Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedDifferent Strokes
Soul1960s108BPM
D majKey
More around 110 BPM → · More in D major → · More “Cleared After Dispute” →
Tempo/key via GetSongBPM →, Deezer →
The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
Syl Johnson was a direct, litigious advocate for his own compensation — his Kanye West/Jay-Z suit over “The Joy” settled in 2012. A separate $29M Cypress Hill suit is confirmed filed but its resolution is NOT confirmed, flagged honestly as unresolved (as with Atomic Dog’s undetailed case).
Quick Facts
Released1967
AlbumDresses Too Short
GenreSoul, Funk
LabelTwinight Records
Producer“3 J’s”
Recorded atChicago
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Syl Johnson (estate)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — one of hip-hop’s most-sampled tracks (Public Enemy, Wu-Tang, BDP, N.W.A, De La Soul, Kanye & Jay-Z, Tupac). Johnson pursued and recovered real royalties.
Do they allow reuse?
Johnson actively litigated for compensation — the Kanye/Jay-Z case settled (2012); a separate Cypress Hill suit’s outcome is unconfirmed. Clearance runs through his estate.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Elements of this song appear in Fight the Power (already in this catalog)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Syl Johnson (Sylvester Thompson) — estate, following his February 2022 death
A real pattern of artist advocacyJohnson was an outspoken, litigious advocate for his own compensation, calling uncompensated sampling real theft. His suit against Kanye West & Jay-Z over “The Joy” was confirmed settled in 2012. He also filed a $29M suit against Cypress Hill — its resolution is NOT confirmed in this pass, flagged honestly as filed-not-resolved (as with Atomic Dog’s undetailed case).
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A young Minnie Riperton provided the famous giggle
The song’s famous giggling intro was provided by a young Minnie Riperton — recorded under her birth name, Andrea Davis, years before her own fame. Johnson asked drummer Morris Jennings for a beat and Riperton spontaneously added the laugh — later the sampled hook of Wu-Tang’s “Shame on a N---a.” No lyrics reproduced.
Bandcamp Daily · read it →
“The house that Wu-Tang built”
Johnson told the New York Times (2010): “I’m sitting in the house that Wu-Tang built with their money” — referring to royalties he recovered. The house was reportedly decorated with platinum and gold plaques sent to him by rappers who’d sampled him — respect despite the adversarial legal history.
Rolling Stone · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
One of hip-hop’s most-sampled soul tracks
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itPublic Enemy · Wu-Tang Clan · Kanye West & Jay-Z
Who to Contact
DS
Syl Johnson (estate)
The confirmed songwriter of record; clearance via the estate
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 7)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass