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.”

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

See, this isn't a matter of drinking in the same water fountains. Racism has taken on a whole new facet. Racism used to be a power and control issue. Now, it's become a fear issue. And if you think that young, black, men don't notice that when you look at them, in how you talk to them, and how you treat them, then I believe that you are mistaken.

Our problem is that we are a "me first" society. We never take the time to consider how the things we say, or even the looks on our faces affect people of another race. And I completely believe that it is a 2 way street. JMHO.

Ok, that's fair enough. I just feel that we have become a little to PC in society nowadays. White people should not have to feel like they are "walking on eggshells", either.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Katipan

...

I'm okay with it.

Why am I not surprised by this.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Ok, that's fair enough. I just feel that we have become a little to PC in society nowadays. White people should not have to feel like they are "walking on eggshells", either.

Absolutely not. I positively agree with you on that. It is a 2 way street. But like most everything in life, I believe if you take care of your own house, the rest of the neighborhood can't help but to try and improve their own as well. I just think we're a finger pointing society, and until we learn how to fix the things that are wrong in our own lives, we'll never do better as a collective society either.

I used to rail on the mentality that Mic and Dotte bring about racism, and stereotyping. When I started paying attention to the people, and their actions and reactions around me, I started seeing things in a whole new light. Nobody's right. And everybody's wrong. I promise.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Absolutely not. I positively agree with you on that. It is a 2 way street. But like most everything in life, I believe if you take care of your own house, the rest of the neighborhood can't help but to try and improve their own as well. I just think we're a finger pointing society, and until we learn how to fix the things that are wrong in our own lives, we'll never do better as a collective society either.

I used to rail on the mentality that Mic and Dotte bring about racism, and stereotyping. When I started paying attention to the people, and their actions and reactions around me, I started seeing things in a whole new light. Nobody's right. And everybody's wrong. I promise.

I understand that completely. People around me know that I don't like racism. And I feel I am raising my kids properly in this area, as well. Hopefully, most of society is doing the same thing so that it will be minimized in the future. Sadly, I don't believe we will ever eliminate racism completely.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I never went to jail , I never sold dope, and I never carried a gun, and most of the kids I grew up with didn't either. I and they dressed like allot of the guys who you narrow minded people would call thugs..but I also have a degree, I work in the inner city volunteering to help kids stay out of jail and gangs, and I am working on my masters. But if you saw me on the street because of your narrow minds and your own hang ups, you would think I was a thug.......get over your selves. The world is changing. There is a whole generation that has grown up on hip hop and does not have your ****ed up stereotypes of what a thug is. This generation is already starting to take over ,a hopefully in the next 10 years this conversation will never have to take place again.

THUG GENERATION IS UPON US ALL AND IS ABOUT TO TAKE OVER, PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wutamess]

I agree... too PC.
I GET IT!

I'll say what most of you want to say but don't want to:
No one wants Tyronne and his gold chain, teeth and baggy shorts devaluing the area.

So in order to keep him out make rules.
Because once they get in, we lose the real money customers and we're looking at a Bannister Mall/ Westport scenario. So in order to keep it classy, Keep Tyronne out.

In some cases I agree, The P&L isn't for T. I've only been once (a couple of weeks ago) and quickly realized that it's not my crowd and I won't be going back. I do but I don't understand why Tyronne even wants to be there.

They can keep that shit.

[topher79]

Originally Posted by Lzen

I understand that completely. People around me know that I don't like racism. And I feel I am raising my kids properly in this area, as well. Hopefully, most of society is doing the same thing so that it will be minimized in the future. Sadly, I don't believe we will ever eliminate racism completely.

"We just gotta eliminate them. White people, black people, brown people, yellow people, get rid of 'em all. All we need is a voluntary, free spirited, open-ended program of procreative racial deconstruction. Everybody just gotta keep ****in' everybody til they're all the same color"

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Ok, that's fair enough. I just feel that we have become a little to PC in society nowadays. White people should not have to feel like they are "walking on eggshells", either.

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

Absolutely not. I positively agree with you on that. It is a 2 way street. But like most everything in life, I believe if you take care of your own house, the rest of the neighborhood can't help but to try and improve their own as well. I just think we're a finger pointing society, and until we learn how to fix the things that are wrong in our own lives, we'll never do better as a collective society either.

I used to rail on the mentality that Mic and Dotte bring about racism, and stereotyping. When I started paying attention to the people, and their actions and reactions around me, I started seeing things in a whole new light. Nobody's right. And everybody's wrong. I promise.

.
I agree with you, racism is still everywhere. I just think it's getting to the point where reverse racism, or claims that something was racist when it wasn't intended that way, is almost as big a problem. I can understand why that happens, but it's something thats gotten out of hand. When two radio hosts get a 30 day suspention for racist comments made by a homeless guest they had on a uncensored show(the guest was black and talking about Condoleezza Rice btw) things have gotten out of hand.

EDIT: After reading that it's not close to being as big a problem, but is a growing problem

[Iowanian]

wuta....

did anyone give you or anyone with you any hassle about getting into any establishment or the area itself?

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by wutamess

I agree... too PC.
I GET IT!

I'll say what most of you want to say but don't want to:
No one wants Tyronne and his gold chain, teeth and baggy shorts devaluing the area.

So in order to keep him out make rules.
Because once they get in, we lose the real money customers and we're looking at a Bannister Mall/ Westport scenario. So in order to keep it classy, Keep Tyronne out.

In some cases I agree, The P&L isn't for T. I've only been once (a couple of weeks ago) and quickly realized that it's not my crowd and I won't be going back. I do but I don't understand why Tyronne even wants to be there.

They can keep that shit.

Rog, for me it's not about Tyrone. I don't necessarily want to deal with little suburban Billy that dresses the same way. You can't blame people for running away from the gangster mentality. Look at the message in it. The media doesn't report about Outkast who brings a positive message through their music. There's no ratings in that. It's all about Suge Knight, and Tupac getting killed, and then biggy next.

All it takes is a few violent scenarios playing out before business owners feel they have no choice because suburban white America has no clue what's going on other than what they're told on the local news. I swear to you, it's not personal. At least not from my perspective.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

I agree with you, racism is still everywhere. I just think it's getting to the point where reverse racism, or claims that something was racist when it wasn't intended that way, is almost as big a problem. I can understand why that happens, but it's something thats gotten out of hand. When two radio hosts get a 30 day suspention for racist comments made by a homeless guest they had on a uncensored show(the guest was black and talking about Condoleezza Rice btw) things have gotten out of hand.

To me, and I'll get hammered for this too, racism is a dying breed. Racism to me is someone holding another person of another race down from achieving their true potential. No, we're just stereotyping, fear mongers. IMO, there's a big difference. Racism is real, but that's not what's happening in the majority of America.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

skateboarding has been around since the 60's it's more likely blacks decided that they don't want to bust their ass on a skateboard and just decided to dress like them

The culture of skateboarding has changed like anything else over the years.
Skateboarders in the 80's looked nothing at all like their Hip Hop counterparts.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

here is the simple truth:

Cordish (and most places) have no problem with minorities except those that seek to start trouble and cause violence. Typically, it is those who exhibit certain behavior and dress patterns who cause these issues more than their counterparts who do not dress in this fashion.

Sure, there are plenty of people who dress that way who don't cause problems, but if you have a pool of 100 troublemakers, experience has shown those exhibiting that appearance statistically caused more problems, regardl;ess of being black or white. Being black is just an additional characteristic of some of the population who dresses in that way, just as being white or latino is a characteristic of some who dress that way.


If you show up looking like Eminem, you will get turned away just as if you show up looking like TI.

Show me the studies that prove urban fashion is an accurate indicator of criminal intent.
Don't worry...I'll wait.

[wutamess]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

wuta....

did anyone give you or anyone with you any hassle about getting into any establishment or the area itself?

NO... I got in through the main entrance (to get to the pavillion).

I was able to get into Howl at the Moon (no problems at all).

Went to see what Mosaic was like and they told me my shorts were too long. I told the guy I just wanted to go in check it out and come back out he let me go in no problems.

No hassles. Was rather harmless as I thought rules are rules and it's all relative. I was ready to go home so I didn't give a shit anyways.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by wutamess

I agree... too PC.
I GET IT!

I'll say what most of you want to say but don't want to:
No one wants Tyronne and his gold chain, teeth and baggy shorts devaluing the area.

So in order to keep him out make rules.
Because once they get in, we lose the real money customers and we're looking at a Bannister Mall/ Westport scenario. So in order to keep it classy, Keep Tyronne out.

In some cases I agree, The P&L isn't for T. I've only been once (a couple of weeks ago) and quickly realized that it's not my crowd and I won't be going back. I do but I don't understand why Tyronne even wants to be there.

They can keep that shit.

Spot-on.