Cheb Hasni

Cheb Hasni, born Hasni Chakroun, (1 February 1968 – 29 September 1994), was an Algerian raï singer. He was popular across the Maghreb, 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 best known for his love songs, but he also dealt with taboo subjects such as divorce, romance, and alcohol. He was murdered in 1994. Hasni's controversial lyrical content (particularly those on the 1987 hit song "El Baraka", which contained lyrics about drunken sexual intercourse) had drawn the ire of fanatic Islamist fundamentalists in Algeria and it is believed he was murdered as a result.
Early career
Born in Oran, Algeria, Cheb Hasni was interested in performing from an early age. In an interview published in the French newspaper Libération 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'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 Raï performer Chaba Zahouania.
During the summer of 1987, the pair recorded a provocative song by Algerian standards, "Beraka" ("The Shack"), gaining them much attention. The subjects of his songs were controversial and made the song popular with Algerian youth, who contributed to the song's estimated sales of one million copies. The success of "Beraka" made Hasni famous, and a controversial subject with both critics and fanatic fundamentalists already concerned over the popularity of the Raï genre. Another major hit was "El Visa" a song about migration, which sold approximately 250,000 cassettes.
Fame
Like many other Raï artists based in Algeria, Cheb Hasni spent more time performing abroad (giving concerts everywhere from Paris, Marseilles, and Boston to Washington DC, Tunis, Casablanca, and Tokyo, to name a few cities) than at home, due to curfews and musical restrictions in Algeria at the time. Hasni's last concert in his native country was on 5 July 1993, when he performed to an audience of over 150,000 fans in Algiers at an event organised to celebrate Algerian independence.
Hasni became one of the most prolific artists on the Raï scene, recording around 100 cassettes during his career. His distinctive "Raï love" style soon inspired imitators, notably Cheb Nasro, who launched his career in 1988 with the hit "Pour te faire plaisir".
Death
Hasni's fame and controversial songs led to him receiving death threats from Islamic fundamentalist extremists. His primary residence remained in Oran, even though his family lived in the safer environment of France. On 29 September 1994, he was the first raï musician to be murdered, outside his parents' home in the Gambetta district of Oran.
His death came amid other violent actions against notable Maghrebi performers. A few days before his death, the Kabyle Berber singer Lounès Matoub was abducted by the GIA. The following year, on 15 February 1995, Raï producer Rachid Baba-Ahmed was assassinated in Oran.
Legacy
Cheb Hasni is considered a luminary in the field of raï music. With a musical talent that defied boundaries and an artistry that touched the depths of the soul, Hasni's profound impact continues to transcend the boundaries of time. Nearly three decades since his untimely departure, the allure of his musical compositions remains as potent as ever, ensnaring the hearts of listeners and serving as an everlasting wellspring of inspiration for countless musicians and devoted fans across generations.
In every note and lyric, Cheb Hasni wove a tapestry of emotions that spoke directly to the core of the human experience. His melodies, like delicate brushstrokes on a canvas, painted vibrant landscapes of love, longing, and resilience. With a voice that effortlessly evoked the joys and sorrows of existence, he left an indelible mark on the hearts of those who hold the raï genre dear.
Indeed, Hasni's artistry occupies a sacred space within the collective consciousness of raï enthusiasts. His compositions, infused with raw emotion and delivered with unwavering authenticity, have become an integral part of the genre's narrative. They persist as a resounding testament to his undeniable brilliance, transcending not only borders but also cultures and generations.
The enduring resonance of Cheb Hasni's musical opus is a testament to his extraordinary legacy. His songs continue to traverse the globe, touching the lives of individuals who may not even share the same language or cultural background. Through his immortal creations, he forged connections that surpass the limitations of time and place, uniting souls in shared moments of joy, reflection, and catharsis.
As we celebrate the lasting impact of Cheb Hasni's artistry, we bear witness to the truth that his artistic influence will be perpetuated for years to come. His spirit lives on in the hearts of those who cherish his music, inspiring new generations of musicians to create, innovate, and strive for greatness. Cheb Hasni's legacy, an iridescent tapestry woven from the threads of passion and talent, will forever hold its place in the annals of musical history, ensuring that his name remains an eternal flame illuminating the path for those who follow in his footsteps.
Discography
1986 : Barraka (feat Zehwania)
1987 : Ila Ajbek Ezzine
1987 : Issèlou aalik è oomri
1987 : S'hab elbaroud
1987 : Hè bouya, llila mè tefrèchi
1988 : Nbellaa bèbi
1988 : Ma dannitch netfèrkou
1988 : Ssadda nass ellil
1988 : Aadyèni bezzèf (Feat Noria)
1988 : C'est fini aalik yè mehhenti
1988 : Moul el cabaret (Feat Abd Elhakk)
1988 : Netrajja f elhèbib
1989 : Sid elkadi
1989 : Bayda mon amour v1
1989 : Moulèt essag ddrif
1989 : Enroh maak laaziza
1989 : Chchira lli nebriha dima ybènli khyèl'ha
1990 : Adieu l'amour
1990 : "Tèlbouni hetta f echchira"
1990 : Saadek tzouwwejti
1990 : Aalèch rani maadeb
1990 : Chkoune irabbili weldi
1990 : Èna barkèni, ènas kilouni
1990 :Love me say
1990 : Rah Ben Bella l essaddam (Single)
1991 : J'ai mal au cœur
1991 : Lmossiba kharja m e lycée
1991 : Chlèrmek deggouni (Feat Zohra)
1991 : Elli zahreh mè yendamchi (Single)
1991 : Tout l' monde est là
1991 : Wellah mè kount dèyrek passager
1991 : Mon Premier Amour
1991 : Dis moi ha zzarga
1991 : Ssaraha raha
1991 : Hdartou fiya ou goultou mèt (3 titres de hasni et 3 titres de nasro)
1991 : Elli dlamni wellah mani msèmheh
1991 : Charaatni
1991 : Nediha meryoula
1991 : C'est pas la peine
1991 : Rabta lhenna
1992 : Ghir dommage
1992 : Tlabti lfrèk
1992 : Oran la france
1992 : Ghir mè tebkich
1992 : Aakkar
1992 : C'est fini
1992 : Tal ryèbek yè rzèli
1992 : Choufi oomri cha sra
1993 : Rani khellithè lek èmèna
1993 : Mè nnejemch eniich d eliicha
1993 : C est la logique yè bent ennès
1993 : Hebbitek mè s'elt ennès
1993 : Dèymen enwassik
1993 : Ki nchouf'ha yerkebni lhbèl
1993 : Guaa ennsa
1993 : Hekmet aalia rrab elaali (feat Zèhia)
1993 : Mani mani
1993 : Tebki wella mè tebkich
1993 : Enfin lkit elli tefhemni
1993 : Brit èna nchoufek
1993 : Rani Mourak
1993 : Nti sbèb rbinti
1994 : Guaa errjèl elli kèyen
1994 : Aeadouya megh'yar
1994 : Ddèteh emmigré
1994 : Khawwefni rjouaak
1994 : Meddit aahdi, ça y'est c'est fini
1994 : Saàdini (Feat Sorya Kinane, & Bouzid Abdelghani)
1994 : Ma bkatch elhedda
1994 : Aalèch yè aayniyya
1994 : Rabbi ltof biya
1994 : Iridoni bnèt ennès (Single)
1994 : Aaayit ensaleh, aayit neddareb
1994 : Srat biyya kassa
1994 : Rani nèdem aalè liyyèm
1994 : Rani marra hna ou marra lhih
References
External links
"Hasni une légende a l image de l Algerie"
« Cheb Hasni, une legende a l'image de l'Algerie »
"Cheb Hasni, histoire d'une tragédie"
"biographie de Cheb Hasni"
1968 births
1994 deaths
Assassinated Algerian people
People murdered in Algeria
Raï musicians
20th-century Algerian male singers