Cheb Hasni (born Hasni Chekroun on February 1, 1968 in Oran, Algeria, died September 29, 1994) was a performer of Algerian Ra?? music. He is popular across North Africa, having reached the height of his career in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was the son of a welder and grew up in a working class family where he was one of seven children. Hasni is most well known for his love songs, but he also dealt with taboo subjects such as divorce and alcohol. Beginning of Career Cheb Hasni was interested in performing from an early age. In an interview published in the French newspaper Lib??ration in 1992, Hasni recounted how "everyone knew me in our neighbourhood when I was a kid. I was always walking up the road with my school bag thrown off my shoulder, singing my head off." Hasni was also talented in football and a good student, but these traits were overshadowed by his musical interests. Hasni's first significant performance as a singer occurred when he attended a local wedding party, where the group led by the famous Naoui brothers was playing. Impressed by his voice, they invited him to perform on stage at a well-known cabaret, La Guinguette. The second major launching point in Hasni's career came shortly afterwards when a producer asked him to record with Ra?? performer Chaba Zahouania. During the summer of 1987 the pair recorded a provocative song by Algerian standards, "Beraka" ("The Shack"), gaining them much att
1 | Menghirek Entia Fi Dounia | Rough Guide to Rai |