A fantastic protest song from 1969, Is It Because I'm Black? is a slow-burning soul groove. This might not be the most original track ever cut, but Johnson's anguished vocals and the steady minor key walk is just perfectly judged. You will love this. Syl was already known for his poppier, funkier pieces, which makes this 7 minute song all the more extraordinary. I don't know if there's anything else in his canon that matches this, but then there aren't that many songs that match this full stop. [...]
'Diggin' In The Crates' is brought to you by Ben Lewis , designer and record obsessive from Brighton. Ben can usually be found in a dusty corner of one of the country's many second-hand record emporiums, rooting around in search of rarities and hidden gems. Syl Johnson - Different Strokes I've only just found out recently that it's Minnie Riperton laughing at the start of this soul classic, and hallowed breakbeat favourite. Syl was a prolific Chicago music scene [...]
1970, année prolifique pour la musique noire. Sortie de Workin' Together de Ike & Tina Turner, Nothing Is... de Sun Ra, Curtis de Curis Mayfield , Les Stances à Sophie du Art Ensemble of Chicago , Sex Machine de James Brown ou encore Afreaka! de Demon Fuzz . Autant d'albums essentiels que celui de Syl Johnson Is It Because I'm Black avec son hit du même nom. Chanteur, guitariste et harmoniciste, après ce deuxième LP, l'homme de [...]
Syl Johnson's daughter, Syleena Johnson, sat down for a radio interview last week on Sway Calloway's Sirius XM show, Sway ... Read the full article at http://www.prefixmag.com/news/ syl-johnsons-daughter-speaks-o n-kanyejay-z-lawsuit/57827/
Late this summer, Numero Group, the label of soul legend Syl Johnson, brought to everyone's attention the fact that Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne was using an unlicensed sample of Johnson on "The Joy." Read Numero's missive here , but basically Kanye contacted Numero about including "The Joy" on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and couldn't clear the sample, but he went ahead and included it on Watch the Throne without finishing the licensing procedure. After some speculation, Johnson has gone ahead and sued West and Jay-Z, seeking unspecified [...]
How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards. So why not just lean back, do nothing and enjoy the chill session. Rod Modell, Forester Park Download here (Right Click, Save As). 2-02, In A Beautiful Place Out In The Download here (Right Click, Save As). Gill Scott-Heron And Jamie XX, My [...]
Syl Johnson is one of the great recent stories of a lost legend re-discovered by an enterprising young record label. Primarily known for a few regional hit singles and his cult 1970 socially conscious soul LP Is It Because I'm Black? , Johnson's entire oeuvre is ripe for review thanks to an exhaustiver reissue program by R&B archivists The Numero Group . Myself and photographer Tim Bugbee caught up with Mr. Johnson the morning after a rain-delayed but ultimately triumphant opening set for Wilco on the second night of their second [...]
Frenemies: A History Of Lil Wayne & Jay-Z's Relationship [Complex] The 'Complete Mythology' Of Syl Johnson [NPR] Top Five Compton Rap Anthems [LA Weekly] Marisa Miller and Two Guys Get R.I.P.D. Gamma Squad NYC Firefighter Beats Top Model Tranny Girlfriend in Front of Strip Club Warming Glow The Definitive Guide to Lil' Rappers [TRU] Bucky Larson Vs. Jack & Jill: Which Adam Sandler Movie Looks More [...]
"But I think Kanye west, kind of, he blew it. Because he knows me, he knows my daughter, Syleena Johnson. And hey, for a few, small amount - do it in front like Kid Rock, Wu-Tang Clan..." NBC Chicago caught up with Syl Johnson to talk about his recent lawsuit against Jay-Z and Kanye West, for their illegal use of his music and likeness on "The Joy" from Watch The Throne . It turns out Syl's Grandson cracked the case, and called his Grandpa to tell him that Syl's "Different Strokes" was [...]
Numero Group There is no question that Chicago label Numero Group , which specializes in re-issues, feels strongly about defending the catalog it has come to possess. Then, it is no surprise that the label took to its blog and twitter on Tuesday afternoon to accuse hip hop giants Kanye West and Jay-Z, as well as West's sampling house, of illegally using a sample from Chicago soul singer Syl Johnson's "Different Strokes" on West's track "The Joy," which appears on the deluxe edition of his Watch the Throne collaboration [...]
If you happened to cop the deluxe edition of Kanye West and Jay-Z's Watch the Throne, you were probably psyched that the Good Fridays jam "The Joy" found its way onto an album, after it was left off My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. But there's a possible legal fight brewing over the track, pitting Syl Johnson (who was sampled on "The Joy") and Numero Group (his label) versus Jay and Ye and Island Def Jam (their label). It goes back to MBDTF , when Numero Group was contacted by Island Def Jam [...]
Looks like soul singer Syl Johnson's going to take a quick piss over all of the "The Joy" Kanye & Jay have had surrounding Watch The Throne . It seems as if the duo did not clear the use of Johnson's "Different Strokes" before sampling the track for Watch The Throne's bonus track. The original song's copyright holders, Johnson and Numero Group, were shocked to see the song clearly used and credited, but not cleared. And thus, they thanked Jay & 'Ye for providing them with "a huge pay day," whether it [...]
Though they may fancy themselves to be kings of hip-hop ( and, to a certain extent, rightfully so ), Jay-Z and Kanye West of The Throne are not infallible. Like 50 Cent and the Black Eyed Peas before them, Def Jam Recordings, the label responsible for releasing the duo's shining artistic statement Watch the Throne , is being accused of copyright infringement. The accuser in this instance is The Numero Group, an archival record label that deals with "finding the dustiest gems begging to be released from their exile [...]
by Jacob Blickenstaff The Dig Deeper series, organized by DJ's Richard Lewis (DJ Honky) and Michael Robinson, is now nearing it's 3rd year anniversary of presenting near-forgotten yet influential and vital soul artists to a NY audience. Last Friday (6/24), they brought back Syl Johnson who had played a sold-out show at Southpaw in December last year . Pictures from the Bell House show, which was opened by The Sweet Divines , are in this [...]
After Friday night's contrasting sensations of a torrential downpour followed by an exultant Wilco set, Saturday morning arrived with a sense of optimism. Sunglasses were in full effect through the early part of the day, bolstered by a pleasant set on the smaller porch stage by husband-and-wife duo Sarah Lee Guthrie (granddaughter of Woody) & Johnny Irion. Their lilting country-rock was an appropriate soundtrack to easing into the day with an expertly prepared coffee from Joe, who operated a pop-up shop throughout the fest that was a refreshing antidote to the usual brown water swill on offer. [...]
Syl Johnson and the Sweet Divines will be playing at The Bellhouse in Brooklyn on Friday June 24th from 9:00-11:00. Above video is Syl's opening number from his sold-out show at the Southpaw last December in case you missed it.
Syl Johnson Album: Twilight & Twinight (Buy) Label: Collectables Syl Johnson - I Feel An Urge Tweet
If there's one thing you need to know about R&B/Soul music, it's that certain artists have innate abilities to illicit a particular response from listeners. I wouldn't necessarily call finding said artists a skill, but if you know what you're doing, playing the right album at the right time can work wonders for you. I [...]
Syl Johnson supporting Yo La Tengo @ Maxwell's ( more by Andrew St. Clair ) Deep Groove soul singer Syl Johnson will return to the NYC stage to play a headlining date at The Bell House on June 24th . Tickets are on sale. There he'll be supported by The Sweet Divines who are also scheduled to play a show with soul frontman Lee Fields at [...]
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