Rachid (singer)
Rachid | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rasheed A. Bell |
| Also known as | Rasalus, Râ |
| Born | 1973 or 1974 (age 51–52) New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Universal |
Rasheed A. Bell (born in 1973 or 1974[1][2]), better known by his stage name Rachid, is an American singer-songwriter and music producer.[3] He is the son of founding Kool & the Gang member Ronald Bell.[4] He achieved a top 40 hit on the Dance Club Songs chart with his debut single, "Pride" (1998).
Early life and education
[edit]Rachid is one of ten children of Ronald Bell, who was a co-founding member of R&B/funk band Kool & the Gang.[4] Raised in Hillside, New Jersey,[5] Rachid graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1996.[1][6]
Career
[edit]Rachid signed with Universal Records in 1995.[2] On June 16, 1998, Rachid released his debut solo album Prototype on Universal Records.[7][8] It was noted for its mix of a range of musical genres, along with thoughtful lyrics.[9][10] His singing was compared to Prince.[11] 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.[12][13] The album release also included a French-language single, "Requiem Pour Un Con" (Requiem For A Fool), a song written by Serge Gainsbourg.[1] He performed in New York City and London to promote the album.[14][15]
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.[16] From 2013 to 2019, he performed the under the stage name "Râ" and released a series of singles: "Whatever It Takes" (2018), "Fade Away" (2019), and "Too Late" (2019). In 2023, he returned to using his stage name Rachid.
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Prototype |
|
| My Name is Rasalus |
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [12] |
UK [13] |
UK R&B [13] |
UK Dance [13] | |||
| "Pride" | 1998 | 33 | 89 | 31 | 26 | Prototype |
| "Requiem Pour Un Con" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Charade" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Zoe's World" | 1999 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Whatever It Takes" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Fade Away" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | |
| "Too Late" | — | — | — | — | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Universal's Rachid Aimed at Multiple Formats and Nations". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 7. February 14, 1998. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Hardy, Ernest (July 2, 1998). "Behind the Mask...a man named Rachid". LA Weekly. Vol. 20, no. 31. pp. 32–34. Retrieved July 6, 2025 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- ^ Paoletta, Michael (February 14, 1998). "Rachid Prototype". CMJ New Music Monthly. Vol. 57. p. 46. ISSN 1074-6978. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Kool & The Gang's Ronald 'Khalis' Bell Dead At 68. BET. Retrieved on May 1, 2025
- ^ Lustig, Jay. "Son 'cherishes' his father", The Star-Ledger, March 6, 1998. Accessed May 7, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Rachid, who grew up in Hillside and now lives in New York, is a musical omnivore."
- ^ "Archived News: Black History Month Concerts" (PDF). Sarah Lawrence College. February 20, 1999. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ Rachid - Prototype (Overview). AllMusic. Retrieved on May 1, 2025
- ^ Ratliff, Ben (December 14, 1998). "Pop Review; Not One More for the Road". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Producer of Kool & The Gang shows cool is long-term". Press and Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New York. October 1, 1998. p. 54. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Record Reviews: "Prototype," Rachid (Sony)". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. July 5, 1998. p. 21. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Phil (September 24, 1998). "Music: Poisonous, exhibitionist fluff - and I love it". The Independent. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b "Billboard Hot Dance Music". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 23. June 6, 1998. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Rachid UK Official Chart History. Official Charts. Retrieved on May 1, 2025
- ^ "Bucking the Trend: New R & B At Shine". Newsday. New York, New York. June 4, 1998. p. 133. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ "Silk, satin, sunglasses - and a comfort blanket". Evening Standard. London, England. October 1, 1998. p. 260. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
- ^ a b ""Rasheed Bell '96, Now Rasalus, Releases Brand New 5 Song EP and Will Perform in Brooklyn at BAM Cafe" (2007 - 2008 News and Announcements from Alums Archive)". Sarah Lawrence College. January 22, 2008. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
External links
[edit]- 1970s births
- 20th-century African-American male singers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American keyboardists
- 21st-century African-American male singers
- 21st-century American male singers
- 21st-century American keyboardists
- African-American male singer-songwriters
- African-American pianists
- African-American record producers
- African-American rock musicians
- African-American rock singers
- American contemporary R&B singers
- American funk keyboardists
- American funk singers
- American male pianists
- American male pop singers
- American male singer-songwriters
- American multi-instrumentalists
- American pop keyboardists
- American pop pianists
- American rhythm and blues keyboardists
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American rock keyboardists
- American rock pianists
- American rock singers
- American rock songwriters
- American soul keyboardists
- American soul singers
- Artists from New Jersey
- Musicians from Union County, New Jersey
- People from Hillside, New Jersey
- Progressive soul musicians
- Record producers from New Jersey
- Sarah Lawrence College alumni
- Singer-songwriters from New Jersey
- Universal Music Group artists
- Living people