Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 44

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.”

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-08-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Oh, I am by no means a perfect person. I have a litany of issues, hang-ups, perversions, obsessions, deficiencies and otherwise unsavory characteristics.

But idiocy is not one of them.

Believe me bro, I wasn't taking a shot at you with that statement. But I am trying to make a statement. I am not going to fall into this "message board" mentality. This is far too important of an issue to just chalk up to internet shenanigans.

Real people post behind the keyboard, and whatever they'd have us believe, I know they're capable of real thought, and looking at things from another perspective. Most people want to be good, and do the right thing. They often times just don't know how.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Let's put it this way: I pick 1,000 DJs at random. From that list I pick one. Gun to your head someone asks you if that DJ plays hip-hop, what do you say? I guarantee you say yes.

I'd almost bet that I could assemble a list of a dozen DJ's and chances are you'd have trouble distinguishing which ones played Hip Hop and which ones didn't.

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Score one for Sauto!
I'm equally as uncertain about the inner workings of how the show was booked, structured, or executed as everyone else.

No wait... I knew that Cordish hadn't personally booked the tour or any of its accompanying acts.
Something other posters in this very thread...did not.

I know the promoter who did...personally.
So...uh...scoreboard!

damn mic. you may know much more than anyone else about this situation but what we were talking about was an assumption. you said so yourself

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Score one for Sauto!
I'm equally as uncertain about the inner workings of how the show was booked, structured, or executed as everyone else.

No wait... I knew that Cordish hadn't personally booked the tour or any of its accompanying acts.
Something other posters in this very thread...did not.

I know the promoter who did...personally.
So...uh...scoreboard!

well then put the issue to rest: call your "buddy" and ask him if Cordish ever in any way inferred or asked that he avoid hip-hop acts.

I'll wait offline for your answer....

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

Can't speak to that. Might've been contractual or financial implications in play that could've complicated that process though.

see you are guessing. and you always guess for the worst case scenario. could have been that they wouldnt turn it down so the managers shut them down too.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Who cares about traditionally? Are you saying a person wouldn't have a reasonable expectation that a DJ they hired would play hip-hop?
So the people at KC Live are opposed to hip-hop, had they knows DJJJ was going to the be the DJ they wouldn't have allowed it because they're so opposed to hip-hop, yet these people that are so opposed to hip-hop- to the point that they'll stop a show didn't bother to check out the style of music that would be played?
Come on.

You're right.
Let's gloss over the history that surrounds and gives legitimacy to my point.

Forget the fact that the officials in question DID NOT book the show.

Forget the fact that there were almost certainly contractual and/or financial implications that might've seriously obstructed the venue from pulling out of the show.

Jon Stephens' explanation is much more palatable.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

see you are guessing. and you always guess for the worst case scenario. could have been that they wouldnt turn it down so the managers shut them down too.

no way man, micjones is connected!

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

damn mic. you may know much more than anyone else about this situation. i said so myself

FYP.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-08-2009, 06:00 PM

Since no one is really seeing anything I'm typing anyway, I'm gonna put some more out there. Most of you posting in this thread give me the impression that you just want to be angry. Let me know how that improves your lives one of these days.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

see you are guessing. and you always guess for the worst case scenario. could have been that they wouldnt turn it down so the managers shut them down too.

I never bothered to mention other personal friends of mine who were standing by the soundbooth that said the engineers had no idea why the plug had been pulled.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

You're right.
Let's gloss over the history that surrounds and gives legitimacy to my point.

Forget the fact that the officials in question DID NOT book the show.

Forget the fact that there were almost certainly contractual and/or financial implications that might've seriously obstructed the venue from pulling out of the show.

Jon Stephens' explanation is much more palatable.

they will end up paying for the show anyhow, so what would a cancellaion fee or even paying for an unperformed show have cost them versus stopping his performance and getting bad PR?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

no way man, micjones is connected!

Eloquent.
Forget the fact that I just so happen to be in this case.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-08-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

I never bothered to mention other personal friends of mine who were standing by the soundbooth that said the engineers had no idea why the plug had been pulled.

oh, you sly dog....holding out on us!

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

FYP.

i did say that, doesnt change the fact that you are assuming. question: would your friend book another show for cordish? if he says no he's lying.

see i can assume too.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

they will end up paying for the show anyhow, so what would a cancellaion fee or even paying for an unperformed show have cost them versus stopping his performance and getting bad PR?

Again, it's all speculative and I can't speak to that part of it.
I said that already.

But I suppose you know how the contract was structured so I'll defer to your wisdom.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3774454	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.”
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