Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 71

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.”

Inspector · 06-09-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Haha... Me either. Hey, who is the band in your avatar? They look familiar.

That would be Vedera.

They are releasing their next CD on EPIC records probably in September. We are going to go see them when they tour with "The Fray" in August at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco.

They are my favorite band. I produced 25% of them. (Produced as in provided the DNA that made that 25% possible)

So far this year they have toured with The Fray, Plain White T's, All American Rejects and Jason Mraz. Kristin, their singer, sang the duet with Mraz when they opened for him a couple of months ago.

Check out their website. It has some samples of their new stuff.

They are one of the best parts of our world right now. And I love their music.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Acknowledgment AND appreciation, sir.

well in your opinion they appreciate for you to stay away right?

and mic this post was totally in jest.

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

you tend to use big words in all your discussions.

My apologies. I'll dumb it down so you'll feel better.

Quote:

if you'd pull your nose out of your thesaurus, you'd realize the point he's trying to make (respectfully) is that yes, minorities have challenges they deal with every day. So do many other individuals and groups. But you don't see many of the others holding protests over trivialities.

I got the gist of his post, but he used an awful analogy.
Dwarfism can't be attributed to a group of people who have clandestine desires to keep them vertically challenged. So, exactly, would they protest?

And I'd venture to say that being excluded based on the color of your skin is ANYTHING but trivial.

Quote:

I think protesting over this is ludacris (intentional) because it only serves to weaken your message and dilute your plight. You are basing your argument on what I believe most will see as a reasonable issue and that it is being blown out of proportion.

And you're entitled to your opinion.

I will say this though...
This has been an ongoing issue and has roots that go further back than the DJJJ debacle last weekend.

Quote:

2 months ago, there was less hip hip played at KC Live than there has been today. Why did they not protest then if that is their issue?

I don't know and have never met the gentleman organizing the protest.
I have no idea.

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

That would be Vedera.

I thought that's who it was!
I remember meeting one of the band members.
The drummer I think it was? Not sure about that...

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

well in your opinion they appreciate for you to stay away right?

and mic this post was totally in jest.

Had to have been given your grammar.

Dude I got it.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Had to have been given your grammar.

Dude I get it. And it's cool.

just to let you know i sure hope you havent taken any of personal

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

just to let you know i sure hope you havent taken any of personal

Didn't bother me one bit.
I thought it was funny actually.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Didn't bother me one bit.
I thought it was funny actually.

Pioli Zombie · 06-09-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

I knew before I even posted that I would get the kind of reaction I did. Thanks for not disappointing me, and proving the point about this site... but hey, sorry for trying to make a comment about racism and my side of it. God forbid one of us minority's speak up on the topic. The only people on this board who can give an honest answer about how this issue affects them..is some one of color, no matter how many hip hop records you listen to, or how many minority friends you have, it is just not the same. We deal with these issues almost on a daily basis, you dont...now I will sit back and wait for all you to call me a whinning minority and how we always complain about shit.

No you don't understand. They are all above racism. They said so.

To you I apologize if my remarks were taken literally. I was trying to bust through their lofty and intellectual bs by commenting on how they really think.

If I crashed and burned Kramer like I apologize to you.

But not to them.

You are right of course. Nobody who hasn't lived it knows what they are talking about. And if someone feels in their gut they are being discriminated against I listen to them because that feeling isn't coming from nowhere.
Posted via Mobile Device

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I hope that's A&W we're drinking.
Beer tastes like moose piss.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I hope that's A&W we're drinking.
Beer tastes like moose piss.

why did you taste moose's piss?

i'm not a fan of beer either, tokillya for me. patron usually

FAX · 06-09-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Give us your theory.

I don't have one. Certainly, these guys (The Lost Boys) are both as black as they come and as disadvantaged as one can be - having spent their entire youth watching their villages and families destroyed by Muslim fanatics, living in refugee camps, and eating gruel. It seems to me that the black community would have an interest in them. But, apparently, they don't. At least, not around here.

Honestly, I've never thought about it before. But, the only people helping them acclimate to America, find them employment, get them in school, locate them in apartments or homes, get them cars, etc. are whites.

Are whites the only people in Nashville with the resources to help? Absolutely not. So, why doesn't the black community help?

There are Sudanese Lost Boys in every major city in the US. Not to put you on the spot, but have you ever considered reaching out to help them, Mr. Micjones? If not, why?

FAX

Pablo · 06-09-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Beer tastes like moose piss.

You have a vagina.

Pioli Zombie · 06-09-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

I don't have one. Certainly, these guys (The Lost Boys) are both as black as they come and as disadvantaged as one can be - having spent their entire youth watching their villages and families destroyed by Muslim fanatics, living in refugee camps, and eating gruel. It seems to me that the black community would have an interest in them. But, apparently, they don't. At least, not around here.

Honestly, I've never thought about it before. But, the only people helping them acclimate to America, find them employment, get them in school, locate them in apartments or homes, get them cars, etc. are whites.

Are whites the only people in Nashville with the resources to help? Absolutely not. So, why doesn't the black community help?

There are Sudanese Lost Boys in every major city in the US. Not to put you on the spot, but have you ever considered reaching out to help them, Mr. Micjones? If not, why?

FAX

As black as they come? Careful Mr Phony Liberal.
Posted via Mobile Device

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

As black as they come? Careful Mr Phony Liberal.
Posted via Mobile Device

damn man you go from making fun to serious in 2 posts

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3644454	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.”
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