#Unsocialaes Profile: Joel Q

During the blog era the “The New Wave” or the “Chicago Renaissance” that took place then created some of the most memorable moments that don’t get acknowledged enough. Artists like Chance The Rapper, KidsTheseDays, Mick Jenkins, TREATED Crew, Tink, ShowYouSuck, and so many others started pioneering what talent looked like in Chicago while the Drill Music scene roared just as proudly. From 2011 to 2019 the Chicago music scene and organizing scene contributed some of the most important moments in history to the hip-hop genre and world culture overall. While all of these things and more are true the opportunity to become successful in the Chicago music scene for other artists was yet still very difficult. While some artists were recognized for their talents, their peers were not as successful. Not that these individuals weren’t working as hard, there was just a hard time getting more artists acknowledged in this era. With the 2020 pandemic however there was a huge shift in the Chicago community..

Artists and curators that have always been in the city were starting to be acknowledged a lot more. A lot of artists began speaking their truths on how they believed the structure of the city could be better. For the last three years the music scene and organizing scene has been transforming and challenging the cities standards when it comes to success and creating more opportunities for others. This came in the form of certain artists speaking on building more into a mentality that doesn’t exist in Chicago enough. The ability to collaborate more with each other and support each other’s businesses and platforms. This mentality in Chicago is not uplifted enough, and going into 2024, right after the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, artists that have been in Chicago for so long came together to form the new Chicago wave..

The New Chicago Wave kickstarted when artists in the scene began working together more and making sure the community being uplifted was the priority. Artists and curators like Waterr, GQ tha Teacha, APJ Films, Brittney Carter and others started curating multiple shows in the past six months that have sold out ten times over because of the audience having a love for Chicago hip-hop and it’s many different genres overall. Artists and fans alike are coming together to keep uplifting the fact that everyone can be acknowledged at the same time for being amazing in your art form. All of this led to the artist Goalden Chyld being acknowledged in huge ways for his community work and being cosigned by community legends like Larry Hoover JR., just as his debut album “War Cry” charted to number three on the hip-hop charts. It charted past Ye’s “Vultures” album..

While all of this is taking place there was a photo shoot curated by some of the individuals apart of the new wave. Critics challenged the concept by saying that the name was somehow taking away from what already was being highlighted in the scene from the blog era. Some of the artists and curators apart of the wave began to point out that the new wave term itself is a play on words to acknowledge what had taken place in the Chicago blog era. They also continued to point out that the new Chicago wave is a mentality centered in unity and collaboration. Even more importantly it wasn’t a list that folks weren’t able to be apart of. If you care about the future of this city and want it to be better you are apart of the new wave. Those same artists have been responding in their own ways to let the world know that the new Chicago wave is a mentality based on collaboration and unity that is growing more and more. One of those artists is the legendary Joel Q..

Understand Joel is truly one of the leading emcees in Chicago that has been accomplishing so many different things that has already put him in his own category. Some would say he’s known for his legendary interaction with Big Sean, when he rapped for him in person in passing at Lollapalooza. Others would say him being co-signed by Sway in the morning and Dreamville puts him a category above his peers as well. However Joel Q has always been focused on creating safe spaces that reflect of him and his peers. As much as he’s proud of his creative accomplishments he is even more proud of being a father, future husband, and a artist that reps the hunnids. Even more so, he has always been one of the artists advocating for more unity in collaborating with others. So him, Brittney Carter, GQ tha Teacha, and others spear heading the new wave just made sense. With critics not understanding what Q’s efforts are with curating the documentation of what’s taking place in the music scene right now, he decided to respond in the best way he knows, dropping a phenomenal album and doing his part to educate anyone who wants to know more about our cities music. His reason why is very simple and accurate, to acknowledge the crabs in the barrel mentality that has been in the music scene/industry in Chicago for the past forty years. A lot of this is because of the lack of resources that at times is hard to find in the city when it comes to being a successful artist. Q’s goal is to bring not only more minds together to help talk more about these topics, but also to really build more on the unity our city needs..

His most recent album release “Project Summer” hits in a way that really touches on all of the points made about the blog era and the future of Chicago’s music, art, and culture. Q has a way of letting his peers and anyone interested in listening know that he is one of the most consistent emcees that is leading the new wave right now. His goals are to keep elevating the quality of taking up space while being an artist. We can already say this is one of our favorite projects by far coming from Joel Q. It has started conversations about what does it look like to take up space in the most positive way possible, as well as elevating the quality of music coming from Chicago right now..

Joel Q’s bigger picture goals are to continue building on the unity that has been growing all this year because of his and other artists efforts. He has never been focused on the clout or the fame that comes with the path he has taken. Q’s want for a more unified Chicago is growing at a powerful rate and he’s not slowing down by the slightest. With him about to open up for the legend Rapsody at the promontory in hyde park and more music videos on the way Q is getting ready to bring in the rest of this year on a powerful note..

Take a listen to some of Joel Q’s projects and take a look at more of the photos of him below..