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Syl Johnson Readying Legal Action Against Kanye and Jay-Z

Watch the lawsuits, too. Not just the throne.

Soul singer Syl Johnson and archival label the Numero Group are going after Kanye West and Jay-Z for using a sample of Johnson’s “Different Strokes†on “The Joy†without permission, proper crediting, or compensation. The Numero Group says they had been in negotiations to have the sample cleared for use on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but talks stalled out and no such negotiations ever took place for Watch the Throne. “Island Def Jam seems to think that Syl doesn’t have any fight left in him,†Numero says in a blog post. “We’re betting otherwise.†[Numero Group]

Syl Johnson Readying Legal Action Against Kanye and Jay-Z