«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 in a press release from the ARK 21 record label, as “Arabic rock & roll retaining virtues of traditional music but infused with urban urgency.” Reviewing his 1999 album, Meli Meli, CMJ New Music Report wrote, “As perhaps Rai's most popular vocalist, 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 dancefloors 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. In 1971, he placed second in a talent contest organized by Ihan Wa Chabab. 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. Cheb Mami has continued to take the Rai tradition to new heights.
One of the finest records of the wildly-heralded “Rai” movement, Meli Meli is a true vocal lovers record. Mami's voice is one of the most versatile and powerful in world-pop music today. His three-octave range is truly something to behold, and his use of it on such songs as "H'Rabti" and "Parisien Du Nord" (performed with rap singer K-Mel of Alliance Ethnique ) and others will leave you breathless. Originally released to platinum success in France, Meli Meli is an awesome document that shows why Mami is one of the most respected middle-Eastern artists in existence today.”» (AMG)
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http://sharebee.com/fa9580d4
Dear Radu,
We’re Late For Class here. Thanks for posting A Collection last year. We don’t pester our blogging buddies for space every time we release something. But, for #40 - a 2-CD best of called Another Collection, we thought we might ask. Blogroll links are the best, as that’s about our only source of traffic. #40 is streaming and available for FREE download on our blog...
http://werelateforclass.blogspot.com/
You can post #40 Another Collection, if you’d like. We’ve even made it easy by creating a page with codes to our animated artwork and MP3 players so your readers can hear ALL of both CDs (listening on YOUR blog, not redirected). There’s even some text if you don’t want to bother writing it up. Just copy and paste whatever you want. Naturally, we’d be VERY thankful. And, in the future, when our species comes to rule this planet, your name will be on the protected scrolls so that no harm will come to you...
http://werelateforclass.blogspot.com/2007/04/codes-for-posting-40-another-collection.html
As Always... Thanks,
We’re Late For Class
http://werelateforclass.blogspot.com/
He's just been sentenced to five years in jail for assaulting his pregnant girlfriend with two accomplices and forced her to abort...
I didn't know that, what a sad story. Anyway, I won't remove the post. If the man isn't flawless, after all he's paying for his crime. So, I guess he doesn't need a second judgement.
For We're Late For Class: I've just added you to my blogroll. sorry for the delay. Cheers!
Far out, I didnt know that about Cheb either....terrible thing to be involved in.
Anyhows, thanks for the great up man, been looking for this one for some time.
Cheers from Bondi Beach,Austraia!
I forgot my manners! I downloaded this ages ago & have been enjoying it ever since. I just realised I had forgotten to thank you.
The news about Cheb Mami is sad and disturbing, but artists are often very different from the work they produce.
You know Cheb Mami was spotted by Boualem, the producer of the Oran label, Disco Maghreb, and the cassette waltz began
Oh my god, there's so much effective information above!
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