Search - Khaled :: King of Rai

While it has a 1999 release date, this record has a sound that, free from the Western production gloss that characterized Kenza and Sahra, makes one wonder as to its age--and the lack of recording information offers no clue. However, it really is Khaled at his best, with a rawness in his voice, storming through "Ya El Hamam" over some funky pop-rai backing. The highlight of the album, however, has to be "Aia Mina," which is quite rootsy and acoustic and on which Khaled shows his melismatic vocals and truly earns his King of Rai title, the counterpart to the Queen, Cheikha Remitti. He can wail like a muezzin calling the faithful, and get as down and rough as the best soul singer, making him easily the best rai singer of his generation, bar none. This is some of Khaled's best recorded work. --Chris Nickson