Consequence has been no stranger to drama since his debut album Don’t Quit Your Day Job dropped in 2007. His journey has been winding to say the least, most aptly mentioned in his standout feature on a young Mr. West’s “Spaceship.” On that song he famously stated, “And having one of my co-worker’s say ‘Yo you look just like / This kid I seen in the Busta Rhymes video the other night / Well, easy come, easy go how that saying goes / No more broad service, cars, and them TV shows.” He’s always laid his head in the shadow of legends, from Tribe to Ye and others. And, to his dismay, the project purgatory he’s been involved in over the years has lead to a copious amount of unnecessary drama, leading to the release of his Curb Certified and Movies on Demand series on the fringes of rap’s high society.
All of this could have ended Consequence’s career, but a reunion with the folks at G.O.O.D. Music and a refocus on what matters, the music, put Hip Hop’s everyman on the course for a comeback.
And that’s exactly what his new EP, A Good Comeback Story, is. Rather than rehash the whirlwind of the past five years, Consequence opts to focus on his artistry. Much of what made Don’t Quit Your Day Job a solid album is present here, with Consequence playing both the everyman and the braggadocio emcee. The approach works because he’s equally convincing in each role; he sounds just as comfortable expressing love for his son on the soulful “That Dude” or musing over relationship troubles on “Make Believe” as he does spitting gritty punchlines on “EveryNight” or “Tuck Your Release.” When he’s playing the former role, the growth is clear; he absolutely has a ball trading bars with his surprisingly adept four-year-old son, telling him on the hook, “I love you so much I might get a tattoo.”
Consequence makes a strong case for rappers over 35; his delivery, flow, and lyricism are just as strong as ever. Maybe it’s the thirst to prove the comeback is worthy, or maybe it’s that the distractions are behind him. Whatever the case, rhymes like “so bet against me, you going broke in A.C. / I’ll have the fans making noise like a broken AC,” will have you hitting the rewind button. Another Hip Hop veteran and his cousin, the aforementioned Q-Tip, provides a somber hook on the wistful “No Matter What,” while Lupe Fiasco drops by for a stellar turn on “Countdown.”
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The production matches Consequence’s duality, blending the smooth and hardcore. On “Countdown,” Consequence and co-producer Mike Cash can even make a hook as grimy as “caught so many bodies that it’s gettin’ hard to count now” sound crisp over dancy-worthy production. Yet, the thick drums of “The People Saying” and the minimalistic grime of “Battle Anybody” set the tone for a rapper who’s ready to face anyone and anything.
Indeed, it’s on those last two tracks that Consequence sounds most self-assured. On “Battle Anybody,” he is as direct as he’ll get on his past issues with G.O.O.D Music: “Every time this typhoon sticks his toes in the water / Awards are being issued to my staff of recorders / And maybe I’m a hoarder, for saving every reference track / But the reason why I chose to never mention that / For me to give people the check for that / Is like feeding the homeless, then asking for the breakfast back / That’s why I never gave the necklace back, or took it to a pawn shop / Now it’s more connected flights and non-stops.”
So yes, Consequence is back with his appealing blend of regular Joe rhymes and bursts of braggadocio. With A Good Comeback Story, Consequence makes a worthy return by putting the drama behind him and releasing a quality set of tunes from start to finish.
