Funk This

Released in 2007, Funk This served as a major 'comeback' milestone for Chaka Khan, marking her highest chart position since 1984. Produced by the legendary duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, the album was a deliberate attempt to reconnect Khan with her funk roots while maintaining a contemporary R&B edge. The project is notable for its mix of original material and inspired covers, including a gritty reimagining of Prince's 'Sign 'o' the Times' and a surprising, soulful take on Joni Mitchell's 'Ladies' Man.' The centerpiece of the album is 'Disrespectful,' a powerhouse duet with Mary J. Blige that won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. Critics praised the album for its organic, live-sounding production and Khan's remarkably preserved vocal range. It stands as a definitive late-career statement that successfully modernized the funk aesthetic without sacrificing its analog soul.