SANTOTZIN, KRAZY KRACE, QWEL, DIRTY DIGITAL, SLEEP, DJ ATM, DJ SPARK

(Berbati’s Pan, 10 SW 3rd) Oh shit. Qwel’s coming to town? Seemingly buried in the middle of this bill, this backpacker-approved emcee is primarily known for not being known, an overlooked sensation whose excellence comes in both his rapid-fire flow and his ability to cram so many lyrical gems in the frame of a single song. While his hyper flow has the pace to veer slightly towards the territory of fellow Chicagoan Twista, Qwel utilizes plenty of restraint in reeling in the tempo and focusing on content and delivery. “Saved,” from 2006’s Freezerburner, is a perfect example of that, a delicate beat capped by some sprawling guitar and the emcee’s passionate—if not emotive—flow. He’s just dropped a new album alongside Kip Killagain entitled The New Wine, and while I have yet to come across a copy, if the past is any indication, I expect greatness. EAC

MP3:
Qwel - New Wine Promo Mix (featuring Kip Killagain)