Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff

[Deberg_1990]

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.”

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

funny, i know sed

Yeah...I dont hang out with any of those folks any more, havnt for years. You know you get older and folks drift apart. If you know Sed..then you knew allot of cats I used to run with. I would throw out more names, but I have already used up the peole with nick names, and dont want to put goverment names out on the net.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

Yeah...I dont hang out with any of those folks any more, havnt for years. You know you get older and folks drift apart. If you know Sed..then you knew allot of cats I used to run with. I would throw out more names, but I have already used up the peole with nick names, and dont want to put goverment names out on the net.

it's cool. but at least you cant say i'm not a real mother****er.

[stevieray]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

, and dont want to put goverment names out on the net.

Like George Washington Carver?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

the most I would do is send a hatefull email..lol

If you're talking about the neg rep I gave you yesterday (which I believe called you a hypocrite), don't forget to mention the PM I sent today that was anything but hateful.

If that's not what you meant, my bad.

There are some good examples of people coming on here and acting like douches (Midnight Vulture comes to mind) that got put in their place. People actually research and found out their real names, places of work, etc. I am too lazy to go look up those threads, but I can tell you that it was pretty funny.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Lzen

If you're talking about the neg rep I gave you yesterday (which I believe called you a hypocrite), don't forget to mention the PM I sent today that was anything but hateful.

If that's not what you meant, my bad.

There are some good examples of people coming on here and acting like douches (Midnight Vulture comes to mind) that got put in their place. People actually research and found out their real names, places of work, etc. I am too lazy to go look up those threads, but I can tell you that it was pretty funny.

yep, thats why you dont give bullets to chiefs planet. i've seen it in action. not pretty

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

it's cool. but at least you cant say i'm not a real mother****er.

lol....bro the funny thing is I never did. If any one from the Dotte knows anything about the dotte its one thing...the dotte is the only place in this city that race is pretty much a non issue. All of us grew up poor, and the rest of the city thought we were all trash...man shit..we might of ****ed around and played sports together at Harmon Or AGT.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by Lzen

If you're talking about the neg rep I gave you yesterday (which I believe called you a hypocrite), don't forget to mention the PM I sent today that was anything but hateful.

If that's not what you meant, my bad.

There are some good examples of people coming on here and acting like douches (Midnight Vulture comes to mind) that got put in their place. People actually research and found out their real names, places of work, etc. I am too lazy to go look up those threads, but I can tell you that it was pretty funny.

I dont take it that serious.....we might of had a disagreement yesterday, but today is a new day bro.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

lol....bro the funny thing is I never did. If any one from the Dotte knows anything about the dotte its one thing...the dotte is the only place in this city that race is pretty much a non issue. All of us grew up poor, and the rest of the city thought we were all trash...man shit..we might of ****ed around and played sports together at Harmon Or AGT.

see but you dismissed what i was saying earlier due to me being white and you not knowing where i was from. thats stereotypical, just what you are against

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

see but you dismissed what i was saying earlier due to me being white and you not knowing where i was from. thats stereotypical, just what you are against

That was not my intention bro...shit I am from the Dotte, I know we got some down ass white boys( some of them are my cousins..lol) so if you felt that way my bad.. I apologize...but you need to man up to bro..you came at me sideways man..so **** it..lets just call it even, we both started talking out the side of our necks, and ended up looking like asses....agreed?

[FAX]

Originally Posted by Micjones

If pointing out the fact that there's something inherently wrong with you parading your philanthropic efforts around (while simultaneously calling their American brethren you previously cast judgmental stones at "illegitimate babymaking, cockeyed hat wearing miscreants who only aspire to sell crack") can be called fabrication.

I think I get the picture now though Mr. Fax.
No worries.

I never realized that you were so prejudiced. Why can't a white person ask a question about the priorities of the black community? I asked that question in a sincere and honest attempt to understand why the black community in Nashville would fail to volunteer to assist the lost boys. I thought you might have some insight.

I did some checking this morning. Local World Relief has gone to black churches, the community center on the East side (they're not interested in anything that doesn't come with Federal funding, by the way), and attempted to involve local black business leaders. No one from the black community has stepped forward. If you don't have any idea why that might be, fine. Just say so.

Frankly, even if a person were "grandstanding" or "parading" (which I'm not) I, for one, would gladly accept their assistance along with their attitude. After all, why would that matter? I'd rather someone grandstand and parade and help instead of just sitting on their ass and doing nothing.

But as I said earlier, I am interested in the reasons why, in the mind of blacks, the wearing of baggy pants to a nightclub might supersede the need to assist black refugees.

Your attitude about it is interesting, too. Does a white man not have a right to ask a question? Does it threaten your position in some way? Or, are you one of those pseudo-intellectuals who prefer talk to action? If you're doing nothing to help other than complain about white racism, that's your right - but why attack someone who does choose to work toward solutions?

FAX

[FAX]

I'm beginning to wonder if the whole refugee issue is, in some way, threatening to the black community. That would, I suppose, explain the animosity ... at least, in part.

FAX

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by FAX

I never realized that you were so prejudiced. Why can't a white person ask a question about the priorities of the black community? I asked that question in a sincere and honest attempt to understand why the black community in Nashville would fail to volunteer to assist the lost boys. I thought you might have some insight.

I did some checking this morning. Local World Relief has gone to black churches, the community center on the East side (they're not interested in anything that doesn't come with Federal funding, by the way), and attempted to involve local black business leaders. No one from the black community has stepped forward. If you don't have any idea why that might be, fine. Just say so.

Frankly, even if a person were "grandstanding" or "parading" (which I'm not) I, for one, would gladly accept their assistance along with their attitude. After all, why would that matter? I'd rather someone grandstand and parade and help instead of just sitting on their ass and doing nothing.

But as I said earlier, I am interested in the reasons why, in the mind of blacks, the wearing of baggy pants to a nightclub might supersede the need to assist black refugees.

Your attitude about it is interesting, too. Does a white man not have a right to ask a question? Does it threaten your position in some way? Or, are you one of those pseudo-intellectuals who prefer talk to action? If you're doing nothing to help other than complain about white racism, that's your right - but why attack someone who does choose to work toward solutions?

FAX

BRO.........GET OVER YOURSELF. I think it great that you help the refugees we all do. . Maybe the reason why those black churches could not help.....is they are already stretched to the max trying to help out there own community , and just dont have the resources....did you for once think about that? I know for experience , we were turned down for help from black churches due to those reasons. next point......to try to answer your question regarding OUR community..that is a whole other issue that is too complex, to just answer with a single post..there are so many underlying issues that I just dont have the time to go there .With you being such and educated man,you should know this. Fax, for you to even try to bring up that issue, was your attempt at trying to slap us" black folks" in the face. Its cool, you might have the rest of the planet fooled..but not me.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by FAX

I'm beginning to wonder if the whole refugee issue is, in some way, threatening to the black community. That would, I suppose, explain the animosity ... at least, in part.

FAX

Again another post from some one on the outside lookng in. There is a long history of some Native Aficans having a certain attitude towards Black Americans.. but that is all I will say about that.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by stevieray

Like George Washington Carver?

no man..lol

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by FAX

I never realized that you were so prejudiced. Why can't a white person ask a question about the priorities of the black community? I asked that question in a sincere and honest attempt to understand why the black community in Nashville would fail to volunteer to assist the lost boys. I thought you might have some insight.

I did some checking this morning. Local World Relief has gone to black churches, the community center on the East side (they're not interested in anything that doesn't come with Federal funding, by the way), and attempted to involve local black business leaders. No one from the black community has stepped forward. If you don't have any idea why that might be, fine. Just say so.

Frankly, even if a person were "grandstanding" or "parading" (which I'm not) I, for one, would gladly accept their assistance along with their attitude. After all, why would that matter? I'd rather someone grandstand and parade and help instead of just sitting on their ass and doing nothing.

But as I said earlier, I am interested in the reasons why, in the mind of blacks, the wearing of baggy pants to a nightclub might supersede the need to assist black refugees.

Your attitude about it is interesting, too. Does a white man not have a right to ask a question? Does it threaten your position in some way? Or, are you one of those pseudo-intellectuals who prefer talk to action? If you're doing nothing to help other than complain about white racism, that's your right - but why attack someone who does choose to work toward solutions?

FAX

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?)