Cheb Khaled

Cheb Khaled (born Khaled Hadj Ibrahim, 29 February 1960) is an Algerian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist widely recognized as the "King of Raï". He is the bestselling Arabic-language singer in history, having sold over 80 million albums worldwide. He holds the Guinness World Record for the bestselling artist of raï music.

Key Biographical Facts

• Birthplace: Oran, Algeria
• Name Origin: "Cheb" means "young" in Arabic, a title traditionally given to youth-oriented raï performers. He officially dropped "Cheb" in 1992.
• Genre: Raï music, a style of Algerian folk music that he modernized by incorporating Western genres like rock, reggae, soul, and jazz.
• Relocation: Moved to France in 1988 due to threats from political extremists who targeted his secular lifestyle themes. He later naturalized as a Moroccan citizen and relocated to Tangier. 

Signature Global Hits

• "Didi" (1992): The breakout track produced by Don Was that made him an international superstar across Europe, Asia, and the Arab world.
• "Aïcha" (1996): A multi-platinum French-Arabic ballad that remains one of the most recognizable Arabic crossover songs.
• "C'est la vie" (2012): Produced by RedOne, this dance-pop track earned over 700 million views on YouTube and topped European club charts.