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.”

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Micjones

And exactly when did the truth come out?

As they said in the Movie, You can't handle the truth.

All yesterday you posted every piece of inflamatory garbage you could make up...then long about 4pm, out pops the rabbit ...the speakers were toast....and thats the end of the game....nothing racist unless they were set to explode while Dj Diggity Skidoo was here....come on Jones, get real, be honest with yourself...this si a non issue and you can't stand that the smoke you saw had no fire.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Mr. Krab's

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"

Its up in the air for me because of this taken from the original story:




"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.”

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

guess not. Gangs were wearing work boots clear back into the 50s when they began to explode.

Skinhead gangs were at least one group that wore industrial boots (Doc Martens). Problem is...well...they look NOTHING like the workboots that Cordish currently bans.


Research on gang culture that examines the fashionable expression of gang members from 50 years ago. Brilliant. Fabulous work they must be doing over at Cordish.

They may not be a leading indicator of today's gang involvement

Mmm...

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by Micjones

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.

I've actually been concerned about coming across as preachy, or sounding as if I think I'm qualified to arbitrate anything regarding this. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I suffer from the same types of stereotypes at times that everyone else does. I don't know the answers. But I, like many others I believe, would like to learn.

All I want is for people to be more open minded to what their counterparts have to say about these things, rather than continuing to make the same statements that have been made for decades. Until we start focusing on listening, rather than talking, we won't make any progress IMO.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

As they said in the Movie, You can't handle the truth.

All yesterday you posted every piece of inflamatory garbage you could make up...then long about 4pm, out pops the rabbit ...the speakers were toast....and thats the end of the game....nothing racist unless they were set to explode while Dj Diggity Skidoo was here....come on Jones, get real, be honest with yourself...this si a non issue and you can't stand that the smoke you saw had no fire.

You fail at critical thought.

Jon Stephens from the outset claimed that DJJJ was dismissed because he was red-lining the soundsystem. Doesn't it stand to reason that he'd say...sometime after that speakers or audio equipment was damaged?

If that's proof in your mind I've got some Swampland to sell you.
After that release he was asked, by a local reporter (who is a personal friend of mine) if they had examined their warranties or insurance to determine if the damage would be covered. He said they had not even inspected them. He went on to say that Jazzy Jeff would NOT be held responsible. And later still said DJJJ would be welcome back to perform at his leisure.

Now you mean to tell me he was warned repeatedly that he was red-lining the system, failed to comply with their requests to turn the music down, stormed off of his own volition, completely misrepresented the truth and opened a can of bad publicity Cordish has been warding off for two days, did extensive damage to their soundsystem... and after all of that... They want him back?

[Saulbadguy]

Cliffs notes please?

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

I've actually been concerned about coming across as preachy, or sounding as if I think I'm qualified to arbitrate anything regarding this. I'm nowhere near perfect, and I suffer from the same types of stereotypes at times that everyone else does. I don't know the answers. But I, like many others I believe, would like to learn.

I've got a great deal of respect for people like yourself Flops.
We've got a long way to go and it's going to require us all, myself included, to be open-minded about things. That's partly what I think conversations like these contribute to. At least I hope...

All I want is for people to be more open minded to what their counterparts have to say about these things, rather than continuing to make the same statements that have been made for decades. Until we start focusing on listening, rather than talking, we won't make any progress IMO.

Well said.

[HonestChieffan]

They could bring the speakers to you and you would claim its a fake...so whats the point?

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

They could bring the speakers to you and you would claim its a fake...so whats the point?

Because I'm skeptical about the obviously shaky story that Cordish has given the Kansas City media I must also be so stubborn that I wouldn't accept hard evidence. Riiiiiiight.

Tell me honestly...

Does it make sense that they aren't holding him responsible for the damage?
Does it make sense that they'd be open to him returning given all that's happened?

Come on man.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Tell me honestly...

Does it make sense that they aren't holding him responsible for the damage?
Does it make sense that they'd be open to him returning given all that's happened?

Come on man.

Does it make sense that they would hire an act that plays Hip-Hop and then kick them off the stage when they play it?

There's a lot to this story that does not make sense.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

See I never once said anything about white people. I am half white. I simply said their is defiantly a problem with the PL district and all of you bigots came out the closet. Go read the post...so if you think that I am a bigot your sadly mistaken. I am also the last person to play the race card, but in this case I have to speak up. Because I decieded that I needed to say something ,for the most part all I got was " stop crying" " Al sharpton" " and look another black man complaing abour racism". This is what I expected to get in the first place. Like I said, no mater if you dress hip hop, drive lowriders ( lowriders are more of a Mexiacan American thing) or have a friend that is a minority in this country( woman included) you will never fully understand what it is like for us in this country. Has this country come a long way? yes. Do we still need to work on things? hell yes. GOD FORBID THAT WE TRY TO POINT OUT RACISM..AND WE WILL KEEP DOING IT NO MATTER HOW TIRED SOME OF YOU GET HEARING IT.

i know exactly what lowriders are. so now you are saying that mexicans arent considered minoritys? or are they just not as important as blacks in your opinion?

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Because I'm skeptical about the obviously shaky story that Cordish has given the Kansas City media I must also be so stubborn that I wouldn't accept hard evidence. Riiiiiiight.

Tell me honestly...

Does it make sense that they aren't holding him responsible for the damage?
Does it make sense that they'd be open to him returning given all that's happened?

Come on man.

No. Because if you admit you accept the speakers were blown then there is no basis for the crazy uncalled for claims of racism. its simple. Your hope is to create an issue and keep it going. They took their toys home, now you have no game.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Its up in the air for me because of this taken from the original story:




"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.”

So grabbing your cock on stage makes the crowd excited now?

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Micjones

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.

pot-kettle

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Because I'm skeptical about the obviously shaky story that Cordish has given the Kansas City media I must also be so stubborn that I wouldn't accept hard evidence. Riiiiiiight.

Tell me honestly...

Does it make sense that they aren't holding him responsible for the damage?
Does it make sense that they'd be open to him returning given all that's happened?

Come on man.

It does make sense they invite him back. They're doing PR. What do you want them to say, "He's BANNED FOREVER!"?
And it does make sense they wouldn't hold him responsible. They'd have to sue him to get the money, they'd have a hard time proving he did it (if it happened) because he could claim it was already damaged prior to him getting there, and on top of that it would be bad PR to have a lawsuit pending against him after this. It would make no sense to hold him responsible even if it were true.
Use your brain.