Mohamed Khelifati, aka Cheb Mami, is arguably more than anyone responsible for popularising raï—Algeria’s politically charged brand of folk music—beyond his homeland’s borders. He’s best known internationally for “Desert Rose”, his epic duet with pop-rock superstar Sting. But Mami’s oeuvre also showcases raï’s fast-paced and musically inclusive nature (“Le Rai C’est Chic”) as well as its revolutionary patriotism (“Bledi”). Once dubbed “The Little Prince of Raï”—a reference to his physical stature—he’s now its undisputed king.