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.”

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by stevieray

your post sounds racist

I know several older rich black men who don't understand the landsacape of gang culture or it's trappings...they don't want to. It's not glamorous.

This might be important if rich Black men were the overseers of Cordish developments.

There was nothing racially motivated about my post.

[Boon]

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

they let me in with assless chaps yesterday

Renegade.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

http://www.cityofkannapolis.com/dept...nformation.asp

http://laethnic.blogspot.com/2009/02/los-angeles-metropolis-defined-by.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/..._street_c.html

http://www.gangresearch.net/ChicagoG...schigangs4.htm

http://www.gaylords712.com/whitegangs.html

http://www.nwgangs.com/white_race_gangs.html


yeah, gangs never wear work boots.

I said workboots are not a derivative of gang culture.
That's a true statement. They aren't an indicator.
The first link in that chain was about the most broad evaluation of gang culture that I've ever read. I was frequently truant from Middle School on and I can't count how many times I've used the word "homeboy". Guess I'm a gangbanger too...

I'm sure gang members might also incorporate Vans into their wardrobes.
So let's be sure to ban all Van-wearing patrons as well.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Micjones

This might be important if rich Black men were the overseers of Cordish developments.

Maybe not Cordish, but there are tons of rich black businessmen in this country.

You think any of them want their business's to be associated with gang culture?

[Iowanian]

If I don't want to be mistaken for a cowboy, I don't wear a stetson.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Fairplay

Only white people are racists.

I have never in all my time here suggested or implied that only White people can be racist. That's ridiculous. I know full well that there are, in fact, people of all colors who suffer from racial bias, prejudice, and even racist philosophies and attitudes.

But when you aren't capable of putting together a real rebuttal you resort to ad hominem fallacies that end up failing you...too.

So carry on.

[Katipan]

This was a neat 10 minute read.

http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_m.../p102802-1.php

Using ethnographic data collected in the downtown party scene of Athens, Georgia, we examine how individuals negotiate urban public space. In particular, we explore whether the use of nightclub dress codes is a matter of race or class to black males who are disproportionately affected by these codes. We examine black males’ interpretive responses to being rejected from the nightclubs. We find that, although there is no definitive evidence that the nightclub owners are being racially discriminatory in their enforcement of dress codes, black males’ responses are generally rooted in race. We conclude that despite a complex relationship between race and class for blacks, ultimately dress codes represent a matter of taste grounded in social class experience rather than race. 2

The selection of particular styles then becomes a sort of cultural identity embedded with indicators of social class for both the wearer and those viewing the attire. As Lieberson (2000) demonstrates, individuals evaluate a person’s social status according to their choice of styles. By understanding, within the public space, the cultural cues being conveyed, urban residents can place strangers where they belong so as to navigate the streets. Yet, the interpretation of particular choices of style by those outside of the cultural milieu poses problems when race is involved. Pattillo-McCoy (1999), in her discussion of oppositional styles of dress associated with gangsta rap, makes this point. She suggests that whites’ “stylistic displays are less harshly sanctioned relative to the surveillance of black youth who follow the same fashions” (p118). The importance of such variance in surveillance is that, “the race of the wearer affects the degree to which certain styles are criminalized” (p.119). Pattillo-McCoy’s point is particularly germane 4

Annnnnd it goes on for 40 some odd pages.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Maybe not Cordish, but there are tons of rich black businessmen in this country.

We were talking about Cordish's overseers Deberg.
I know full well that there are successful Black businessmen all over the globe.

You think any of them want their business's to be associated with gang culture?

Absolutely not.
Prepare yourself for this one...
*Ahem*

I DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH GANG CULTURE!!!

What I'm merely trying to point out is that the former Cordish dress code was about the broadest, laziest, and most inaccurate interpretation of gang culture that I've ever seen.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Micjones

What I'm merely trying to point out is that the former Cordish dress code was about the broadest, laziest, and most inaccurate interpretation of gang culture that I've ever seen.

Yea, they did change the wording last year right?


Heres my defense for the dress code:

What about all the African Americans who conform to the P&L dress code and have a good time? They dont seem to have a problem conforming.

Originally Posted by Micjones

What I'm merely trying to point out is that the former Cordish dress code was about the broadest, laziest, and most inaccurate interpretation of gang culture that I've ever seen.

Did not know that. What's wrong besides work boots?

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by wild1

everyone is wrong here, really. because of our political and media driven culture, racism gets sensationalized whether it's happening or not. as a result white people are too quick to dismiss possible racism and minorities are too quick to charge racism, i think. what it all adds up to is that no honest examination of it ever happens. everyone just aligns by default.

I think there's a lot of truth to what you said.

Just pains me that often times people don't realize how frustrating it can be that they gloss over the experiences of minorities when they don't have to endure them. Maybe...just maybe you could be a little slower to deny our experiences and realize that you might not be able to identify with what it's like. Just listen sometimes. That's all I ask.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I think there's a lot of truth to what you said.

Agreed

Originally Posted by Micjones

Just pains me that often times people don't realize how frustrating it can be that they gloss over the experiences of minorities when they don't have to endure them. Maybe...just maybe you could be a little slower to deny our experiences and realize that you might not be able to identify with what it's like. Just listen sometimes. That's all I ask.

Well said. I know there tends to be alot of trash come out in threads like this, but if it helps enlighten just one person, its served alot of good.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Just like in the real world and you're applying for a job. You and the other person are equally qualified, Person 1 is clean cut, and has a nice appearance looks like he cares what he looks like. Person 2 is tatted from head to toe, has cornrow'd hair, comes in with baggy pants and his shirt hanging out. Which one do you think the boss is going to hire? You have to be kidding yourself if you think it's going to be Person #2. And there's even quota's that certain companies have to meet as far as hiring a certain # of minority candidates. The ones that present themselves better are the ones that will get hired.

The clean cut ones are the ones you have to worry about more.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

What about all the African Americans who conform to the P&L dress code and have a good time? They dont seem to have a problem conforming.

They're a bunch of Toms.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I think there's a lot of truth to what you said.

Just pains me that often times people don't realize how frustrating it can be that they gloss over the experiences of minorities when they don't have to endure them. Maybe...just maybe you could be a little slower to deny our experiences and realize that you might not be able to identify with what it's like. Just listen sometimes. That's all I ask.

This is exactly what I was trying to say yesterday. I also think it's important for those same minorities to listen to the experiences of their caucasion counterparts and recognize that there are a portion of minorities who use the race card to rationalize their own failures. It's a 2 way street, and I'm not saying that means it's a 2 lane 2 way street. Hopefully you're picking up what I'm laying down with that last comment.

Again, I think most people want to be good people, and do the right thing. Often times they just don't know how. There's been a lot conditioning and manipulation going on for centuries and longer.