Legendary singer Chaka Khan is never one to mince words, and her latest interview is no exception.
In response to Rolling Stone’s The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list, which was released in January and listed the “I’m Every Woman” singer at number 29, Khan dished on her feelings about some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Mariah Carey #5, Adele at #22 and Mary J. Blige at #25.
In an interview with Andrew Goldman on his The Originals podcast for Los Angeles Magazine, the 70-year-old did not hold back when discussing her opinion of these artists.
“I didn’t even know what the hell you were talking about, so obviously this don’t mean a great deal to me,” she started. “These people don’t quantify or validate me in any way.”
“That must be payola or some sh*t like that,”,” she said about Carey’s ranking.
When told about Adele’s ranking, Khan said: “OK, I quit.”
And for Blige, Khan said, “They need hearing aids,” before referring to the creators of the list as blind and children of Helen Keller.
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Social media has been buzzing with reactions from fans of Chaka Khan and the other artists mentioned in response to her comments.
One user wrote, “Y’all mad at Chaka Khan for talking how y’all talk on this app everyday?”
Y’all mad at Chaka Khan for talking how y’all talk on this app everyday? pic.twitter.com/VrnpH8yxsw
— £amarcus (@__RaMaL) March 2, 2023
One said, “Chaka Khan is from an generation of black artists who say it from their chest and don’t care. Aretha, Whitney, Prince, Patti, Dionne Warwick, etc. y’all are really carrying.”
Chaka Khan is from an generation of black artists who say it from their chest and don’t care.
Aretha, Whitney, Prince, Patti, Dionne Warwick, etc.
y’all are really carrying.
— Boochie Da Sleeze. (@stawpfeenin) March 2, 2023
Another wrote, “Listen, I learned with my momma not to ask a Black woman who is 60+ her opinion because they don’t care about your feelings or your faves. Asking Stephanie Mills and Chaka Khan about other singers was asking for ultimate violence.”
Listen, I learned with my momma not to ask a Black woman who is 60+ her opinion because they don’t care about your feelings or your faves. Asking Stephanie Mills and Chaka Khan about other singers was asking for ultimate violence.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 3, 2023
One said, “It’s crazy because @MariahCarey has done nothing but shown love to Chaka Khan. She’s always respected her elders. Chaka has always been weird to Mariah but we love everybody.”
It’s crazy because @MariahCarey has done nothing but shown love to Chaka Khan. She’s always respected her elders. Chaka has always been weird to Mariah but we love everybody. pic.twitter.com/hynurlrSUW
— RO ALMIGHTY
?? (@_romeko) March 3, 2023
Another defended Khan saying, “I’m with Chaka Khan in that ain’t no fuckin way a white artist, influenced by & essentially performing Black music, should be regarded higher than those who laid the framework for their sound & ultimate success. The Blueprints should rank higher for the groundbreaking of it all.”
I’m with Chaka Khan in that ain’t no fuckin way a white artist, influenced by & essentially performing Black music, should be regarded higher than those who laid the framework for their sound & ultimate success.
The Blueprints should rank higher for the groundbreaking of it all
— O. B. C. T. (@savvyfatty) March 2, 2023
In the end, Khan said, “I refuse to be in a space where I look at my fellow artists and they’re pitting us against each other.”
