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Cheb Mami
Artist profile

Cheb Mami

Cheb Mami, born Mohamed Khelifati, came up in the rai scene of Oran, Algeria. He started putting out records in the late 1980s, with early albums like 'Le Raï...

album27 lyric pages photo_library1 photo groups17 listeners here now Editor's note live
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
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Sid 'Taleb Video on page · 9 visits arrow_forward Ana Oualache Video on page · 4 visits arrow_forward Azwaw Video on page · 4 visits arrow_forward Clando Video on page · 4 visits arrow_forward Così Celeste Video on page · 4 visits arrow_forward Desert Rose (com Sting) Video on page · 4 visits arrow_forward
Editor's note

Cheb Mami brought Algerian rai to the world.

The Oran-born singer who fused rai with pop, most famously on 'Desert Rose' with Sting.

For the crossover, obviously 'Desert Rose'. For the rai purist stuff, try 'Ana Oualache', it's all there.

His voice gave a global audience its first real taste of Algerian rai. The Sting collaboration 'Desert Rose' was everywhere in the late '90s, but his own songs like 'Ana Oualache' show the raw, local style he came from. He never stopped making rai records, even after the crossover hit.

He started in Oran, putting out albums like 'Le Raï C'est Chic' in the late '80s. The 'Desert Rose' moment in 1996 changed his reach, but he kept recording through the 2000s with albums such as 'Dellali'. His career has also been shadowed by serious legal issues, including prison time and assault cases.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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27 lyric pages live 1 photo available Editor's note live Video on page
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Cheb Mami
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Cheb Mami, born Mohamed Khelifati, came up in the rai scene of Oran, Algeria. He started putting out records in the late 1980s, with early albums like 'Le Raï C'est Chic' and 'Parisien du Nord' establishing his place in that world.

His sound reached a much wider audience in 1996 when he worked with Sting on 'Desert Rose.' The track became a global hit, pulling his Algerian vocal style into Western pop. He followed it with his own album of the same name in 1999, and kept recording through the 2000s with releases like 'Dellali' and 'Médina.'

Alongside his better-known crossover work, he has a deep catalog of rai material. Songs like 'Ajlissou (Fil Makha)' and 'Ana Oualache' show the style he built his early reputation on. His career has been marked by significant legal troubles, including a prison sentence in the late 1990s and more recent assault allegations in France.

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Where should I start with Cheb Mami on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Sid 'Taleb, Ana Oualache, and Azwaw so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Cheb Mami?

LyroVerse currently has 27 visible lyric pages for Cheb Mami.

Does Cheb Mami have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 1 photo available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Cheb Mami?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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