Chicago blues and soul man Syl Johnson, Syleena Johnson's father, is suing Jay Z and Kanye West for sampling his music without permission and then refusing to pay up.
The Throne responded with a counter suit...
Apparently Kanye West asked Syl Johnson for permission to sample his 1967 song, "Different Strokes" for Kanye's 2010 album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". Syl gave Kanye his permission but not in time to make the album. The next thing Syl knows, the sample shows up on 'The Joy' on Kanye and Jay Z's collaborative effort "Watch the Throne". Syl immediately filed suit demanding compensation for knowing and willful misappropriation.
Instead of paying up, Jay Z and Kanye insist Syl has no copyrights because "Different Strokes" was made in 1967 - and sound recordings were only automatically protected by federal copyright laws from 1972.
The case is on going.
