Something of a NY staple, Syl Johnsons “Different Strokes” has been sampled by almost everyone. Around 50+ tracks use it, often being used multiple times by A-list rappers in the same year.

Is It Because I’m Black is a much more bare track, the impact lying in the the stripped down composition and the rising emotion in Syl’s voice which perfectly compliments the tale of struggling to get ahead in a white man’s world with dark skin.

Scroll to the bottom for a download of Is It Because I’m Black single. 3 X A-Sides and 3 x B-Sides

Here are some uses of it;

Cyprus Hill

Wu Tang Clan

Amp Dog Night

Cassidy

Styles P

(I left out a lot of house music that sampled it. Can probably draw parallels between the struggle of gay people and black people at different times in history)
Download Is It Because I’m Black (Single)