Qwel's "If It Ain't Been in a Pawn Shop, Then It Can't Play the Blues" reaches it's 20th Anniversary

During the MySpace era days, I was spoiled with a vast array of artists & content, especially from the underground scene of those wanting to reach an audience outside their respected area. One artist who set the bar above all will always be Typical Cat's emcee Qwel who delivered his sophomore project simultaneously as his group's self-titled debut album. The title of his album will always be my favorite, just knowing what sounds would be seeping through my heart as being a personal favorite of my adolescent years. "If It Ain't Been in a Pawn Shop, Then It Can't Play the Blues" was the second album of 2001 to be released from Qwel that would follow after his debut album "Close But No Cigar" that spurted out a wild introduction to his content. Yet "If It Ain't Been in a Pawn Shop…" moved me more growing up; I was 16 still in high school when I found the album in 2008. I was a rebellious teen with wanting to paint the whole world in graffiti. I had no respect for authority whatsoever and kept my true self which was comical and nerdy to myself; since growing up, those were always the ones to be picked on the most. I felt this album let me be me for an hour & seven minutes, and during this time, I didn't care for anything but music. My obsession with hip-hop was always there due to my father pushing it on me at a younger age, but I felt this was my personal introduction to it. Being 28-year now, it still has that same everlasting effect on me. I can't tell you how much I cried during my first listen-through after all these years of remembering the memories of the moment when this first hit my headphones. It's celebrating its 20 years this week and now having my own outlet to share the music I enjoy; I couldn't wait to let people know about it now. 

I remember being first welcomed in with the drums from "Quest For Fire" to have Qwel slowly pick apart the beat the way he knows how. He's gradually inching through every part of this beat with his signature style to be a complex mind of lyricism that will make any hip-hop head move in excellence. Some of the wildest verses you'll get from Qwel easily will be heard on "Stress.com" & "Proof 101," which are walked down by the production. If the beat was slow, he made sure you listened to every line spoken, and if the beat was fast-paced, then expect to be slaughtered with a barrage of raps that can cut through adamantium steel & vibranium for my nerds out there. "The Light" by Common was a single that you wanted to share with a crush or send to her to know that you are deeply in love with her beauty. It's a Hip-hop record meant for lovers, and I think you can say the same for "The Highest Commitment." I sent this track to crushes back in my day & even made burned CDs by making sure this was added last.

When I recently returned to the album not long ago, I remember being mesmerized by the guitar riff in the track again and clutching my lady close as I did my due diligence of introducing her to the track, which she loved dearly. After the self-titled record, which starts in the middle of the album, you then fall into a series of tracks that are more jazz-themed inspired. Take "Harriet Tubman," the beat is flung wildly, but man, if you don't fall into a trance of bliss when listening to the intro, then when Qwel starts spitting, it's all majestic from there. Grit carries on with tracks like the Robust featured record "Art Of War" & the interlude of "Meaty's Lament" that set the motion forward for the rest of the diabolically sinister records from storytelling to lyricism which will satisfy any underground listeners. I then get to what has to be my favorite record of all time and the emotional journey to hear it after all these years. I remember being scared of many things growing up in my neighborhood, not knowing if one of these days will someone rob the corner store I have to walk through to get to my house & I become a casualty in the situation or if I'm wearing the wrong colors walking in my neighborhood & someone decides to end my life on sight. Many things ran through my head, but at all times through these moments, I played Qwel's "Chicago Barbecue," which gave me peace in that time.

Whether it was seeing my parents first split up or saying goodbye to loved ones in my family, my coping mechanism was to play this record. Mainly because I remember the moment of smoking with friends while freestyling to the track since Qwel only raps in the first few minutes of the 14-minute record and lets the beat play afterward in rotation. These memories made the track to life for me and savored deeply in my listening experience. The beat is so heavenly and makes you think of the summer on the best days. When I came back to it all these years, I remembered all this, and it had me sobbing like a child. I'm not one to hide my emotions, so when I say this, I mean it; Qwel might not know at the time this was going to be a powerful work of art, but it really is. He didn't expect this outcome to happen when he recently talked about this album on Facebook since this week is its 20th anniversary. He didn't want to rap or even think about making this a career. I felt that not knowing that all these years were unexpected to read but the fact he enjoyed being in the company with friends and happened to get another chance to make it happen which as you know, now he did. Qwel said hip-hop saved him as it did for me, but I would be lying if I said Qwel didn't have a hand in helping. Thank you for everything, from the rhymes & to the times you gave me hope when you didn't realize it. I present to everyone an album that made me who I am and hope you witness the glory of years of underground perseverance and valiant skills to bring you "If It Ain't Been in a Pawn Shop, Then It Can't Play the Blues." For celebrating this accomplishment, I know he will be going on tour performing the album where Chicago will be his first performance. Hopefully, later in the year, he be in San Antonio so hopefully then I’ll see it live. Make sure to see if he will be in your city soon to catch his time on stage performing the album.