The 90s might have been the golden age of Rai, but the 2000s were officially its renaissance. The genre, which dates back to the 1920s in Algeria, is still thriving. Although earlier tracks carry a more folk-inspired sound, the sound of Rai has massively transformed with time.
With the emergence of autotune in the 80s, and the rise of the electric guitar, Rai took a more modern twist. And as the years have passed, it’s still shape-shifting and adapting to modern sounds. From Cheb Khaled’s pop take on ‘C’est La Vie’ to Rachid Taha’s ‘Ecoute Moi Camarade’, these are the most modern sounding Rai tracks to listen to.
