Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 52

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.”

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-08-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

I know exactly what you mean, Mr. Mr. Flopnuts. Listening to the press, one would think a midget could do no wrong.

FAX

See? Is this so hard to comprehend?

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

See? Is this so hard to comprehend?

How can you argue with that. Have you ever seen anything in any media that makes a midget out to be anything other than wonderful?

**DeezNutz** · 06-08-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

I know exactly what you mean, Mr. Mr. Flopnuts. Listening to the press, one would think a midget could do no wrong.

FAX

It's a wee bit of a problem.

Thig Lyfe · 06-08-2009, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I think the media inspires more prejudices than any other source. It's really kind of perverse when you see what gets covered and what doesn't.

Missing white woman syndrome, anyone?

**Lzen** · 06-08-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

Technically, yeah. The way society has been constructed over the course of this country's history systematically advantages white people. So, since only white people can benefit from that system, only white people can systematically disadvantage other races, and thus only white people can be racist.

Now, that isn't to say that people of other races can't be prejudiced or bigoted. Because they most certainly can.

Nice try, but only 1 of 3 fit your definition. And that's really stretching it, IMO. Anyone who says that only white people can be racist is a ****ing moron.

racist - 3 dictionary results
rac⋅ism

/ˈreɪ

sɪz

əm/

Show Spelled Pronunciation [rey-siz-uh

m]

Show IPA –noun

1.	a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

2.	a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

3.	hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Origin:

**Bugeater** · 06-08-2009, 10:29 PM

Looking at who is sitting in the White House right now pretty much debunks the notion that only white people can benefit from "the system" as well.

Mr. Plow · 06-08-2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

If the historically disadvantaged group gains an advantage over the historically advantaged group, how long does it take for the historically advantaged group to become the historically disadvantaged group and the historically disadvantaged group to become the historically advantaged group and start taking advantage of the historically disadvantaged group just like the historically advantaged group did to start the whole thing?

FAX

You just blew my mind.

Dottefan · 06-08-2009, 10:29 PM

obviously none of us will change our minds.. I think the majority of you that posted in this thread are semi bigots, and the only reason you posted was to get your concervative republican pro white male points accross. You know nothing of what it is like to be a minority in this country and you dont care. You think all we do is wine about racism, and god forbid if we complain when there is racism. THere is still alot of prejudice in this country, but hey , if I say that I am just playing the race card..lol..its cool in 50 years you will be the minority and hopefully you dont have to deal with the crap we do.

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 10:35 PM