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Kanye West & Jay-Z Sued for Allegedly Sampling Soul Singer’s Music [LISTEN]

Different Strokes Jay-Z Kanye West Kid Rock My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Syl Johnson The Joy Watch the Throne Wu Tang Clan

4:05 pm, October 17th, 2011

(GettyImages)

Kanye West and Jay-Z are being sued for allegedly sampling music from blues and soul singer/producer Syl Johnson.

Johnson claims in court papers filed in Illinois Federal Court that West and Jay-Z took a portion of his 1967 tune “Different Strokes,” without compensation or credit, for their song “The Joy,” featured on their album “Watch the Throne.”

Johnson contends West had initially sought to sample “The Joy” for his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” but it never worked out, and then misappropriated it for his collaboration with Jay-Z.

The soul and blues musician is no stranger to suing other artists for allegedly taking his compositions. Among those who have been caught in his legal crosshairs are Wu Tang Clan and Kid Rock, who eventually had to cough up cash to Johnson.

Below are Jay-Z and West’s “The Joy” and Johnson’s “Different Strokes.”

Listen and let us know what you think.

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“The Joy”