Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 40

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.”

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

So you're saying that prior DJ's probably did play hip-hop there? At least some amount? Because a few posts above that when I said someone claiming they had no expectation that a certain amount of hip-hop would be played would be being disingenuous you disagreed.
So in the past it happened but they were simply stunned that a DJ in this case spun R&B and hip-hop (and fairly tame hip-hop from what I've read).

I don't think it's disingenuous to suggest that Hip Hop is likely not a genre that dominates playlists at KC Live.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Thing is, this particular date was probably booked before the tour itself began in May. To say that Cordish had foreknowledge of which particular set of DJ's would blow into town back in, say, April is to be disingenuous.

the headliners and dates were known on April 9, 2009. While a specific artist may have been unknown, it was known at that time it was possible that DJJJ, QTip, or other hip hop DJs would perform.

http://iamawalkingdisaster.blogspot....live-tour.html

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

**** off..........so what you get tired of people complaining about racism..we get tired of people practicing racism against us. I wish I was in your shoes. Then it would be a whole lot easier to just blow it off.

who has practiced racism against YOU in this instance? perception, figure out what it means

blaise · 06-08-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I don't think it's disingenuous to suggest that Hip Hop is likely not a genre that dominates playlists at KC Live.

I didn't say that though. I said it would be disingenuous for anyone to say someone that hired a DJ wouldn't have a reasonable expectation a certain amount of hip hop would be played. Have you ever seen a DJ that didn't play some? Come on. I never said anything about dominating a playlist.

Why are you saying they shut him down?

**Reaper16** · 06-08-2009, 04:59 PM

This thread makes me embarrassed to be white. I don't want to be guilty of idiocy by association.

**Kyle DeLexus** · 06-08-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

This thread makes me embarrassed to be white. I don't want to be guilty of idiocy by association.

Some of what CoMo said was bad, but what is idiodic? Assuming a DJ from the list provided would play hip hop or that the dress code forces the hip hop culture as a whole to conform and not a particular race?

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wutamess

. And let's be frank here, "the culture" has fugged up a lot of shit. They want to be equals but don't know how to act so fugg'em.

GREAT POST WUTA.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

the headliners and dates were known on April 9, 2009. While a specific artist may have been unknown, it was known at that time it was possible that DJJJ, QTip, or other hip hop DJs would perform.

http://iamawalkingdisaster.blogspot....live-tour.html

All of the DJ's slated to rotate in and out of the tour are wildly diverse and play an array of genres. It was a distinct possibility, I won't deny that, but to suggest that they had foreknowledge that DJJJ would blow into town is a stretch.

blaise · 06-08-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

This thread makes me embarrassed to be white. I don't want to be guilty of idiocy by association.

That's a bullshit post. You're indicting everyone together by doing that. If you're going to say something like that then say names. I hope you're not referrring to me because I defy you to find anything to warrant that.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Have you ever seen a DJ that didn't play some?

Are you kidding?
Hell yes! I know DJ's who play nothing but House or Funk or Soul records.
To think that all DJ's are purveyors of Hip Hop is ridiculous.

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

I am a filipina. You don't find much more minority than me.

Not to throw a wrench into the works but I bet a female could have walked in with baggy jeans, high heeled shoes and a bedazzled white wife beater.

nope, my white wife was also denied due to her flip flops.

KCUnited · 06-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

This thread makes me embarrassed to be white. I don't want to be guilty of idiocy by association.

It makes me embarrassed for this city.

HonestChieffan · 06-08-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

This thread makes me embarrassed to be white. I don't want to be guilty of idiocy by association.

I dont believe your idiocy is in any danger from this thread.

Katipan · 06-08-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

nope, my white wife was also denied due to her flip flops.

Not traditionally a sexy look although I'm sure your wife totally rocked them.

KCUnited · 06-08-2009, 05:10 PM

I thought it was established that it wasn't Hip Hop that was the problem, but the mannerisms of the emcee which embodies everything the P&L tries to keep out. But it was really because they refused to turn it down.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3834454	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

06-08-2009, 05:10 PM	#600
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2108244	I thought it was established that it wasn't Hip Hop that was the problem, but the mannerisms of the emcee which embodies everything the P&L tries to keep out. But it was really because they refused to turn it down.
Posts: 34,029