Ĭheb Khaled performing at the 7th annual Concert for Tolerance in Agadir (2012). A smash in Europe, once again it did little business in the U.S. 2000 brought Kenza and a change of producer, as former prog rocker Steve Hillage helped bring a more organic feel to the proceedings. It was the biggest Algerian show ever staged in France and left no doubt that Khaled remained Raï's hottest attraction. Perhaps the moment that justified his title of King of Raï, however, came in 1999, when he headlined the 1-2-3 Soleils concert in Paris (which led to the album of the same name), over Rachid Taha and Faudel. however, unlike France, where the album became Khaled's biggest success. While well-received critically, it sold little in the U.S. There was even some reggae on "Mektoubi," which merged relatively seamlessly with the North African sound. A mix of producers gave varying sounds, with French hip-hoppers Akhenton & Imhotep proving the hardest on the track "Oran Marseille" with its rapid-fire rap. In 1996, he hit again with Sahra, whose first single, "Aïcha," written for his daughter, gave Khaled a French number one hit. That was firmly cemented the following year with the Was-produced N'ssi N'ssi, which mixed funk, rock, and an Egyptian orchestra behind Khaled's persuasive voice and winning smile for a major commercial breakthrough in France, winning a European, as well as North African, audience. It yielded his first big hit, "Didi" and helped consolidate his reputation as Raï's first superstar. He fared much better with 1992's Khaled, with some tracks produced by Michael Brook and others by Don Was. Arriving with a reputation, he attempted to take his music to a global level, although his real debut, Kutche, did him no favors with its jazz-rock arrangements. Guitarist Steve Hillage produced many of Khaled's career.īy 1986, Khaled (who'd now dropped the Cheb) had been forced to move to Paris, as violence in Algeria claimed lives and he'd been threatened several times (producer Ahmed would, in fact, be murdered, as would several Raï performers). In the end, Rabah had to compensate Khaled for the fees during this case. This tape was recorded by Khaled and given to a producer located in Oran, 6 years before Cheb Rabah's record. But on, Court of Cassation removed the charges against Khaled, when a 1982 audio tape with the song was shown. On 3 April 2015, Khaled was convicted for plagiarism of Didi, from Angui ou Selmi, a musical composition recorded by Cheb Rabah (born Rabah Zerradine) in 1988. He was awarded Moroccan citizenship in August 2013, which he didn't ask for but accepted because he felt he could not refuse. His move to Luxembourg in 2008, where he's been residing ever since, has reportedly been motivated by these charges. On, Khaled was sentenced by the Nanterre criminal court to a two-month suspended prison sentence for "family desertion". Before a court in 2001, he denied being the father of the child, continuing to claim that he had been "deceived". Khaled has an illegitimate son with whom he has no contact. In 1998, the documentary Khaled: Derrière le sourire was produced, recounting his life. In 1997, his wife filed a complaint against him for domestic violence, before retracting. On 12 January 1995, Khaled married Samira Diabi, 27, has four daughters and one son. When a traditional Oranese poet wants to describe love, Khaled says he prefers to take a different approach. Khaled was a playboy and a partier, even rejecting the polite traditions of Algeria's poetry. Khaled Hadj Ibrahim was born in 1960 in Oran's Eckmühl neighborhood, Algeria. On 16 October 2003, Khaled was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Khaled performed ‘ Didi’ at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. Khaled is considered one of the most-selling Arab singers of all time. This turned him into one of the bestselling Arabic singing artists in history.
To date, Khaled has sold over 80.5 million albums (10 diamond, platinum, and gold) worldwide.
Khaled was named top 50 Voices in the World by NPR. His most famous songs are " Didi", "El Arbi", " Abdel Kader", " La Poupée qui fait non", "Wahran Wahran", "Bakhta", " Aïcha" and " C'est la vie" as well as "Alech Taadi", which was prominently featured in the 1997 film The Fifth Element. And with 10 diamond, platinum, and gold albums, as well as the highest-selling Arab album in history ( 1,2,3 Soleils), he's the star all other rai singers aspire to be. Khaled helped transform the rai music in his native Algeria, and then went on to make it a part of the global music scene.