Coming out of Chicago, Qwel has been making moves and putting out quality material since just after the millennium, both as a solo emcee (on albums like If It Ain't Been in a Pawn Shop, Then It Can't Play the Blues) and as a member of groups like Typical Cats and Royce (Civil Service, Tuff Love, etc.). He's also recorded a gang of collaboration albums, with producers like Jackson Jones and Meaty Ogre, among others. Beautiful Raw is his fourth full-length project with Maker, after the excellent (if under-the-radar) efforts like The Harvest and So Be It. Released as usual on his own label Galapagos4, Beautiful Raw is a near-perfect combo of lyrical yet relatable wordplay and undeniably funky, sample-driven production, rife with breakbeats, guitar licks, and big horns. Underground without being glitchy or melodramatic, catchy without being corny or cliché. Highlights include "On One," "Through the Sidewalk," and "Keep It Movin'."