Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 35

Deberg_1990 · 06-08-2009, 07:17 AM

Wow......Unreal.

http://www.kansascity.com/226/story/1238798.html

Another day, another racial controversy at the Power & Light District.

For a year, the black community has been in arms about perceived racism at the entertainment district, a place their tax money helped fund. But it’s always rebutted. Everyone is welcome at the P&L, officials say.

Well, those who follow the hip-hop music scene have more to chew on since late Saturday night, when one of hip-hop’s icons, DJ Jazzy Jeff, cut short a set of music and left the stage in a dispute over the kind of music his show was spinning.

I walked in just as he was walking off the stage. He had performed less than 30 minutes.

The crowd booed and I heard people, both black and white, yell about how the Power & Light didn’t want him to play hip-hop. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I knew it was bad.

A conversation I had with him early Sunday confirmed it.

He might be best known as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, but he is more than Will Smith’s old DJ and friend. The two won the first rap Grammy.

Jeff Townes, his given name, is legendary. He introduced “transforming,” the scratching technique turntablists use. This man has toured for 25 years. He’s an acclaimed producer.

So what exactly happened?

According to his tweets (twitter.com/djjazzyjeff215), he was kicked offstage for playing hip-hop. Jon Stephens, president of the Power & Light District, says it was about the sound levels.

“The issue that arose with the performance last night was completely about the sound levels,” he said Sunday. “His audio tech was maxing out the sound system to a point that risked damage to the speakers and sound system. His sound techs and management refused to bring the decibel level down. They were told to bring it down or cease performance. They refused to go on.”

Hours after he returned to his Philadelphia home, I spoke to Jazzy Jeff on the phone to hear his side.

His set started with sounds of hip-hop and pop favorites — Jay-Z, Biz Markie, Rihanna. His MC, Skillz, hyped up the crowd.

But after 15 minutes or so, in the middle of an R&B hit by Ne-Yo, “Miss Independent,” he was told to stop.

“My road manager walked up to me and said they were having problems with the music I was playing,” Jazzy Jeff told me. “I played three more songs and he comes back. I knew something was wrong. They said I had to kick Skillz off the stage, change the format of the music I was playing or quit. They said if I continued playing they had 30 cops ready to come escort me offstage. So I stopped.”

Jon Stephens says that isn’t so.

“Obviously we have a desire to book a diversity of acts,” he said. “We booked Jazzy Jeff on a Saturday night, the biggest night of the week in the district. We were excited to have him there. It’s unfortunate that his sound and management people had problems adhering to the sound and audio rules. We wanted him to play. That’s why we booked him.”

Jazzy Jeff was excited to play here too.

But it all went wrong. Venue officials said the set attracted the wrong kind of element, he says.

“They said they didn’t like Skillz’s posture,” Jeff said. “They said he made gang-like signs and grabbed at his genitals.”

So P&L officials wanted him offstage. But Jeff felt it was wrong because Skillz is no gang member. He is a father. His hand gestures were the kind of excited movements you make to get the crowd excited.

He wasn’t cursing or being offensive.

“I was playing Rihanna; she is Top 40,” he says. “If they would have let my set play, they would have known I play everything. I play rock, funk, soul, pop, hip-hop, reggae. I don’t play for a certain genre, race or gender. I play for music lovers.”

In his 25-year career, at 44 years old, Jeff has never been told to end a set because of hip-hop. He says he has never felt that kind of racism. The “element” that officials referred to felt like a reference to black people, a hip-hop crowd.

“I’m in shock,” he says. “I didn’t understand what element they were talking about. I looked out in the crowd and it was multicultural, but about 75 percent white. Everyone was having a great time. I wondered what was so offensive. I never had a race issue. I didn’t know how to feel. I was playing ‘Just a Friend.’ Is that offensive? What element? It’s uncomfortable when you feel unwanted.”

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

well, in a nutshell, black men are 6 times more likely to go to prison than whites. By your own admission, the majority of individual dressing in a manner not conforming to the dress code are black. by extrapolation it can be assumed that the majority of black men going to prison did not conform to the dress code.

I asked you for the studies you alluded to.
I don't see empirical data here. Just your attempts at uncovering some perceived correlation between urban fashion and criminal intent.

wild1 · 06-08-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Secondly, the Bacardi Live Tour uses rotating DJ's so it's a little disingenuous to say that they KNEW Jeff was coming.

So what you are saying is that they had no clue that anyone on the Bacardi Live Tour would play hip hop music?

unothadeal · 06-08-2009, 03:11 PM

They released footage of the incident

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

And everyone here is really old.

I'm only 21

Mr. Krab · 06-08-2009, 03:16 PM

I'm late to the discussion but the idea that they would pay a hip hop artist to come perform and then cut them off because they are racist about hip hop is stupid. They idea that they booked an artist and didn't know what type of music the act was going to play is stupid.

It makes far more sense that the artist had the music up too loud and when the owners ask him to turn it down he pouted like a little bitch and cried racism.

When all else fails cry ~~wolf~~ err racism.

Katipan · 06-08-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

I'm only 21

Show off.

That kid made me feel ancient.

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

Show off.

That kid made me feel ancient.

Well if it helps I'm only 2 years older than him and offered my next paycheck to CP for one date with you.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 03:19 PM

we ever going to get to see the mysterious katipan?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

So what you are saying is that they had no clue that anyone on the Bacardi Live Tour would play hip hop music?

Why would they know?
There's a reason why they defer show bookings to promoters and agencies.

You really think Jon Stephens knows Jeff Townes from Jeff Foxworthy?

**Nzoner** · 06-08-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

It's not the same thing Albert.
Requiring a coat and tie is not a 1:1 with "no jerseys or work boots".
Are you really this dumb?

Man I'm 46 and I love my baggy shorts,with flip flops and a jersey to be most comfortable but before going to P & L a week ago Friday I went on the website and based on THEIR RULES found out I would be denied entry and so dressed a bit more conservative.I didn't get an attitude,I didn't feel like I was being discriminated against and I accepted the fact that if I wanted to enter THEIR BUSINESS I had to adhere to THEIR RULES,same goes if I decide to go to a suit and tie restaurant.

Brock · 06-08-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Man I'm 46 and I love my baggy shorts,with flip flops and a jersey to be most comfortable but before going to P & L a week ago Friday I went on the website and based on THEIR RULES found out I would be denied entry and so dressed a bit more conservative.I didn't get an attitude,I didn't feel like I was being discriminated against and I accepted the fact that if I wanted to enter THEIR BUSINESS I had to adhere to THEIR RULES,same goes if I decide to go to a suit and tie restaurant.

Help, I'm being repressed!

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Why would they know?
There's a reason why they defer show bookings to promoters and agencies.

You really think Jon Stephens knows Jeff Townes from Jeff Foxworthy?

Upon Googling the Bacardi B-Live Tour, I see NO mention of Jeff Townes. I do see DJ Jazzy Jeff repeatedly mentioned as one of 3 headliners, so I find it hard to believe that Cordish (who would have approved any engagement) was surprised who was onstage.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Krab's

I'm late to the discussion but the idea that they would pay a hip hop artist to come perform and then cut them off because they are racist about hip hop is stupid.

It's not stupid when you realize that Cordish didn't book Jeff Townes.
It's also not stupid when you realize that the promoter booked the tour which maintains a rotating set of DJ's. But I guess if you don't know that... You'd assume they (Cordish) invited him personally.

Quote:

It makes far more sense that the artist had the music up too loud and when the owners ask him to turn it down he pouted like a little bitch and cried racism.

We've been through this.
This is a lame excuse. I've already dissected it. Go back and re-read it.

wild1 · 06-08-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Why would they know?

They don't even have the foggiest idea what kinds of acts are playing this venue?

I don't believe that for a second.

Katipan · 06-08-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

Well if it helps I'm only 2 years older than him and offered my next paycheck to CP for one date with you.

I am a filipina. You don't find much more minority than me.

Not to throw a wrench into the works but I bet a female could have walked in with baggy jeans, high heeled shoes and a bedazzled white wife beater.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3634454	Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff Wow......Unreal. http://www.kansascity.com/226/story/1238798.html Another day, another racial controversy at the Power & Light District. For a year, the black community has been in arms about perceived racism at the entertainment district, a place their tax money helped fund. But it’s always rebutted. Everyone is welcome at the P&L, officials say. Well, those who follow the hip-hop music scene have more to chew on since late Saturday night, when one of hip-hop’s icons, DJ Jazzy Jeff, cut short a set of music and left the stage in a dispute over the kind of music his show was spinning. I walked in just as he was walking off the stage. He had performed less than 30 minutes. The crowd booed and I heard people, both black and white, yell about how the Power & Light didn’t want him to play hip-hop. I wasn’t sure what happened, but I knew it was bad. A conversation I had with him early Sunday confirmed it. He might be best known as one half of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, but he is more than Will Smith’s old DJ and friend. The two won the first rap Grammy. Jeff Townes, his given name, is legendary. He introduced “transforming,” the scratching technique turntablists use. This man has toured for 25 years. He’s an acclaimed producer. So what exactly happened? According to his tweets (twitter.com/djjazzyjeff215), he was kicked offstage for playing hip-hop. Jon Stephens, president of the Power & Light District, says it was about the sound levels. “The issue that arose with the performance last night was completely about the sound levels,” he said Sunday. “His audio tech was maxing out the sound system to a point that risked damage to the speakers and sound system. His sound techs and management refused to bring the decibel level down. They were told to bring it down or cease performance. They refused to go on.” Hours after he returned to his Philadelphia home, I spoke to Jazzy Jeff on the phone to hear his side. His set started with sounds of hip-hop and pop favorites — Jay-Z, Biz Markie, Rihanna. His MC, Skillz, hyped up the crowd. But after 15 minutes or so, in the middle of an R&B hit by Ne-Yo, “Miss Independent,” he was told to stop. “My road manager walked up to me and said they were having problems with the music I was playing,” Jazzy Jeff told me. “I played three more songs and he comes back. I knew something was wrong. They said I had to kick Skillz off the stage, change the format of the music I was playing or quit. They said if I continued playing they had 30 cops ready to come escort me offstage. So I stopped.” Jon Stephens says that isn’t so. “Obviously we have a desire to book a diversity of acts,” he said. “We booked Jazzy Jeff on a Saturday night, the biggest night of the week in the district. We were excited to have him there. It’s unfortunate that his sound and management people had problems adhering to the sound and audio rules. We wanted him to play. That’s why we booked him.” Jazzy Jeff was excited to play here too. But it all went wrong. Venue officials said the set attracted the wrong kind of element, he says. “They said they didn’t like Skillz’s posture,” Jeff said. “They said he made gang-like signs and grabbed at his genitals.” So P&L officials wanted him offstage. But Jeff felt it was wrong because Skillz is no gang member. He is a father. His hand gestures were the kind of excited movements you make to get the crowd excited. He wasn’t cursing or being offensive. “I was playing Rihanna; she is Top 40,” he says. “If they would have let my set play, they would have known I play everything. I play rock, funk, soul, pop, hip-hop, reggae. I don’t play for a certain genre, race or gender. I play for music lovers.” In his 25-year career, at 44 years old, Jeff has never been told to end a set because of hip-hop. He says he has never felt that kind of racism. The “element” that officials referred to felt like a reference to black people, a hip-hop crowd. “I’m in shock,” he says. “I didn’t understand what element they were talking about. I looked out in the crowd and it was multicultural, but about 75 percent white. Everyone was having a great time. I wondered what was so offensive. I never had a race issue. I didn’t know how to feel. I was playing ‘Just a Friend.’ Is that offensive? What element? It’s uncomfortable when you feel unwanted.”
Posts: 66,914

06-08-2009, 03:11 PM	#513
unothadeal HOF 20?? Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $5115120	They released footage of the incident
Posts: 6,124

06-08-2009, 03:16 PM	#515
Mr. Krab Big Red Nuts Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $10004900	I'm late to the discussion but the idea that they would pay a hip hop artist to come perform and then cut them off because they are racist about hip hop is stupid. They idea that they booked an artist and didn't know what type of music the act was going to play is stupid. It makes far more sense that the artist had the music up too loud and when the owners ask him to turn it down he pouted like a little bitch and cried racism. When all else fails cry ~~wolf~~ err racism.
Posts: 3,512

06-08-2009, 03:19 PM	#518
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	we ever going to get to see the mysterious katipan?
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