Nacer, Cheb
Maroc Electronique, Vol. 1
In the heart of 1990s Morocco, Cheb Nacer brought a new breeze to the popular music scene. Born in Oujda, he grew up surrounded by raï, staïfi and chaâbi before moving to Casablanca, where he blended these roots with the electronic sounds filling cabarets and clubs. Inspired by the international clips broadcast on 2M and RTM, he reimagined European hits in darija, creating a hybrid, dance-driven sound. OléOléOlé became a national hit, carried by bright synths and playful energy far from the sentimental pop dominating the airwaves. Between 1993 and 2006, he released a string of tapes, shows and hits, defining his unique style: spontaneous, raw and festive techno-raï born in studios, living rooms and wedding halls. Cheb Nacer embodied an era when the lines between cabaret and club blurred, when music circulated freely and reinvented itself without rules. Decades later, his songs still echo as the soundtrack of a generation tuned into global waves free, curious, and proud to dance their own way.