Sting and Algerian musician Cheb Mami collaborated on the song "Desert Rose" which combines Western pop music with North African rai music. The song was released in 1999 as part of Sting's album "Brand New Day" and became a worldwide hit, helping introduce Western audiences to rai music from Algeria. "Desert Rose" blends Sting's vocals with Mami's rai-influenced vocals and instrumentation including Arabic lyrics to create a cross-cultural fusion that brought greater exposure to North African musical traditions.