Chaka Khan: Funks Hip-Hop

Born Yvette Marie Stevens, Chaka Khan, who changed her name while working as a teen for the Black Panthers as part of their Free Breakfast For Children program, is a modern day entertainment icon. From her group work as part of Rufus to her hugely successful solo career, she’s worked with everyone from Prince to […]

Born Yvette Marie Stevens, Chaka Khan, who changed her name while

working as a teen for the Black Panthers as part of their Free Breakfast For

Children program, is a modern day entertainment icon. From her group work as

part of Rufus to her hugely successful solo career, she’s worked with everyone

from Prince to Mary J. Blige, and her final product is always of a high

standard.

 

If it’s not her undeniable musical prowess, it’s her willingness to give

back that sets her apart from the rest of the pack. Not only is Chaka always prepared

to help other musicians when called upon – her song “Through The Fire”

was resurrected with her permission when Kanye West sampled it on his debut

smash “Through The Wire.”

 

Chaka also has her very own charity Foundation. Formed in 1999, the Chaka

Khan Foundation helps women and children in crisis. Chaka has taken part in

many benefits dedicated to the conquering of AIDS and HIV prevention. Basically

she’s someone who wants to give back.

 

Returning with a new album, which has already won two Grammy Awards,

Chaka Khan has teamed up with virtuoso production team Jimmy Jam & Terry

Lewis to bring us Funk This. AllHipHop.com Alternatives managed

to catch a bit of time with the legendary lady of soul on a quick promo trip to

the UK.

 

AllHipHop.com

Alternatives: It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything new from you. Why

did you decide to release an album now?

 

Chaka

Khan: It really wasn’t that I decided to do an album now. I’ve courted a few

labels over a ten-year period, and then I decided things weren’t really right

for me. So I continued to work on the road to pay the bills, and then finally a

label came to me and wanted to sign me. They were a great label, very

supportive and very helpful. Like many of my previous labels, they tried to

find me the right producers to work with, which they couldn’t.

 

Then my

sister/manager Tammy said, “Why don’t we take Jam & Lewis up on their offer

that they want to work with you?” We had been talking about it for years in

passing, but had never laid anything down. Finally they moved from Minneapolis

to Santa Monica, right up the street from me, and I paid them a visit. I asked

them if they’d be interested in working with me. They were very interested, and

then that’s where the new album started.

 

AHHA: Funk

This contains a few covers and some of your own records. How did the

concept come about that you were going to do the album this way?

 

Chaka

Khan:

I have so many songs that have accumulated over the years, and we

wanted to make sure that this album had some chance at commercial success. So,

some of the covers are for that reason. We picked only the best, without

sticking to a theme. There is a sort of underlining theme to the album but it’s

very hidden. I don’t even know what it is.

 

Everything

just goes together nicely. I wanted it to go back to me and my authentic roots,

the organic Chaka Khan. Basically what made people fall in love with me in the

first place was hearing me with Rufus doing live music on a board with live

musicians, as opposed to doing it via the internet and what not.

AHHA: Following

the US release of the album you won two Grammy Awards for it. How does it feel

to still be winning Grammy’s this far in to your career?

 

Chaka

Khan: It’s special. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to have even

been nominated. I mean…I was expecting something from this album; I just wasn’t

sure what. I didn’t expect to win two Grammy’s. I can tell you that for

nothing. All my friends were telling me I was going to win both. I was like,

“Yeah, right!” I was just happy to have even been acknowledged. I then gave it

no more thought and carried on working. And lo and behold I got them both. To

me, that was a sign that we did right by this album.

 

AHHA: You’ve

had a long and successful career in music. What would you say has been the key

to your success? What keeps you going?

 

Chaka

Khan: I mean c’mon, first of all it takes a certain amount of talent to stay

relevant. And people have to recognize that. They need to know it and feel it.

That’s part of it. I’ve paid my dues. I’ve paid a lot of dues in fact. I’ve

been through a lot and I think because of that people recognise that I am

authentic, at least in my musical communication. Other than that, I don’t

really look at it or think about it that much. I’m just thankful.

 

AHHA: While

some of today’s youngsters may not know who you are, especially in physical

form, you allowed Kanye West, who at the time was trying to get his music

heard, to sample your hit “Through The Fire.”

 

It was

definitely an important moment in music. You effectively helped kick start the

career of one of today’s most credible Hip-Hop artists. How did this come

about? Did you think it would help him? And how important do you think it is to

share samples with other artists?

 

Chaka

Khan:

I thought it would help him. I really did. I did for a whole different

reason though. He called me and asked me if he could use the song because he

had been in an amazing accident and my song helped him to recover. So how could

I say no? That was my primary reason for agreeing to it. Of course I didn’t

expect him to speed it up and make me sound like a chipmunk.

It wasn’t

until later I found out that his trademark was in fact speeding up older

records and using them on his tracks. I’m just glad I was of some assistance in

helping him get better. However, I do believe there should be a lot more

legislation when it comes to using other people’s music. If you can’t play the

music, then why bother? Be a DJ. That’s how I feel personally.

 

If you’re

going to be a musician, be a musician. Play it. Play the instrument or get

somebody that can to play it, because I think that things like Pro Tools and

other electronic recording equipment are made to enhance music that’s already

been done. It’s used to freak it, tweak it, whatever…

 

AHHA: Music

has changed a lot since you first burst on to the scene. So who is it that you

listen to?

 

Chaka

Khan: Through the years I’ve gone through five-year patches where I’ll be in

to five or six CD’s. That’s it. And I don’t really listen to music at home. I

like to listen to it in the car. So in my car right now I think there is Joni

[Mitchell], Miles [Davis] – “Tutu” is probably in there, Kim Burrell, Rahsaan

Patterson, Mica Paris. Oh, and I love Anthony Hamilton. He’s not in my car

though. I need to get him in my car. I’m really particular when it comes to

what I’m listening to. I don’t listen to the radio. Even satellite stuff I

don’t deal with. I hate being at the mercy of someone else’s selection. I have

to have my own. I can’t trash out my ears otherwise it messes with me. I need

music equilibrium.

 

AHHA: You’re

back in the UK promoting the new album, which includes a few performances, one

being at the O2 Arena. What is it about touring that you love so much?

 

Chaka

Khan:

That’s what it’s all about. At the end of the day it’s about

communicating person to person. It’s about the giving of yourself, the offering

of yourself, and then getting back whatever is given back to you. There’s

nothing like it. If you want to talk about something that’s addictive, then

performing is it. Just that feeling once you step on stage is enough to drive

you to do it over and over again.

 

AHHA: What’s

next for you?

 

Chaka

Khan: Well… working this CD to death, to the limit, working it to the

rafters, and doing all that I can to make a success of it. Then it’s back in to

the studio I go. I also have a Foundation, which I’m going to hook up with a

few key people here in the UK to help further it. It’s a Foundation that helps

children and women in crisis. We have an education initiative that we’re

working on right now. We also work with autism.Chaka Khan Performing at the Diesel xXx Party