Rachid (singer)

Rasheed A. Bell, better known by his stage name Rachid, is an American singer-songwriter and music producer. He is the son of founding Kool & the Gang member Ronald Bell. He achieved a top 40 hit on the Dance Club Songs chart with his debut single, "Pride".

Early life and education

Rachid is one of ten children of Ronald Bell, who was a co-founding member of R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang. Raised in Hillside, New Jersey, Rachid graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1996.

Career

Rachid signed with Universal Records in 1995. On June 16, 1998, Rachid released his debut solo album Prototype on Universal Records. It was noted for its mix of a range of musical genres, along with thoughtful lyrics. His singing was compared to Prince. The album's lead single "Pride", released in February 1998, peaked at number 33 on Billboard magazine's US Dance Club Songs chart and number 89 on the UK Singles Chart. The album release also included a French-language single, "Requiem Pour Un Con", a song written by Serge Gainsbourg. He performed in New York City and London to promote the album.
In early 2007, Rachid changed his stage name to Rasalus, a name he credited to abandoning his Islamic religion. Rasalus released an extended play titled My Name is Rasalus, exclusively in Germany. From 2013 to 2019, he performed the under the stage name "Râ" and released a series of singles: "Whatever It Takes", "Fade Away", and "Too Late". In 2023, he returned to using his stage name Rachid.