Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 54

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.”

**Bob Dole** · 06-09-2009, 06:58 AM

Bob Dole isn't familiar with the P&L dress code. Can Bob Dole walk in wearing leathers and M/C club colors?

blaise · 06-09-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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.

You realize you're just as bigoted as those people you're pointing your finger at, right? Or are you just blind to that fact?

Katipan · 06-09-2009, 07:03 AM

I don't experience much racism.

But I think it's more of a I dont know what ****ing race that girl is rather than a demonpenz ching chang ping pang joke.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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.

i grew up in KCK, built lowriders for years. drove them too.dressed just like the dress code says not to. do you not think i was looked at differently getting out of one? i KNOW what it's like to be discriminated against. i still think some(you) are probably too quick to assume race is a factor in most every thing you do

blaise · 06-09-2009, 07:06 AM

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.

I had a college professor that tried to make this argument. The problem is that you can't just look at the entire system as the only opportunity for one race to oppress another. If you're a business owner don't you have the ability to cause disadvantage to a race? If you're a black supervisor at a company and you continually promote black employees over white employees simply based on race would that not fit the criteria? So, I think that whole "Only white people can be racist" is false.

blaise · 06-09-2009, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spott

Where exactly is the P&L district?

It's the place where there's going to be out of business restaurants in about 5 years.

blaise · 06-09-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

You're right.
Let's gloss over the history that surrounds and gives legitimacy to my point.

Forget the fact that the officials in question DID NOT book the show.

Forget the fact that there were almost certainly contractual and/or financial implications that might've seriously obstructed the venue from pulling out of the show.

Jon Stephens' explanation is much more palatable.

Yes it's much more palatable that the officials hated hip-hop so much they shut DJJJ down. And despite that fact that they hated hip-hop so much they allowed DJs to be booked without checking to see if hip-hop would be played.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-09-2009, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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.

**** you dude. You don't agree with us so we have to be bigots? **** off.

I'm a democrat and I'm 32. I have plenty of minority friends and acquaintances and plenty of friends who would tell you I am among the first to call them out if they say something bigoted or racial. My only problem with YOU, is you'd rather call everyone out rather than DO something about it.

**Lzen** · 06-09-2009, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

Dictionary definitions are incredibly narrow. Racism is far too complex to be defined in a few imprecise words. The dictionary doesn't have the space nor inclination to take into account the actual social ramifications of racism and therefore provides these oversimplified definitions so it can move on to the next word. Not to mention that the rampant misappropriation of the term "racism" is probably what's to blame for those other two definitions. When enough people misuse a word enough times, it takes on that meaning.

What is it with you guys' obsession with the dictionary anyway? What is this, the introduction to a sixth grader's essay on freedom?

Translation - I don't like the dictionary's definition so I'll just make up my own BS.

**Lzen** · 06-09-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SportsRacer

And anyway, I'd argue that 2 of those 3 definitions you provided fit my definition. Having "the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others" is what created the system of white advantage and thus anybody who subscribes to that idea is perpetuating the system.

What, you think only caucasions can believe that their race is superior?

kepp · 06-09-2009, 07:25 AM

All I want to know is, can I wear my parachute pants to P&L?!

burt · 06-09-2009, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

All I want to know is, can I wear my parachute pants to P&L?!

Sure you can Michael.....

kepp · 06-09-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burt

Sure you can Michael.....

Wow...they even made MJ remove his mask.

Mr. Plow · 06-09-2009, 08:12 AM

If Michael Jackson wearing the proper attire wasn't allowed in, would that be considered racist?

HonestChieffan · 06-09-2009, 08:15 AM

I can't believe this is still going. Once the truth came out that they blew the speakers it should have gone away.

People are nuts.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3494454	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.”
Posts: 66,914

06-09-2009, 06:58 AM	#796
Bob Dole King Shit of **** Mountain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texarkana, Texas Casino cash: $2064497	Bob Dole isn't familiar with the P&L dress code. Can Bob Dole walk in wearing leathers and M/C club colors?
Posts: 48,781

06-09-2009, 07:03 AM	#798
Katipan MER Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Colorado Casino cash: $2360351	I don't experience much racism. But I think it's more of a I dont know what ***ing race that girl is rather than a demonpenz ching chang ping pang joke. __________________ "Loving him is red."*
Posts: 22,946

06-09-2009, 07:25 AM	#806
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5129212	All I want to know is, can I wear my parachute pants to P&L?!
Posts: 14,513

06-09-2009, 08:12 AM	#809
Mr. Plow In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $1527391	If Michael Jackson wearing the proper attire wasn't allowed in, would that be considered racist?
Posts: 30,864

06-09-2009, 08:15 AM	#810
HonestChieffan Seeking the Truth daily Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $1734309	I can't believe this is still going. Once the truth came out that they blew the speakers it should have gone away. People are nuts. __________________ “Make no mistake. If you try anything to raise the cost of vishessavatubs, I will veto it.” - Joe Biden, SOTU 2023
Posts: 53,474