Jackin’-For-Beats :: Jay-Z & Kanye Sued for Copyright Infringement

Kanye and Jay-Z might be catching a case.  R&B singer Syl Johnson is suing the duo for sampling his 1967 song “Different Strokes” on their WTT track “The Joy”.

Archival Record Label and publisher, the Numero Uno Group published on their blog this statement:

“Two decades and several lawsuits later, Syl Johnson is a veteran of copyright infringement cases, and has done very well for himself clearing samples from his fertile catalog (we’re glad to say we’ve helped him with a few) for use in numerous tracks.  He’s been amply paid, as he is quick to boast in his concerts, by acts like Wu-Tang Clan, Kid Rock, and Michael Jackson. Other performers … have not been so respectful.”

The publisher’s blog goes on to address and point out that in the credits for Watch the Throne, they are erroneously identified as the publishers of Syl Johnson’s “Different Strokes.”

“Wondering why we weren’t consulted on this new use, and baffled why we appear in the credits, for which we never asked, we contacted the sample clearance house.  Even they cannot get a response from their own clients. Island Def Jam seems to think that Syl doesn’t have any fight left in him. We’re betting otherwise.”

Since, #WTT has already gone gold having sold over 600,000 copies to date, Johnson intends to recover all due royalties. Source

@TheNEWWhitleyG