The album’s first track, “Da Job Song,” features a voicemail message from his boss hiring him, followed by his mother (who’s voice gets a bit irritating by the end of the album) warning him not to go to the studio late at night and jeopardize his position. On “Don’t Forget ‘Em,” the production is the highlight, and features a sample that is classic Kanye. Bongo drum effects and flutes make up the beat, while Consequence’s vocals are mostly melodic (and not so bad).

Rumor has it that this record has been in the works since before College Dropout’s release four years ago, and many fans have expressed some disappointment with the “freshness” of the tracks. “Grammy Family,” originally featured on a DJ compilation last summer, makes another appearance on Don’t Quit Your Day Job, and features both Kanye and John Legend. The song is good, but maybe not good enough to be released twice. Hopefully, “Feel This Way” will be a single & his Grammy ticket (Consequence of course was the only one on “Grammy Family” without one). The similarities between Consequence & Kanye are further magnified by their equal obsession with rhyming words with themselves in different contexts (See: “Item” as in carry-on, and “Item” as in couple).

Though the record may not be on the same wave-length as its labelmates (due mostly in part to a few skippable tracks, and the fact that his sound has already been made popular by someone else), Don’t Quit Your Day Job is most definitely “good” music. Whether Consequence will officially join the “Grammy family” is yet to be determined.