Khaled Hadj Brahim, who performs as Khaled, grew up in Oran, Algeria. He started singing at local festivals and weddings, and put out his first album, 'Kheir Menni,' in 1980. His music is built on rai, a traditional Algerian style, but he often works it into pop arrangements that have reached listeners far beyond North Africa.
In 1992, he released the self-titled album 'Khaled,' which included the track 'El Arbi.' That record helped introduce his sound to a much wider international audience. Some of his best-known songs are 'Aïcha,' 'Ya Rayah,' and 'Elle Est Partie', tracks that have been staples in his setlists for years.
He has kept recording and performing steadily since, putting out albums like 'Sahra' in 1996, 'El Harba Wine' in 1999, and 'Algérie Mon Amour' in 2018.
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