Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 70

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.”

Inspector · 06-09-2009, 04:42 PM

What about a black midget? HUH?

What about that?

Yeah, just think about that.

FAX · 06-09-2009, 04:47 PM

As I was reading more of this discussion, it suddenly occurred to me that I have never, ever seen a black person (other than a Sudanese) at any of the meetings involving the Sudanese Lost Boys that we work with here in Nashville. Never. Ever. Not one.

I wonder why.

FAX

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

Well yeah, you make a good point.

Maybe a few more decades of trying that will work. I suppose if we continue to highlight the differences between all of us then in some way it will eliminate everyone seeing the differences and not seeing anyone as "different" and feeling like there is an "us" and a "them".

It's an abstract idea, but will never work in reality.
The truth of the matter is we do have differences.
Let's acknowledge and appreciate them.

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

As I was reading more of this discussion, it suddenly occurred to me that I have never, ever seen a black person (other than a Sudanese) at any of the meetings involving the Sudanese Lost Boys that we work with here in Nashville. Never. Ever. Not one.

I wonder why.

FAX

Give us your theory.

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Yeah but at least you could say you did something.

I'm doing something now.
Dialogue is just as key an element.

**DaFace** · 06-09-2009, 04:52 PM

Aside from responding to a report, I've mostly ignored this thread. Is discussion relatively civil, or should it be moved to DC?

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Aside from responding to a report, I've mostly ignored this thread. Is discussion relatively civil, or should it be moved to DC?

It's mellowed out quite a bit and I think over the last three to five pages some real dialogue has taken place.

Inspector · 06-09-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

It's an abstract idea, but will never work in reality.
The truth of the matter is we do have differences.
Let's acknowledge and appreciate them.

OK....

Dang, I never get my way....

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inspector

OK....

Dang, I never get my way....

Haha... Me either. Hey, who is the band in your avatar? They look familiar.

PunkinDrublic · 06-09-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I'm doing something now.
Dialogue is just as key an element.

I don't know people on this board are pretty set in their ways. It would seem like an exercise in frustration to me. I say this as a guy who has indeed fought for his right to party.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I'm not so sure. I think much of the tension can be attributed to the fact that we don't acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we should.

really? i thought the whole point of this is the perceived acknowledgement of the differences by the cordish corp.

**SAUTO** · 06-09-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

HC this is part of what Dotte's been alluding to throughout this very thread.

You make light of people's real life experiences that they hold dear to heart.
No one's asking you to be a bleeding heart about it, but have some respect for those who do take it seriously.

dotte has done the same when people have said their experiences.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-09-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I think you tend to oversimplify and create strawmen in the process.

And yes, I'm certain people of all walks of life endure unique struggles in their daily lives.

But I suppose that vertically challenged people's struggles are LESS significant because people with other 'challenges' exist? That's ridiculous. Maybe we can simply honor the unique challenges that everyone faces and find ways to be more understanding... There's a thought.

you tend to use big words in all your discussions.

if you'd pull your nose out of your thesaurus, you'd realize the point he's trying to make (respectfully) is that yes, minorities have challenges they deal with every day. So do many other individuals and groups. But you don't see many of the others holding protests over trivialities. I think protesting over this is ludacris (intentional) because it only serves to weaken your message and dilute your plight. You are basing your argument on what I believe most will see as a reasonable issue and that it is being blown out of proportion.

2 months ago, there was less hip hip played at KC Live than there has been today. Why did they not protest then if that is their issue?

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

I don't know people on this board are pretty set in their ways. It would seem like an exercise in frustration to me. I say this as a guy who has indeed fought for his right to party.

As much as some would like to think these conversations aren't one-sided.
I learn too PD.

And sometimes it can be extremely frustrating, but at others...fulfilling.

Micjones · 06-09-2009, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

really? i thought the whole point of this is the perceived acknowledgement of the differences by the cordish corp.

Acknowledgment AND appreciation, sir.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $2524454	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, 04:42 PM	#1036
Inspector MVP Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: K.C. Casino cash: $9914975	What about a black midget? HUH? What about that? Yeah, just think about that. __________________ As always, this is IMO.
Posts: 7,914

06-09-2009, 04:47 PM	#1037
FAX testing ... 1, 2, 3 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Tennessee Casino cash: $6753759	As I was reading more of this discussion, it suddenly occurred to me that I have never, ever seen a black person (other than a Sudanese) at any of the meetings involving the Sudanese Lost Boys that we work with here in Nashville. Never. Ever. Not one. I wonder why. FAX
Posts: 44,492

06-09-2009, 04:52 PM	#1041
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $536899	Aside from responding to a report, I've mostly ignored this thread. Is discussion relatively civil, or should it be moved to DC?
Posts: 52,325