Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (W.I.) to imitate.

1983

T. White Catch a Fire 148: The slum youths had made him into a hero and tried to ‘pawn’ (imitate) his style.

2. (W.I.) to take hold of someone.

1995

Francis-Jackson Official Dancehall Dict. 39: Pawn to take hold of: u. if a ever pawn yuh/don’t let me take hold of you.