Chaka Khan makes music.
Chaka Khan ( born Yvette Marie Stevens , March 23 , 1953 ) is an American recording artist whose career has spanned five decades , beginning in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus . Khan was the first R&B artist to have a crossover hit featuring a rapper , with `` I Feel for You '' in 1984 . In the course of her solo career , Khan has achieved three gold singles , three gold albums and one platinum album with I Feel for You . With Rufus , she achieved four gold singles , four gold albums , and two platinum albums . `` Sweet Thing '' is a song performed by American funk and R&B band Rufus with vocals by American singer Chaka Khan , also a member of the band .