Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 39

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.”

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Thing is, this particular date was probably booked before the tour itself began in May. To say that there would've been foreknowledge of which particular set of DJ's would blow into town back in, say, April is to be disingenuous.

So your saying your friend booked something and had no idea who or what genre would be playing?

wild1 · 06-08-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

So your saying your friend booked something and had no idea who or what genre would be playing?

I wonder if they book polka bands on accident too?

blaise · 06-08-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Thing is, this particular date was probably booked before the tour itself began in May. To say that there would've been foreknowledge of which particular set of DJ's would blow into town back in, say, April is to be disingenuous.

To say the organizers wouldn't expect any DJ at any show to play at decent amount of hip-hop or R&B would be equally disingenuous.

HonestChieffan · 06-08-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

I wonder if they book polka bands on accident too?

Man, thats some music there. Big Joe's Polka Show is on RFD TV every week. Top bands too

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

I wonder if they book polka bands on accident too?

I'm sure someone out there that plays in a garage band will be excited by this and can go to this promoter and say they want to book a stop on their national tour here.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

To say the organizers wouldn't expect any DJ at any show to play at decent amount of hip-hop or R&B would be equally disingenuous.

I don't think so.
KC Live hasn't traditionally been a stage for Hip Hop.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

I wonder if they book polka bands on accident too?

Brilliant.
If they didn't personally book the tour or have foreknowledge of which set of DJ's would be on tap for the performance that night...they must've been booked accidentally. Fabulous logic at work there.

blaise · 06-08-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I don't think so.
KC Live hasn't traditionally been a stage for Hip Hop.

You're saying DJ's that play there don't play any hip-hop?

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billay

Yes I knew it was a Texas rapper. Anyway the point being you've done alot of shows and even done shows with established artist so I would think you'd know a little about sound systems. How was Jazzy Jeef too loud for PNLS brand new million dollar sound system?

you think Matt Cassell knows the intricacies of HD television cameras?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

You're saying DJ's that play there don't play any hip-hop?

Um...where did I say that?

kstater · 06-08-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

If they had a dress code that wasn't so obvious that they were targeting mostly young black males, then I don't think it would be a problem. If you go to black clubs they also have dress codes( gasp yes black people have dress codes also) and some of them do say no white tee`s or tennis shoes, or sports gear, but that is just inside a club. But what we are talking about is an entire area inside and out that obviously does not want a certain demographic there at all.

So "discrimatory" dress codes are ok as long as it's at a "black" club?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

you think Matt Cassell knows the intricacies of HD television cameras?

Because knowledge of broadcasting technology is something QB's generally have. Seeing how they have to use it to play their position in the NFL.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Because knowledge of broadcasting technology is something QB's generally have. Seeing how they have to use it to play their position in the NFL.

his argument was because you've toured, you're familiar with the intircacies of audio engineering.

I'm sure any musician knows how to turn on a mixing board and I bet any QB can power up a camera, but knowing how to use one, let alone the engineering principals behind the equipment isn't something most have a firm handle on.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

his argument was because you've toured, you're familiar with the intircacies of audio engineering.

I'm sure any musician knows how to turn on a mixing board and I bet any QB can power up a camera, but knowing how to use one, let alone the engineering principals behind the equipment isn't something most have a firm handle on.

Got that. Problem is, that was a horrible analogy.

By virtue of being a live performer and recording artist I will ALWAYS come into personal contact with audio equipment to execute my craft.

Matt Cassel will never EVER find himself in a control room, or behind a camera on Sunday gamedays as a by-product of playing QB in the NFL. He doesn't need a working knowledge of broadcast equipment or technology to play QB.

Again, I've done audio-engineering for local studios.
I've taken audio-engineering classes. My experience as an artist is merely a sidebar to my overall experience with audio equipment.

But again, don't take my word for it.
Do your own research about how compressors function.

blaise · 06-08-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Um...where did I say that?

So you're saying that prior DJ's probably did play hip-hop there? At least some amount? Because a few posts above that when I said someone claiming they had no expectation that a certain amount of hip-hop would be played would be being disingenuous you disagreed.
So in the past it happened but they were simply stunned that a DJ in this case spun R&B and hip-hop (and fairly tame hip-hop from what I've read).

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3754454	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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