Ya-Rayi


's Ya-Rayi is his fifth studio album that was first released in Europe in August 2004 by AZ Records, a label of Universal Music France, and later licensed in UK, and then reissued in United States on June 27, 2005. The European release was dubbed a "back to the roots" album, while the United States release was dubbed a "peace through music" album.
The album includes remakes of El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka's "El-H'mam" and Rabah Driassa and Blaoui Houari's "H'mama" and features noted Algerian pianist Maurice El Mediouni on tracks "Mani Hani" and "H'mama" with Don Was producing the title track.

Track listing

  1. "Mani Hani"
  2. "Ya-Rayi"
  3. "Zine Zina"
  4. "El-H'mam"
  5. "Lemen"
  6. "Ya Galbi"
  7. "H'mama"
  8. "Ensa El Hem"
  9. "Hagda"
  10. "El Ghira"
  11. "El-H'mam"
In the UK the Universal Music France album was licensed unchanged to Wrasse Records with the French album track listing and an extra DVD of music clips. The Wrasse Records release included the original French booklet with Arabic sung texts in French romanization and studio notes in French, but with a CD backing tray insert in English.