Dr. Dre Sampled Leon Sylvers' Song 'Misdemeanor'

Sylvers revisits the experience of creating "Misdemeanor" and how it ended up being sampled by Dr. Dre for The D.O.C.'s "It's Funky Enough."
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[@alfredmuveestarrmickens6841]

Leon Sylvers deserves to be honored ASAP.

[@starmariejackson3747]

I love the Sylvers they are a underrated family group.

[@eddiewallace3362]

He really need to be in the R&B HALL of Fame!!! Period.

[@MrLawrence7777]

I TOTALLY Agree My Brother, Leon Sylvers wrote Many, Many, Many GREAT HITS For his Family and other Artists Too. Shalom🙏🏾Fam

[@ROMEEXODUS]

Yes indeed

[@andrewsteinberg7103]

so many groups should have made it , and many that did shoulnt have had, War was rejected, shame

[@raymondwilson9038]

Misdemeanour possesses one of the greatest basslines in black music

[@primeminister66]

Indeed

[@amaradominique]

Oh yes! I remember when song came out was I 10 and I loved it then.

[@myronmoye5735]

Killer baseline even the parts Dr Dre didn't use are classic unmatched baselines Leon was on some other shit when he made that song and the drums were out of this world too funky funky 💪💪💪💪

[@msays1275]

Agree!.... Always loved that song....back then!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@ShaneGuyton-mj1mv]

In music period.

[@annoyingchannel8812]

One of the greatest music producers the world has ever seen.

[@boardmustang4551]

Absolutely... and his songwriting is fire!!

[@ucbx]

Yes, you are right. The industry has not fully given this man he recognition he deserves.

[@danitapruitt-mcwhorter9544]

Is he in ANY Hall of Fame?

[@berrysweet2321]

Okay! I had the biggest crush on him with that big Afro 😍

[@RJNumber45]

100% FACT...also one of the greatest bass players the world has ever seen

[@pooneyheat]

Mr. Leon Sylvers iii is one of the coldest producers this music game has ever had! The music he gave the Whispers, Shalamar, and Lakeside was next level!

[@eddiewallace3362]

Don't forget his group Dynasty too.peace

[@BettyBeige]

Dynasty! Here I Am still kills me.

[@BettyBeige]

@@eddiewallace3362 🥴

[@bassistdc]

I have huge respect for the talents of Leon Sylvers III.

[@miamiwax5504]

He is a genius. Listen to the complex vocal harmonies and arrangements of those early Sylvers albums. Soul scientist 👍🏿

[@sosexymagazinerobinwatkins8467]

I LOVE THAT! "SOUL SCIENTIST" VERY APROPOS

[@gl6996]

Leon Sylvers, the Sound of SOLAR Records

[@branbranshenanigans1693]

He is still fine and an extremely underrated producer😍❤️

[@deloresvaughan2895]

He had a daughter by Jody Watley

[@seasonedsofisticate1901]

@@deloresvaughan2895 I never knew that…🤔

[@lolafalona4613]

Right hey zaddy

[@rolanaguice7829]

@@deloresvaughan2895 no He Didn't.. That Was Andre Cymone Who Played With Prince...Fact Check

[@rolanaguice7829]

@@seasonedsofisticate1901 Not True

[@yolondaharrington5665]

A real composer. So talented. The baselines on everything he writes is genius

[@adonai71100]

This man here is soooo UNSUNG ✊🏾🙏🏾

[@MD-DLive]

They covered The Sylvers on Unsung, check it out!

[@adonai71100]

@@MD-DLiveyes fam i saw it, but on him there's so much more to him. 🥰

[@MD-DLive]

@@adonai71100 I agree! One of the greatest producers of all time, in my opinion!

[@clubhead433]

@@adonai71100 WERD!!!!

[@pascalmhadjou2455]

@@MD-DLive no doubt, hands down.

[@LGKids]

Finally the history of a classic sample! Peace!

[@lonniesnow9584]

Highly underrated producer

[@tspcocktail]

The drum beats on this song is tight and complicated

[@Relias]

It’s Harvey Mason on drums.

[@sirjer73]

Wow Harvey had a Hella of a resume in the 70s. Herbie Hancock Cameleon, George Benson Breezin, Grover Washington Mr. Magic and Donald Byrd funky records like Places and Spaces. Wow what a resume!!!!

[@lawrencenewton3496]

LEON SYLVERS is the "Sound of Los Angels" records !!

[@curtismichael4703]

He is the mastermind behind soooo many classic R&B/Soul jams!

[@randygivens8421]

Ultimate classic! I still love 'Misdemeanor'!

[@sonicfan1able]

Do you think you'll ever get ask Mr. Sylvers about his working process with The Whispers on "And the Beat Goes On"?

[@MrThematrix1]

What would have happened to the Sylvers if all the hits he ( Leon ) produced for the The Whispers, Dynasty, Shalamar, Lakeside, and others had been done with his brothers and sisters. The would receive much hype and still be in high demand. If you listen to a lot of the acts he produced, they sound eerily similar to the Sylvers in vocal characteristics !Leon a highly underrated producer !

[@richardpayton9671]

Possibly, but if those songs had been done by his family instead of the Whispers, Lakeside, etc., they might not have sounded the same and thus not been hits. Then again maybe the songs could have been bigger if his family sang them. We’ll never know. 🤷🏽‍♂️ All it takes is one difference in how a record is produced and it could be a hit or a dud.

[@MrThematrix1]

Richard Payton we are talking about a family that could sing 7 part harmony. The Sylvers were stronger vocalists than Dynasty, Shalamar, and the Whispers. Wait a minute, the jury is still out on the Whispers !

[@rogerwhitsettdrummer2922]

I’ve always thought the same thing too....especially the Dynasty songs!!!

[@rolanaguice7829]

U Said Everything I've Been Trying To Say All Of These Years.. Thanks For Putting where the goats can get it

[@dudepeep6429]

MR LEON SYLVER, your family are amazing singers, your an amazing song writer, there are soo many songs you have written, produced, like shalamar over and over, the sylvers - bizarre album, there are soo many, hats off to you, I can only just applaud all your gifted work

[@monicamcneil9904]

Love this family💕💕

[@gregwoolliscroft6255]

Leon...A LEGEND.....

[@sidneygwaltney9931]

leon put it down

[@leroybigby5451]

Just discovered who this Brother is. All i can say is musical genius. Great bass lines wonderful music.

[@djcoolcliff]

Two of the best producers ever!!!!! RIP to my uncle Wah Wah Watson!!!!!!!

[@mozmolloy1728]

That song gives me goosebumps even today.....the melody sounded nothing like any song at the time, or even now...

[@mustafahajj]

I totally agree. Brings tears to me eyes it sounds so good. I feel funny even admitting it.

[@sosexymagazinerobinwatkins8467]

TRUE, TRUE! I just sent this to my sister and I wrote I remember being a little kid and hearing this and your ears just your ears just RANG. MY JAW DROPPED! I Have always had a love affair with harmonies My sisters and I sang there were 5 of us and we all just have that natural ear and that natural sound so we would always listen to groups like this and try to sing with them. I remember that this song was so intricate so lush The harmonies are so tight. I had never heard anything like this PERIOD! We LOVED the Jackson 5 and we LOVED the Sylvers... you didn't even compare them because it just was like 2 totally different phenomenal sounds. But when we heard MISDEMEANOR wow🤯🥰🥰🥰

[@leongreene3025]

Leon made hits for solar shalimar whispers dynasty the list goes on everything that came from that label he produced and all were freaking hits

[@vincentestone5764]

I had NO idea until watching "Unsung" on The Whispers. LEON SYLVERS 3rd IS A GENIUS ! And Solar Records Dick GRIFFEY knew it.

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Right on. A great man Leon. and Jimmy!!!!!!

[@sherloncloud6816]

The video of this song on Soul Train is vintage. I am big fan of The Sylvers....forever. They are talented and one of the best groups ever!

[@berrysweet2321]

Leon just have a special way his brain is wired to play bass like that it’s amazing 🤩

[@ericcraig6602]

i LOVE ALL THE PAST PRODUCTIONS OF "LEON SYLVERS" 🙏🙏🙏

[@harlemspeaks6921]

Absolutely LOVE this song ...it is just too short ...

[@ohheybih]

It’s sad this man hasn’t been recognized. That SOLAR era produced so much good music!

[@mwright80]

Misdemeanor is one of my favorite songs of all time! Leon Sylvers III is a beast!

[@WhizMitchell]

This man is an icon in black music!!!

[@bettystephen5676]

Amazing producer

[@lifecorebenefits6043]

Man, I still dance to this song from my childhood! It brings me such happy memories!

[@NoNo-ks4gg]

Wow --- didn't know the family was still around and good to see Leon doing well! Mom's . . . get your kids into musical instruments!

[@jerryday9838]

I always liked that groove.get down Mr. Silvers.and may GOD bless you and your family.

[@allen6924]

The beast of rhythm and blues/ funk. Man he should be in on the Hollywood walk of Fame. The ROCK Hall of fame. This man is the truth.

[@marceloribeirosimoes8959]

Excellent! One of the most underated musicians ever!

[@igotyourback9175]

Jimmy Jam and Leon Silvers on the same bill? This is super black culture and excellence personified!

[@folddpd1]

Jam and Lewis were mentored by Sylvers

[@annettaharris5721]

I love it. I pray you are receiving royalties to all the samples. ❤❤❤

[@thechineseway]

Amazing bass player, great lines.

[@lanettemccoy4690]

Leon Sylvers! Haven't seen him in years, such a great producer, looking good.

[@boardmustang4551]

Need to see all that classic Sylvers magic make a comeback! Remix! :)

[@clarkclarke]

I still play this song to this day .... I LOVE this song ... It is on perpetual repeat That bass line though minus the rest of the song and instruments ....wicked .... Even Acapella this song is amazing.. Thank you Leon 🙏🏾

[@renealexander2703]

Love Leon Sylvers. He is so handsome and so talented.

[@andrewsteinberg7728]

Misdemeanor was a pure Sylvers harmony. They were not a Jackson five copycat> They were on Grouch Marx's show , You Bet Your Life very early

[@basehead617]

Why has this man done almost no press EVER?? It's been impossible to find an interview with him in print or on KZbin until this Jimmy Jam interview.. and he seems so friendly and open, it's surprising!

[@lamarsmith3268]

Legend for that

[@denniscarroll7696]

Also in a Grandmaster Flash short scratch diddy, way before Dre and D.O.C., in 1987 with "Tear the Roof Off", you hear it more in that one. The Ba-Dop-Boom-Bang album, you can find "Tear the Roof Off" here on KZbin.

[@phillytnoize]

Two legends! I really need this entire interview.

[@balletdancernj6894]

A musical genius. 🎶🙌🏿

[@NkrumahTure]

Leon Sylvers,III Respect.

[@marrsmann5922]

One of my all time favorites!!

[@moeanthony9308]

Everymonth in the 70s Sylvers dawned Right on magazine and Tiger beat.

[@Dvco33333]

Thank you, thank you, thank you brother Leon especially for those Shalamar hits...you are our Hall of fame if no one else's.

[@SopranoSistah]

Enjoyed this IMMENSELY!❤❤❤

[@lemar_soma]

Incredible tune, nice to hear the story

[@Kemet3.0]

I saw the TV One Unsung: The story on the Sylvers. I hope the Sylvers now work on their teleplays ( Biopic) movie series ( Part 1 & 2) like the Temptations, New Edition, Jacksons, etc. Whereas you guys are the producers and make the money. As a producer, you have the ownership and syndication royalty rights. Those biopics could run for the next 20+ years and you still get paid. I'm watching all these biopics... I just saw the Temptations and New Edition (December 2021) in reruns.

[@milowelms8169]

Leon Awsom

[@davidhill7071]

I could be wrong but if he didn't know Misdemeanor had been cleared for a sample. Sounds like the record label or someone else owns the masters to the song. He is probably getting song writer royalties.

[@CTSaints89]

🎶..Stop him in his tracks, show him that I am Ruthless!..🎶

[@Patois1959]

Henry E Davis played on the recording but Leon wrote it along with many other favourite bass lines

[@RecoveringMusicAddict]

Genius composer

[@dr.nigsopmcchortlefag9544]

One of my favorite songs, ever. The bassline is insane.

[@jackmeoff9116]

2 of the greatest music producers in the last 40yrs!!

[@jaylene.turner6524]

Leon was in a relationship with Jody Watley, an original member of Shalamar, and they have a daughter named Lauren born in 1982.

[@anthonyrobinson6590]

I didn't know that. I knew she had a son with Andre Cymone. I tripped out when I found out the pornstar Midori is her sister.

[@folddpd1]

He was engaged to her and Nidra Beard from the group Dynasty at the same time

[@Belburg]

@@folddpd1 Tough brother, lucky he is still here, LOL. Though there is probably more to it than is being said.

[@reginaldbrownmusic8356]

2 LEGENDS

[@clem5251]

Legendary!!!!

[@newhopecanjieturner5424]

They were mostly before my time but I was introduced to their music young; tv1 did a sylvers Unsung & Leon’s name would frequently come up w/other episodes

[@livestreamsuk6004]

My word!! Sirius FM outdid itself with these two.

[@rtp1968]

Musical genius!

[@andrewsteinberg7103]

Love the beat in this , played on loud speaker in coney island playland in 72, or 73

[@blamemeblameme7980]

Legend!!!!!!!

[@rrockhard1]

Wow!🎶🎵🎵🎶

[@myronmoye5735]

My kids love that song right now In 2023 they don't even know how old it is I play it in the car using my Bluetooth and cellphone LoL

[@TOMKHOMION]

A legend.....

[@ericturner7906]

One the Best and Dynamic music producers in the last 40 years. He only gets 3:26 of Q&A, in fact their are Two of Our Best and Dynamic music producers taking. We Value these Brothers Leon Silvers and James Jam Harris! Maybe part of this conversation was cut off? Just my opinion....

[@Tristin1974]

Where is the rest of the interview??

[@stevenettles5953]

That's Jimmy Jam My Two Brothers Both Legends....

[@ahmedbelton8139]

DEFINITELY A TOP TEN SONG OF ALL TIME! WE IN HARLEM NY WOULD PLAY IT EVERY BLOCK PARTY

[@b.rodclark7349]

Technically 'Misdemeanor' was interpolated and not sampled... but it still brought in the royalties!

[@ginam.jackson9688]

I #LOVE Leon Sylvers and The Sylvers - truly a part of my upbringing! Yes, he is still FINE ❤!

[@SS-ii6nz]

We need a movie about the legendary Sylvers. I can not believe they never toured with the Jackson 5. Two black excellence legendary top black family groups.

[@prescriptionfunk93]

Love me some Leon silver III... One bad dude on that bass guitar. ❤

[@unkolee]

Leon is legend.

[@prescriptionfunk93]

This is the MAN!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🌹💯🍷🍾

[@TheMusicMan66]

MR. LEON SYLVERS! ONE OF THE GREATEST PRODUCERS IN MODERN MUSIC HISTORY!

[@marqueltucker5176]

Leon and Legend and it’s dope he was cool with dre sampling his song 💯

[@Noreaga914]

This man is a living legend

[@filmladyproduction]

Is there an instrumental of Misdermeanor?

[@MisterTomcat]

In addition to "It's Funky Enough", "Misdemeanor" was also brilliantly sampled by The Hitmen on Shyne's "That's Gangsta", by Run the Jewels on "Out of Sight", and by many others!

[@cedaledownes2665]

I bet he was happy. That was the d.o.c's biggest hit

[@1Shao_]

🔥🔥😌

[@johnhill9445]

Classic

[@laurice8056]

More Royalties... Cha-Ching!🤑😂💵

[@tavisbanks4781]

The doc it’s funky enough