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.”

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Agreed



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.

Indeed. I've been enlightened. I'm not perfect but I'm not what I once was.

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Micjones

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.

you don't know what derivative means do you?

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by blaise

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.

You're right. Because obviously they're so keen on the Hip Hop world seeing how they have exactly zero establishments in their complex that cater to it.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Micjones

You're right. Because obviously they're so keen on the Hip Hop world seeing how they have exactly zero establishments in their complex that cater to it.

That's not the issue. The issue would be whether they were so outraged by hio-hop being played that they shut it down mid-set.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

http://www.kansascity.com/news/break...y/1240513.html


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2009

Media Contact: Jon Stephens 816-547-7904 jstephens@cordish.com

STATEMENT REGARDING DJ JAZZY JEFF PERFORMANCE

On Saturday night Kansas City Live! was proud to feature a DJ performance by Jazzy Jeff. Jazzy Jeff is a tremendous artist with a long and successful history in the hip-hop/rap music genre and KC Live! was honored to have Jazzy Jeff play the venue. The event played by Jazzy Jeff was the second year of a similar promotion, last years featuring Mix Master Mike. We were delighted to feature the music that Jazzy Jeff is famous for. That is why he was scheduled to perform and his performance was excellent and exactly what we expected when he was scheduled.

The problem that occurred was solely technical in nature. KC Live! is not a traditional concert venue and thus the sound amplification and the type of sound waves compatible with the overall sound system are an issue with some production companies accustomed to concert venue shows. Whenever possible KC Live! handles the production of the shows however this artist supplied his own production staff. Thirty minutes into his performance the venue production engineers repeatedly informed the artists production staff that the system was being red-lined and that volume needed to be lowered to prevent damage to the system. The artists personnel ultimately refused and the artist terminated the concert for that reason. To characterize this incident in racial terms is absurd and illogical. We scheduled Jazzy Jeff proudly, knowing exactly his repertoire of music.

There was in fact extensive damage done to the system due to the performance. There are twelve high end drivers in the main cabinets of the sound system. Nine of the twelve high end drivers of the sound system were permanently damaged by the "square" sound wave being sent from the artists production which put the overall system is distress. Had the levels been adjusted in a quick manner the system would not have been damaged. Problems in aligning artist and venue production have occurred with other performers, for example the rock and roll band Lights and Siren stopped in mid concert to prevent damage to the sound system.

We would happily have Jazzy Jeff return as often as his schedule would accommodate and he is booked at another facility which is affiliated with Kansas City Live!





http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/18776


I won't deny that Power & Light District owner Cordish Co. was clumsy in its handling of the dress code flap.

In fact, I slammed Cordish execs for 1) being overbearing in applying the dress code (since revised) and 2) making one PR mistake after another in trying to quell the controversy.

However, I think the P&L is getting a bad rap when it comes to this weekend's dustup over DJ Jazzy Jeff .

You can find details in this story, columns like this one and elsewhere across the blogosphere.

But here's my take:

The P&L's explanation for what happened makes loads more sense than the cries of discrimination we're hearing.

The performer claims he was kicked off the stage at the Kansas City Live Pavilion because of his choice of music. Hip hop.

Whereas P&L spokesman Jon Stephens said DJ Jazzy Jeff left in a snit after being told to turn the music down because the volume could blow the speaker system.

This being Kansas City, some are trying to turn this into a racial thing. And it could be, I suppose, a case of someone at P&L not being comfortable with the music or the crowd it drew over the weekend.

But that presupposes that the level of Cordish Co. cluelessness is beyond all bounds, that company officials didn't realize that a guy who made his name on Hip Hop would show up for a concert and not play that kind of music.

Nobody is that stupid.

Which is why Stephens' explanation about the sound system makes perfect sense to me.

And so does it seem plausible that a performer with a huge ego might behave in a childish manner by walking off the stage because he couldn't have everything his way.

Just saying.

It's not funny, though. Kansas City needs the Power & Light District to succeed.

So until there's more proof to say there was anything more to this than a dispute over the sound system, everyone needs to calm down.

Not everything that happens at the P&L automatically fits into the racial narrative.

Well that solves that.
Because Jon Stephens said so.

We'll forget the fact that he told my very Jewish friend, who so happens to be a local reporter, that they were not at all examining their warranties or insurance for said system to determine their recourse. Neither were they going to hold Jazzy Jeff responsible financially. It'll be an out of pocket expense. Makes perfect sense.

[blaise]

micjones- please state exactly why you think he was shut down.

[Mr. Krab]

Originally Posted by blaise

micjones- please state exactly why you think he was shut down.

Cuz dey hatin' da blacks.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

you don't know what derivative means do you?

Let's see...

Main Entry: 1de·riv·a·tive
Pronunciation: \di-ˈri-və-tiv\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
2: something derived

de⋅rive  /dɪˈraɪv/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [di-rahyv] Show IPA verb, -rived, -riv⋅ing.
–verb (used with object)
5. to come from a source or origin; originate (often fol. by from).

Apparently no.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by blaise

micjones- please state exactly why you think he was shut down.

For what reason Blaise? You aren't going to change your mind.
You've got this all figured out.

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Well that solves that.
Because Jon Stephens said so.

We'll forget the fact that he told my very Jewish friend, who so happens to be a local reporter, that they were not at all examining their warranties or insurance for said system to determine their recourse. Neither were they going to hold Jazzy Jeff responsible financially. It'll be an out of pocket expense. Makes perfect sense.

It makes about as much sense as the claim they allowed DJJJ to be hired, get all his stuff set up and start performing and then suddenly, shockingly discovered he played Biz Markie and Rhianna and were so outraged they shut him down.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

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.

And exactly when did the truth come out?

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Micjones

For what reason Blaise? You aren't going to change your mind.
You've got this all figured out.

So we know where you stand. Is there a problem expressing that?

[mikeyis4dcats.]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Let's see...



Apparently no.

guess not. Gangs were wearing work boots clear back into the 50s when they began to explode. They may not be a leading indicator of today's gang involvement, but they are one example of a clothing type brought into vogue by gangs in the past, and are still favored by some.

[Mr. Krab]

The only remotely feasible reason i can see is if DJJJ started playing some songs with some rude lyrics. I mean if they breaking out some serious "gangsta" rap they could of received so complaints around the 100th time they screamed "I'll **** all you white ho's to death with my big black dick"

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

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.

I recognize that, but I think it's quite a bit silly to make yourself an arbiter of what are real and genuine instances of racism.