Cheb Najim is a Franco-Algerian Raï singer.
Cheb Najim mostly sings Raï styles of world music, with North-African Afro-Maghreb beats and Hip-Hop.
His real name is Najim Amari and he was born on January 18, 1985 near Paris to a French father and an Algerian mother. After the separation of his parents, he grew up in Algeria with his grandparents. At the age of six, Cheb Najim joined the choir in his village and this is how he started singing at weddings and ‘Afrah’ and finally got noticed. In 2001, he obtained his High school French Baccalaureate degree, before returning to France.
Cheb Najim then gets noticed by famous producer Raoui Salah, author, composer and lyricist for known artists such as Cheb Khaled, Cheb Sahraoui and Chebba Zahouania. Under his leadership, Najim released his first album in 2004 entitled “Kunta Nhewess” with limited success.
He then recorded a second album “Saba” written and composed by Salah Rawi, and does many collaborations such as with the two French rapper Alibi Montana, and with the diva of Raï the late Sheikha Rimiti with whom he made the duet “Nrouhou Nzorou” a few days before her death. He also participated in the compilation Raïn’B Fever where he performed with artists such as Kenza Farah and Willy Denzey.