Cheb Youcef (b. Youcef Boukella), was a bass player for Ahmed Khelifati Mohamed (aka Cheb Mami) & continued as a soloist. Released in 1998, his début solo album, Sheik Sidi Flat, was a major hit in France. The recording of the multi-artist compilation, Night and Day, voted Best World Music Recording by the French newspaper Liberation. Youcef began his musical career as the bass player for Warzon and T34, two of the first Arabic rock bands. He moved to Paris in the late '80s.