Chaka Khan Explains Why She Hated Kanye West Sampling Her For 'Through The Wire'

by Daryl Nelson

Chaka Khan said she doesn't care for Kanye West's 2003 cut "Through the Wire," which samples her voice for the hook.

The iconic singer was on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday and said she talked to Ye before he started the song. But what he told her about the cut beforehand was much different than how it came out, which she's still upset about.

"He called me when he just got out of the hospital," she explained. "He said, 'You were so instrumental in my healing process. I changed the words a little bit to the song but I had to eat through a wire. Jaws wired shut through a straw.' It meant that much to me. It really got my heart, tugged at my string. I was like, 'Yeah, use it.'"

Chaka mainly didn't like how Ye sped up her voice to achieve his famous Chipmunk Soul sound.

"Then when it came out I was pissed," she said. "It was a little insulting. Not insulting, I thought it was stupid. If I'd known he was gonna do that, I would have said, 'Hell no.'"