Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff

[Deberg_1990]

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.”

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by Micjones

No white t-shirts
No shirts below pants pockets
No shorts below top of calf
No exposed necklaces on men
No towels
No jerseys
No workboots

I think it's pretty clear the code was aimed squarely at urban fashion.

The thursday night bowling leagues are the one directly targeted

[Titty Meat]

Looks like the Cordish group is creates controversy in other cities too

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by billay

Looks like the Cordish group is creates controversy in other cities too

*Ding Ding Ding*

[HonestChieffan]

Still like to know more on the tax comments. Was it all TIF?

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

But as a black male..It feels like My culture and I were targeted.

So is hip hop now just a black thing? Jeez thats racist. I listen to hip hop and I dont choose to dress like it.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

So is hip hop now just a black thing?

No it's not.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Tossing out racial epithets does not endear your cause.

it is the power and white district

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Micjones

No shorts below top of calf

No self respecting man would wear capri pants.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

So is hip hop now just a black thing? Jeez thats racist. I listen to hip hop and I dont choose to dress like it.

When I say my culture smart ass, I mean Black people. Obviously hip hop crosses all racial boundaries.

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Not in my view.
That's a little less specific though I think.
And personally a code I don't much mind.

It doesn't bother me either....but wouldn't this same thing fall into what you are considering discriminatory?

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

So is hip hop now just a black thing? Jeez thats racist. I listen to hip hop and I dont choose to dress like it.

I really doubt you listen to hip hop , just going by your post.

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

No self respecting man would wear capri pants.

it's not hard to go that low when your belt line is at below your balls

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

It doesn't bother me either....but wouldn't this same thing fall into what you are considering discriminatory?

No.

If there was a specific qualifier on the hat ban that outlawed, say, oversized caps or straight bills then yes.

[whoaskew]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I've had friends in suits turned away because their pants were cuffed.

A couple years ago, one of my friends from Saint Louis came to visit and I took him to Cactus Cafe on Westport. They wouldn't let him in because his shirt didn't have a collar, even though they were letting white guys in with t-shirts. He changed shirts and came back. They wouldn't let him in because his pants were cuffed, even though they were letting white guys in with jeans.


Last year, my cousin B that we play football with every Saturday, was turned away at NV downtown because the pants on the suit he was wearing were "too baggy". B is 6'2" and 230 lbs, and was measured for the suit at Jack Henry on the Plaza.


Yeah, racism doesn't exist anymore. (/sarcasm)

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

I really doubt you listen to hip hop , just going by your post.