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The traditional music of Algeria is combined with Spanish, Moroccan, French and Arabic influences to create the dance-inspiring sounds of "The Prince Of Rai", Cheb Mami (born: Khelifati Mohamed). Cheb Mami's music was described, as "Arabic rock and roll retaining virtues of traditional music but infused with urban urgency". Cheb Mami is one of the leaders of the pack, turning the genre into a futuristic dance/funk hybrid with the power to pack the dance floors of North Africa, Paris and New York".
A native of Saida, a small village in southwest Algeria, Cheb Mami has been attracting attention with his soulful singing since his early teens.
Despite recording several successful cassettes in the 1980s, he made little money from their sale. Frustrated by the music industry in his homeland, he soon began to consider alternatives. Although he served a stint in the Algerian military, he relocated to Paris, France following his discharge in 1975.
With the release of his first internationally-distributed album, The Prince Of Rai, in 1989, Cheb Mami reached the upper echelon of rai music. |
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