Chaka Khan (The Queen of Funk & Prince Collaborator)

The legendary “Queen of Funk” whose massive hit “I Feel for You” brought Prince’s songwriting to the mainstream, followed by a deep creative and personal relationship that culminated in a full album release on NPG Records in 1998.

OVERVIEW

Chaka Khan (born Yvette Marie Stevens, March 23, 1953) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician widely regarded as one of the greatest R&B and funk vocalists of all time. She first rose to fame as the lead singer of Rufus in the 1970s before enjoying a highly successful solo career.

PRINCE CONNECTION Prince wrote “I Feel for You” in 1979. Chaka’s 1984 cover (featuring Prince on harmonica and backing vocals) became a global smash hit.

Their collaboration deepened in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1998, Prince invited Chaka to record a full project together. The result was Come 2 My House, released on NPG Records (July 21, 1998). Prince co-produced the majority of the album, played instruments throughout, and co-wrote ten of the thirteen tracks. Chaka co-wrote and co-produced much of the material as well.

Chaka joined Prince and Larry Graham on the 1998 Newpower Soul Festival Tour (also referred to as part of the Jam of the Year Tour), performing as a support act and special guest. They performed together on stage, including renditions of “I Feel for You” and “Sweet Thing.”

KEY RELEASES WITH PRINCE

• “I Feel for You” (1984) – Prince-written smash hit

• CK (1988) – Prince produced/wrote several tracks

• Come 2 My House (1998) – Full album on NPG Records, co-produced with Prince

• Various live performances (1998 tour)

STAGE WORK & LATER CAREER Chaka Khan has maintained an iconic career spanning five decades, with 10 Grammy Awards. She continues to tour and record. After Prince’s passing, she has paid frequent and heartfelt tribute to him, referring to him affectionately as her “little brother.”

WHY THEY MATTER TO THE PRINCE UNIVERSE Chaka Khan was one of the few established superstars Prince worked with extensively. Their 1998 album Come 2 My House on NPG Records stands as a major late-’90s collaboration, and her appearances on the 1998 tour helped promote Prince’s independent label vision. She remains one of the most important and respected voices connected to Prince’s legacy.

SOURCES Prince Vault, Wikipedia, Discogs, official Chaka Khan statements, Goldies Parade.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.