Chaka Khan

As a boy, I learned she had a career before I was born but had no means to conceptualize that fact.  Next would be the iconic I Feel For You in 1984.  

I had wondered for a good while whether Chaka Khan was already inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame considering that it has been more than 25 years since the release of her solo debut album.

I also had the pleasure of catching her performance at Metropolis for the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.

Take the time to revisit some classic Chaka Khan when you can, live or otherwise.

It would take my being much older to now own some of her albums and CDs recorded before and after my birth.  

I figured that if she is not already inducted, this is the ideal time to honor her and her Rufus band mates.

Her first imprint in my musical consciousness was with Ain’t Nobody.

Salt-N-Pepa

Salt & Pepa are the female equivalents of Run DMC in more ways than one.

They patterned themselves after Run DMC and managed to achieve their own level of success akin to that of the Hollis trio.

Hot, Cool & Vicious is not only the female version of Raising Hell but in the Top 10 of hip hop albums most responsible for shaping my hip hop education and expectations.



They are the first ladies of hip hop to me because I had not heard or seen females on the mic until them.



I remember being in New York in 1986-7 and watching the Tramp video for the first time. 

The Hot, Cool & Vicious liner notes informed me Salt's birthday was very close to my own and that made her my favourite when I laid my pre-teen eyes on her.  Regardless of astrology, the trio have a place in my heart and record collection.

Salt-N-Pepa members Cheryl "Salt" James, Sandra "Pepa" Denton, and DJ Spinderella were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2025, receiving the Musical Influence Award.