Chaka KhanIn the 1980s, Chaka Khan fully cemented her status as a solo powerhouse and the undisputed “Queen of Funk”. After launching her solo career in the late 1970s, she alternated between R&B, jazz, and rock-leaning projects, releasing hit albums like What Cha’ Gonna Do for Me (1981) and Destiny (1986). Her definitive 1980s moment arrived with the 1984 worldwide smash album I Feel for You. The Prince-penned title track made history by blending R&B with hip-hop elements, featuring rapper Grandmaster Melle Mel and earning Khan a Grammy. Iconic ballads like “Through the Fire” further solidified her 1980s dominance.