Not only is Chaka Khan a legendary singer, praised for her powerful voice, she is also one of the most respected artists to ever perform. Her timeless catalog of music has influenced singers, like Mary J. Blige and the late Whitney Houston, and her reach has touched notable hip hop artists as well. One artist, Kanye West, used a sample from one of Khan’s songs for his breakthrough hit, “Through The Wire.” But now, years later, Khan is speaking out against the song. And her response is savage.
Two Certified Classics
During the 1980’s, it was hard to escape Chaka’s enchanting voice, with songs like”I’m Every Woman,” “Sweet Thing” and of course one of her most successful songs to date, “Through The Fire.” A legendary tale about the track, is that Khan sang it in one take! That’s no small feat for any artist, but with someone like Chaka, it’s definitively not hard to believe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymuWb8xtCsc
West must have known using a sample from Khan’s catalog would propel him to the front of the line, as one of the best new artists of the time, which it did.
However, the first time Khan heard West’s version, she was not happy. During an appearance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, when asked how she felt about the song, Khan kept it all the way 100:
“When it came out, […] I was pissed. I thought it was a little insulting. Not insulting: I thought it was stupid! If I’d known he was gonna do that, I would have said, ‘Hell no.’”
Ultimately, Khan didn’t initially express her dislike for the song because she still received royalties for the sample. Hopefully those royalties are still coming in, because she’s going to need them for an upcoming legal battle…
