Syl Johnson wasn’t just a true legend in hip-hop circles. Now the music star has died, as his family explains in a statement. It is not yet clear whether Syl Johnson died of an illness.
Not only remembered in hip-hop circles, Syl Johnson, whose 1967 single “Different Strokes” was widely sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest artists, has died at the age of 85. In an emotional statement, Johnson’s family says goodbye to the music “legend” according to “Deadline “.
“It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Soul and Blues Hall of Fame legend Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson of Holly Springs, MS). He was a father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, friend, and artist. As a singer, musician, and entrepreneur, he loved his life and black music.” However, Syl Johnson’s family owed one thing after his death: they did not name the cause of the 85-year-old’s death in the statement.
Johnson was born in 1936 in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In the 1960s and 1970s, he made a name for himself with the Chicago label Twinight, which released his debut album “Dresses Too Short” in 1968. This album also featured “Different Strokes”. The song was later featured by Public Enemy (“Fight the Power”), Wu-Tang Clan (“Shame on a N***a”), Eric B. & Rakim (“I Know You Got Soul”), Jay -Z and Kanye West (“The Joy” [ft. Curtis Mayfield]) and De La Soul (“The Magic Number”) sampled. The “WhoSampled” portal names over 300 songs that use parts of Johnson’s cult work.
Syl Johnson sued Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Michael Jackson.
But Johnson also protected his work. He didn’t always agree with what was made of his song. In 2011, for example, he filed a lawsuit against Jay-Z and Kanye West for using parts of his song in “The Joy” without proper permission. The lawsuit was settled. Johnson also sued Michael Jackson, Cypress Hill, and others for sampling his music without permission. Johnson was prolific, releasing a dozen R&B albums during his career, including Is It Because I’m Black, Back for a Taste of Your Love, Uptown Shakedown, Suicide Blues, and Bridge to Legacy “.
The news was released by the family, but the cause of death was not revealed.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
