Rachid Taha

Many artists — from the late Israeli diva Ofra Haza to Algerian pop-rai star Cheb Khaled — have taken the traditional sounds of the Middle East and “updated” them into hits on the dance charts. Yet few of these artists have married this exotic rhythm to an even more aggressive sound. Algerian-born singer Rachid Taha has done just that — creating a true fusion between rai and rock and other world music styles. It ’s a sound that can be heard in discos from Algeria to Turkey and beyond. Its foundation is the complex rhythms of North Africa and the Middle East. Yet, these beats have been transformed by synthesizers, drum machines, raucous guitars and electronic sampling. The result is a dance music that has proven immensely popular with contemporary audiences — yet has its roots in some of the world ’s oldest music.

"Rachid Taha is determined to pluck the rhythm and energy of North African dance music out of the bazaar — and into the rock and pop charts." – GloboBeat