Former Black Panther Chaka Khan has vowed to never perform at any political conventions again, including for the Black Lives Matter movement, explaining that “every life matters.”
The 71-year-old singer, whose real name is Yvette Marie Stevens, said she would not get involved in the anti-racism campaign that began after the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, United States, in 2020.
“All lives matter, let’s make that clear,” he told the Telegraph. “After all the shit I’ve seen when someone comes along and realizes that every life matters, I think: They’re finally realizing that, even if it’s black lives.”
Despite having performed at Republican and Democratic events in the past, he has now criticized politics as “a sick, powerful thing that needs to be eliminated.”
The only campaign the great-grandmother plans to participate in now is to raise money for her foundation that supports autistic people and speak to schoolchildren aged between five and 14 to help provide them with “inspiration”.
Former Black Panther Chaka Khan has vowed not to perform at any political conventions again.
Despite having performed at Republican and Democratic events in the past, the 71-year-old singer has now criticized politics as “a sick, powerful thing that needs to be eliminated.”
Khan praised Beyoncé’s latest concept album, Cowboy Carter, which was released two weeks ago.
But back in the 1970s she had been involved in the Black Panther movement. She was recruited when she was just 14 years old to hand out leaflets, inspired by her father, who participated in civil rights marches.
Throughout her career, Khan, who now lives in Georgia, has fought and overcome racism within the music industry, criticizing “the totally racist decision” made by Island Records to remove her vocals from Addicted to Love.
The singer had recorded the 1986 duet with Robert Palmer before recording studios decided to remove her voice. The British pop star’s solo version became a hit and climbed charts at home and abroad.
Khan’s comments about racism within the music industry come just weeks after Beyoncé released her latest album, Cowboy Carter, a country music album.
The Single Ladies hitmaker made the gender switch after she was booed at the Country Music Awards in 2016. She said the concept album was born from a past experience where she “didn’t feel welcome.”
Khan applauded Beyoncé’s decision, noting that ‘black people have been making country music since the beginning.’
“Beyoncé is doing exactly what she should be doing,” he added.
The ’70s star’s comments come just months after she revealed she had put her feud with Kanye West behind her.
The rapper revved up his voice as he sampled his 1984 hit ‘Through The Fire’ on his 2004 debut single ‘Through the Wire’, which he called ‘stupid.’
The soul singer had numerous hits throughout her long career, from Ain’t Nobody to I’m Every Woman, but she is undoubtedly best known for her 1984 hit ‘I Feel For You’.
Kanye West (seen in 2018) had revved up Khan’s vocals while sampling his 1984 hit ‘Through The Fire’ on her 2004 debut single ‘Through the Wire’, which she called ‘stupid’.
But the music icon changed his mind, revealing in an interview with Rolling Stone that his comments at the time were “salty” and that he doesn’t hold any “silly grudges.”
“You know, that was my fault too, for feeling salty about it in a way,” he said. “If I had understood the rap game more completely, like I do now, it wouldn’t have been a big deal to me.”
The soul singer had numerous hits throughout her long career, from Ain’t Nobody to I’m Every Woman, but she is undoubtedly best known for her 1984 hit ‘I Feel For You’.
But for Chaka, the Grammy Award-winning song that made her millions is one of the songs she hates singing the most.
“I hate most of the songs I have to sing,” he told the newspaper, fearing any reaction from fans.
“Anyone would be tired of singing the same damn song for so many years,” he added.