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.”

[blaise]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

I AM SO SICK AND TIRED OF YOU ****ING PEOPLE THINKING THAT ANY YOUNG BLACK MALE WHO DRESSES WITH BAGGY PANTS AND WHITE T`S ARE THUGS..OK BY YOUR ****ING LOGIC I AM NO GOING TO ASSUME THAT ALL OLDER WHIT MEN AND CORRPUT , LIARS AND THEIVES AND WHITE COLLAR THUUGS BECAUSE OF ENRON, THE SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDELS AND, THE REST OF THE CORRUPT WHITE MALES WHO SUNK ARE ECONONY AND ROBBED PEOPLE OF THEIR LIVE SAVINGS..NOW GOING BY YOUR THEORY DOES THIS MAKE SENSE?.........OH AND BY THE WAY ASS HOLE 2 OF MY LITTLE BROTHERS HAVE ALOT OF TATS DRESS IN BAGGY CLOTHES AND WIFE BEATERS..THEY ARE ALSO IN COLLEGE AND HAVE 3.6 AND A 4.0 GPA AND ARE GOOD KIDS..BUT ALL YOU ASSHOLES SEE ARE THE CLOTHES..THEY ARE TEENAGRES AND YOUNGER PEOPLE..I AM SURE THAT ALL OF YOU DRESSED TOTALY DIFFRENT WHEN YOU WERE 16-25 THEN YOU DID WHEN YOU GOT OLDER..I KNOW I DID...

I thought the whole "you people" thing was offensive and insensitive.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Everyone who lives in JoCo and Lees Summit are good people.

I understand that many places can have their bad parts of town. Generally what I was referring to though was that when people think of Troost and Prospect and that area, they don't exactly first think of "good n safe community" I understand there are good people in bad areas and bad people located in good areas.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

I hoped to communicate that all other things were equal. Sorry if I did not. Character wasn't the issue, judgement is.


Unstated is that if tat boy is the only one to show up, you move your recruiting effort elsewhere. Tat boy is competing with every other guy or girl who has his qualifications within the scope of the recruiters efforts.

Tat boy after the experience may take your approach that well the dude recruiting is a bad judge of character. Blame the other guy. Charcter wasn't the issue, judgement is.
Or he may go back to his dorm room ask ask himself...why didnt I get the job? If he is fortunate and has the motivation, he will seek out the guy from the deans office. Or if he really has some stones he will call the recuiter and ask for feed back.

What if Tat Boy was a world class candidate with a huge upside? You just did your company a disservice didnt you?

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I understand that many places can have their bad parts of town. Generally what I was referring to though was that when people think of Troost and Prospect and that area, they don't exactly first think of "good n safe community" I understand there are good people in bad areas and bad people located in good areas.

Dont go to Butler, Mo and hang out on the west side of the square. I hear that 3rd street in Windsor is sorta rough when the Amish are in for Market.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Perhaps this will assist you in understanding the world they will soon enter...

Two guys interview for one job. One has "tats", the other does not. They have identical grades and majors, the tat guy has funny looking clothes. The other guy looks like he knows how to tie his shoes and knows what pressed shirt/light starch/hangers means.

Tat boy does not get the job. Post interview, the recruiter in his debrief by the representative of the deans office asks what about this guy and hands over tat boys resume. Interviewer says...seems like a good kid but the issue of judgement and how would the customer accept him with his tats is an issue. And after 4 years of college, he ought to know how to dress. But hes a good kis, hope he gets a job.

Great post. rep

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Perhaps this will assist you in understanding the world they will soon enter...

Two guys interview for one job. One has "tats", the other does not. They have identical grades and majors, the tat guy has funny looking clothes. The other guy looks like he knows how to tie his shoes and knows what pressed shirt/light starch/hangers means.

Tat boy does not get the job. Post interview, the recruiter in his debrief by the representative of the deans office asks what about this guy and hands over tat boys resume. Interviewer says...seems like a good kid but the issue of judgement and how would the customer accept him with his tats is an issue. And after 4 years of college, he ought to know how to dress. But hes a good kis, hope he gets a job.

OK, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO TOTALY DIFFRENT THINGS. ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY THAT YOUNG BLACK MALES WHO DRESS THAT WAY, DON`T HAVE ENOUGH COMMON SENSE TO KNOW THAT YOU DONT DRESS THE SAME WAY FOR THE CLUB LIKE YOU WOULD FOR A JOB INTERVIEW? MY BROHTERS ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AT A JOB INTERVIEW DRESSING LIKE THEY DO FOR THE CLUB, JUST LIKE MOST YOUNG BLACK MALES. SECOND, THEIR TATS CANT BE SEEN WITH SHIRTS ON. DOES THIS SAME THEORY APPLY TO THE FRAT BOYS WHO GO OUT GET TRASHED , HAVE TATS AND DRESS IN SHORTS T SHIRTS AND FLIP FLOPS..WOULD YOU THINK THOSE SAME GUYS WOULD SHOW UP TO THE INTERVIEW IN SHORTS T SHIRTS AND FLIP FLOPS? IF NOT THEN WHY WOULD YOU ASSUME THAT THE BLACK KID WOULD?

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

I hoped to communicate that all other things were equal. Sorry if I did not. Character wasn't the issue, judgement is.


Unstated is that if tat boy is the only one to show up, you move your recruiting effort elsewhere. Tat boy is competing with every other guy or girl who has his qualifications within the scope of the recruiters efforts.

Tat boy after the experience may take your approach that well the dude recruiting is a bad judge of character. Blame the other guy. Charcter wasn't the issue, judgement is.
Or he may go back to his dorm room ask ask himself...why didnt I get the job? If he is fortunate and has the motivation, he will seek out the guy from the deans office. Or if he really has some stones he will call the recuiter and ask for feed back.

We discussed this very thing in a Management course I took. Our professor is a big deal and I learned a lot from him.

He had 4 pictures and asked everyone if they would like to meet person A or person B on the street, A was a "thug" looking black man and B was a corporate white man. The overwelming majority chose B. He then asked if anyone felt this was racist and there were a lot of people that said that it was.

He then went to C and D, C was a "thug" looking white man and D was a corporate black man. The majority again went with the suit and tie over the street look. He had the same question about racism and not one person said that is racist.

To me he showed that profiling doesn't equal racism and that reverse racism is becoming a problem. Long story short, I agree with you. You need to dress for how you want to be preceived.

[Craash]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

What if Tat Boy was a world class candidate with a huge upside? You just did your company a disservice didnt you?

I'm not sure that is a valid argument. Just like the draft (I know football is out of place on this board) you make the choice that you feel is the best and move forward. The business world, like football, is full of Ryan Leaf's and Kurt Warner's.

Using your argument, what if you hired the tatoo'ed individual and he later was the center of multiple sexual harrasement claims? See how that works when you add information to the equation after the fact?

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by Dottefan

OK, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO TOTALY DIFFRENT THINGS..FIST OFF, MY BROHTERS ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AT A JOB INTERVIEW DRESSING LIKE THEY DO FOR THE CLUB. SECOND, THEIR TATS CANT BE SEEN WITH SHIRTS ON.

Turn off you damn caps lock!

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by Micjones

If you struggle with spelling words correctly and using proper punctuation...
Me thinks you should be a little less liberal with the word "dumbass".

Seriously? That's you'r response to his post? You're going to unleash the spelling police on him? ........................moron

[BigRedChief]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990
Everyone who lives in JoCo and Lees Summit are good people.

I lived in the city of KC for about 9 years. Behind the Bannister Mall close to Raytown. Racially mixed neighboorhood. I never felt unsafe.

I live in one of the nice clean suburban cul-de-sac's in Lee's Summit. Just in my cul-de-sac there are two black families and an "Indian(dot)" family out of the 8 homes in the cul-de-sac. I've never felt unsafe.

I don't think race is a major factor in how "most" people consider feeling safe. I know its a non-issue for me and my family. Thugs are thugs. Criminals are criminals regardless of race/creed/religion.

[Dottefan]

Originally Posted by Lzen

Turn off you damn caps lock!

NO, WHY? DO YOU THINK I AM YELLING..LOL..ITS THE NET, DONT GET SO EXICETED.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

I hoped to communicate that all other things were equal. Sorry if I did not. Character wasn't the issue, judgement is.


Unstated is that if tat boy is the only one to show up, you move your recruiting effort elsewhere. Tat boy is competing with every other guy or girl who has his qualifications within the scope of the recruiters efforts.

Tat boy after the experience may take your approach that well the dude recruiting is a bad judge of character. Blame the other guy. Charcter wasn't the issue, judgement is.
Or he may go back to his dorm room ask ask himself...why didnt I get the job? If he is fortunate and has the motivation, he will seek out the guy from the deans office. Or if he really has some stones he will call the recuiter and ask for feed back.

Yeah... thanks for clarifying your discriminating practices. Funny thing is... I know quite a few "tat boys" that would laugh you right out of the room with their professional accomplishments. And their judgment is so bad, that they continue to get more tats in their late 30s, despite their skyrocketing income and social status. I'm sure your discriminatory hiring methods are really setting a social standard and likely forcing many "tat boys" to pursue better jobs from more intelligent establishments who aren't so hung up on personal appearance vs. professional capabilities.

[kchero]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

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.


I would go as far as saying that most of the black people complaining about this so called racism at the PL district, DON'T pay taxes. But thats just me.

Who can blame them though? They're revamping that entire side of the city and they don't want it to completely and immediately turn into what Westport has become, which has been take over by crime and drug addicts and gangs.

THIS!

No body wants to say the truth or whats really on peoples mind because its not PC, but it is the way it is.
When these companies have millions of dollars invested in projects they are going to make sure they are protected. I just hope that the f'ed up city council doesn't try to screw this up like everything else they touch.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

What if Tat Boy was a world class candidate with a huge upside? You just did your company a disservice didnt you?

Yes and No

I said both candidates were equal in all respects. So I bet on one horse. maybe its the wrong horse but they pay me to make that call. In the college interview game the candidate has to run the gauntlet of recuiters. You do not have second chances in the process, you dot appeal to the recuiters boss. The recruiter is trained to do the job and he or she has to make those cuts on a 30 minute interview. It sucks and its not easy. But you have a limited number of slots to fill.

Tatboy is an example where his decisions well before the interview play a role that he never intended. I can only use the data I have in hand when I make the decision. I dont wish him ill, in fact I'd hope he finds his way. But on that given day, with the alternatives I have..I have to bet on the hand Im playing.

I interviewed at Oklahoma State a number of years back. Had a really nice kid interview and he had died his hair purple right down the top of his head. My customers dont die their hair purple. I wonder where he ended up. He was smart as hell too.