Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 91

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.”

Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 06-10-2009, 01:33 PM

All I know is, the more I read on the Planet these days, the longer my ignore list gets.

Carry on.

FAX · 06-10-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I went back and re-read your original post on this and didn't find anything wrong with what you said (except possibly the phrase "black as they come"). Mic asked for your theory and after responding, Pioli Zombie mucked up everything with his nonsensical ramblings. You lost it and then the shit hit the fan.

IMO, if Pioli Zombie had stayed out of this in the first place, a rational discussion of this could have taken place.

But you did lose it and put Mic and Dotte on the defensive (or was it offensive?)

The "black as they come" phrase wasn't intended to be harmful or insulting in any way, Mr. Dartgod. Not at all.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I came up in the music business with blacks. Hell, one of the first deals I ever got was with a Detroit label that was an almost 100 percent black label. If anyone actually knew me, they would never, ever accuse me of being a racist.

That doesn't mean, however, that I - as a white man - feel it's necessary or required in some way to stay quiet about black issues.

FAX

Dottefan · 06-10-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

The "black as they come" phrase wasn't intended to be harmful or insulting in any way, Mr. Dartgod. Not at all.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I came up in the music business with blacks. Hell, one of the first deals I ever got was with a Detroit label that was an almost 100 percent black label. If anyone actually knew me, they would never, ever accuse me of being a racist.

That doesn't mean, however, that I - as a white man - feel it's necessary or required in some way to stay quiet about black issues.

FAX

Cool..My dad is a very well know musican in Kansas city and Has toured all over the country.

**Dartgod** · 06-10-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

The "black as they come" phrase wasn't intended to be harmful or insulting in any way, Mr. Dartgod. Not at all.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, I came up in the music business with blacks. Hell, one of the first deals I ever got was with a Detroit label that was an almost 100 percent black label. If anyone actually knew me, they would never, ever accuse me of being a racist.

That doesn't mean, however, that I - as a white man - feel it's necessary or required in some way to stay quiet about black issues.

FAX

I wasn't saying it was, just that it could be construed that way. I have heard some blatantly racist people use that exact phrase. That is all.

FAX · 06-10-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

I am willing to help out in any way. I actually was speaking with some one last Saturday, when I attended a traditional African wedding. It was my first time , and it was pretty damn amazing, it was a beautiful thing to see people singing traditional African wedding songs, and dances..and the food was a damn good..lol..Mr Fax ..I am sending you an Internet Olive Branch..we both said some things that might of been out of character for both of us.

One of our guys just brought over a wife from the Sudan. They had a traditional Sudanese wedding. Fascinating, really.

I know you'll probably take this the wrong way, but in that culture they negotiate the "price" of a bride. This beautiful girl was purchased for 30 cows. Personally, I think she was worth a whole lot more.

He works two jobs and goes to night school. They just had a baby girl who is now 8 months old. The beautiful and witty Mrs. FAX and I are the Godparents. They use the same crib our son used. The racist bastard that I am, I didn't even charge them rent.

FAX

FAX · 06-10-2009, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

Cool..My dad is a very well know musican in Kansas city and Has toured all over the country.

It's very possible that I know him or have encountered him somewhere along the trail. That would be ironic.

FAX

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

All I know is, the more I read on the Planet these days, the longer my ignore list gets.

Carry on.

SO who has been added?

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FAX

One of our guys just brought over a wife from the Sudan. They had a traditional Sudanese wedding. Fascinating, really.

I know you'll probably take this the wrong way, but in that culture they negotiate the "price" of a bride. This beautiful girl was purchased for 30 cows. Personally, I think she was worth a whole lot more.

He works two jobs and goes to night school. They just had a baby girl who is now 8 months old. The beautiful and witty Mrs. FAX and I are the Godparents. They use the same crib our son used. The racist bastard that I am, I didn't even charge them rent.

FAX

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 06-10-2009, 02:23 PM

the best you've got to neg rep me Dotte is "bitch. eat a dick"? Exactly what did I do to you?

**Lzen** · 06-10-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

SO who has been added?

I was wondering the same thing. I suppose since he didn't answer you that you may be one that was added to his list.

Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan · 06-10-2009, 02:43 PM

Nah, Jason, you're realitively safe. You haven't done anything to raise my blood pressure . . .

yet.

**SAUTO** · 06-10-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan

Nah, Jason, you're realitively safe. You haven't done anything to raise my blood pressure . . .

yet.

GOOD i may say some stupid shit but i want everyone to hear it

MikeMaslowski · 06-10-2009, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypnotizedMonkey

P&L Just Don't Understand

you beat me to it...

MikeMaslowski · 06-10-2009, 04:06 PM

haha...wow, i didn't realize that this was a mega thread...

Mr. Plow · 06-10-2009, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMaslowski

you beat me to it...

Just by a day or two.

06-08-2009, 07:17 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	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, 01:33 PM	#1351
Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan I am Number Six Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Columbia, MD, USA Casino cash: $2009000	All I know is, the more I read on the Planet these days, the longer my ignore list gets. Carry on. __________________ One of the lowest PPD of any of the original members of the Planet . . . and proud of it. My web site My writer's page
Posts: 6,564

06-10-2009, 02:23 PM	#1359
mikeyis4dcats. Scarlett Johansson's boytoy Join Date: Nov 2006 Casino cash: $9555998	the best you've got to neg rep me Dotte is "bitch. eat a dick"? Exactly what did I do to you?
Posts: 12,526

06-10-2009, 02:43 PM	#1361
Misplaced_Chiefs_Fan I am Number Six Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Columbia, MD, USA Casino cash: $2009000	Nah, Jason, you're realitively safe. You haven't done anything to raise my blood pressure . . . yet. __________________ One of the lowest PPD of any of the original members of the Planet . . . and proud of it. My web site My writer's page
Posts: 6,564

06-10-2009, 04:06 PM	#1364
MikeMaslowski There's always next year. Join Date: Nov 2008 Casino cash: $10009290	haha...wow, i didn't realize that this was a mega thread...
Posts: 2,219