Chaka Khan slams pop

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- Ain't nobody does it better than Chaka Khan, some R&B music lovers might say.

But the Grammy-winning singer insists there are a handful of new-generation vocalists who come real close -- though the music scene today is swamped by flavorless tunes and shallow talent, she says. "Sometimes I wonder what business this is I'm in today -- is it a circus, a fashion show or what?" Khan told a news conference Wednesday during a visit to this Southeast Asian country.
"It's like anybody who has a look can be a singer or entertainer now. The talent is almost not necessary anymore," she said. "I think a lot of people are out there making videos, singing and making a lot of money based on nothing but a cute shape and a pretty face."

Khan, who came to prominence as the vocalist for the 1970s soul-funk group Rufus and had a string of solo hits in the 1980s such as "Ain't Nobody," "I'm Every Woman" and "I Feel For You," said many modern songwriters seem to have "stunted imaginations" and sample tiredly from classic R&B riffs without mixing in fresh inspiration.

She stressed, however, there remain some "honest" hip-hop talents.
"There are not a whole lot, but there are a few recent artists that I have been impressed by," Khan said. "Jill Scott, Lauryn Hill, I love her, Faith Evans, Mica Paris ... Craig David -- he's very good, he's brilliant."

Khan is slated to perform Friday at a charity dinner in Kuala Lumpur. She said some members of her entourage had expressed concerns about traveling to Malaysia, a moderate, predominantly Muslim country that borders Indonesia.