Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 83

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.”

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-10-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

I don't believe I've ever seen FAX this angry. Nice going Dottie.

When FAX stops calling you Mr. you better duck....

Mr. Plow · 06-10-2009, 07:37 AM

This is like a car wreck.....I just can't turn away.

PS.

Fax, I'll be needing a loan. Well, not so much of a loan - more like you just giving me money that you'll never see again. But, I'll pay you back.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-10-2009, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

Yes I see the Irony in that. If I go out to a club, or bar, I dress for the most part in Polos , jeans or button ups. If I am just hanging out, I have on my t shirts and baggy jeans. My point is for the people who want to wear their chains and t`s to the club they should be able to. I tell the kids that Fax calls trash everday, that they need to understand that when they are out in the BUISNESS WORLD, that they need to follow a certain dress code. If they want to get a good paying job they need to dress the part..clean cut. This does not apply to going out, drinking and partying. Those are two different things. From some of your post , it leads me to believe that you think we don't understand this concept. The same cat you see in baggy jeans at the club on Friday, might be in a suit on Monday. That's a reality. But you don't see that. Why would you assume that that is any different than the white guy in flip flops and shorts? I think this is point that allot of people are trying to make regarding the dress code at the PL district

when's the last time you saw a gang member is a suit outside of court?

Why would you want to emulate a part of your culture that is misogenistic, violent, and deplorable?

Want to wear baggy clothes proudly without ridicule? CLEAN UP YOUR CULTURE. Put pressure on your peers not to behave in illegal and immoral ways. Only you and your peers can change the gang involvement and the related gangsta lifestyle. They ruined it for you, not whitey, so go bitch at them.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-10-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

Now FAX..go find a post that shows me attacking the refugees that you help? you cant, becuase there are none . The one post that you thought I was attacking them, I told you several times I was not, and apologized , yet you still spewed this hate towards the kids I help.

you never apologized, in fact just a few posts above you refused to apologize....

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

you never apologized, in fact just a few posts above you refused to apologize....

And you keep acting like a dick.

**J Diddy** · 06-10-2009, 07:59 AM

What the hell are we arguing about in here? Seems to be a squabble about who should say I'm sorry.

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

When FAX stops calling you Mr. you better duck....

So you just totaly ignored the shit that FAX posted right?

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

And you keep acting like a dick.

FUNNY DOTTE, i see that you say you are from KCK and live in J/O, why??? crime run you away? usually thats the reason for that move.

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

uuummmm you said it, thats where it came from

How about you quote some of the stuff fax said? . You know the hate full crap he said about the kids I work with.

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

FUNNY DOTTE, i see that you say you are from KCK and live in J/O, why??? crime run you away? usually thats the reason for that move.

wow..thats all you could come up with?

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

How about you quote some of the stuff fax said? . You know the hate full crap he said about the kids I work with.

he's never asked where something came from, you did and i showed you. it came directly from what you said

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

wow..thats all you could come up with?

seems to me that someone who donates much time to the inner city youth and wants to mentor them would stay right there and show then that they could do better WHILE living there, not run away. perservere throughout. most of those youth will never have the opportunity to leave

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

he's never asked where something came from, you did and i showed you. it came directly from what you said

No, but you attacked me, when obviously he said some pretty ****ed up things. I took allot of shit in this thread, people said some pretty nasty things, and when I reply back...........I am the only one who gets called out for it. I know I am new, and might not be as " cool" as some of you guys, but just like the majority of the posters in this thread you decide to attack me..lol..its okay, I understand. I am not in the "handjob" club yet, so anything I say is wrong, and who ever says something against me is right. That would explain you asking me stupid questions like......." why did you move dotte"..and the **** boy with the k-state logo, not addressing any of the shit FAX said , but only attacking my points .

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

seems to me that someone who donates much time to the inner city youth and wants to mentor them would stay right there and show then that they could do better WHILE living there, not run away. perservere throughout. most of those youth will never have the opportunity to leave

lol..this is what I mean by stupid post. You again decide to totally ignore anything that FAX said, and you want to question me about why I moved? damn.

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

when's the last time you saw a gang member is a suit outside of court?

Why would you want to emulate a part of your culture that is misogenistic, violent, and deplorable?

Want to wear baggy clothes proudly without ridicule? CLEAN UP YOUR CULTURE. Put pressure on your peers not to behave in illegal and immoral ways. Only you and your peers can change the gang involvement and the related gangsta lifestyle. They ruined it for you, not whitey, so go bitch at them.

Do you know how stupid this is? again thanks for not addressing the fact that your handjob buddy FAX said some pretty ****ed up things , and maybe I do have a valid point..but wait,sense I am not in the planets handjob club, you really arnt allowed to attack him, only me. I NEVER BLAMED WHITEY FOR ANYTHING **** BOY. YOU KEEP PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH. ONLY YOU CAN CHANGE THE HANDJOB SHIT THAT GOES ON IN THE PLANET, YOU AND YOUR PEERS..LOL..YOU DONT KNOW SHIT BRO, SO KEEP YOUR OPINION TO YOUR SELF. MR. "I HAVE MINORITY FRIENDS"..LOL..

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3854454	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

06-10-2009, 07:37 AM	#1232
Mr. Plow In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2005 Casino cash: $1857391	This is like a car wreck.....I just can't turn away. PS. Fax, I'll be needing a loan. Well, not so much of a loan - more like you just giving me money that you'll never see again. But, I'll pay you back.
Posts: 30,825

06-10-2009, 07:59 AM	#1236
J Diddy Don't Be A Dick Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Joplin Casino cash: $6817192	What the hell are we arguing about in here? Seems to be a squabble about who should say I'm sorry.
Posts: 33,649