It has indeed been a big year for Rai star, Cheb Mami. His collaboration with Sting, "Desert Rose," topped the charts around the globe, and led to television appearances on Saturday Night Live, the Today Show, Jay Leno, David Letterman, the Grammy Awards telecast and even a live performance at the Super Bowl. While American mainstream audiences may be new to jump on the Cheb Mami bandwagon, for a decade now he has been regarded as a true pop star in both France and North Africa with a groundbreaking Rai sound fusing reggae, salsa, funk, hip-hop, and North African rhythms. Even attaining a number one hit isn't new ground for Mami, whose Rai-rap duet with French hip-hopper darted to the top of French charts in 1999.

"Dellali" is Cheb Mami's first release since the "Desert Rose" phenomemon, and an eagerly awaited follow-up to Mami's 1999 international smash, "Meli Meli". Dubbed the "Prince of Rai," the young energetic Algerian native burst on the Paris recording scene 12 years ago. In fact, this may indeed be the record that allows Mami to challenge Khaled's title of "Rai's king." "Delalli" ("Dearest One") is Mami's most consistent recording to date, full of state-of-the-art productions. Joining Mami in the studio is veteran producer Nile Rodgers (whose resume includes work for Peter Gabriel, David Bowie and Diana Ross). The opening track, "Le Rai C'est Chic," is an energetic dance track featuring Mami's biggest fan, Sting, on backing vocals and is destined to get most of the mainstream media attention (and radio airplay). What is most remakable about "Dellali" is that on the whole, it stands along with some of Khaled's classic recordings such as "Sahra" and "N'ssi N'ssi" as one of the best rai recordings ever.

Ever since Mami burst on the explosive French Rai scene a decade ago, he has been mesmerizing audiences and packing concert halls from Paris to Marseille - thousands are eager to see the diminutive Algerian singer with one of the world's most dynamic voices. Throughout this period, his albums, always top-notch rai recordings, never managed to live up to the experiences of the sweat drenched French night clubs - until now. "Dellali" is a non-stop exploration of Mami's remarkable range. With "Viens Habibi", he puts together a brilliant mix of electric-guitar-driven rai, funk, and reggae, while on the tender "Tzazae", he returns to rai's roots in an acoustic production set to accordion, violin, and Indian tabla. Mami seamlessly darts between Rai and French chanson on the romantic "Yahamami" and even brings in a gospel choir on "Ana Oualache". There is also a fresh new version of one of Mami's first hits, the energetic "Haoulou" - now fused with a Spanish guitar riff. "Dellali" is sure to be a major hit in French night clubs - with luck, the American market may be next.

Contributed by: Dan Rosenberg for www.afropop.org