Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 11

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.”

wild1 · 06-08-2009, 11:24 AM

Personally, I'm sick of every social problem being blamed on racism. Does it exist, sure. Is it a problem, sure. But I think that the general public is suffering from racism accusation fatigue. When it's shouted 50 times a day it loses its value.

blaise · 06-08-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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

Because it makes you seem like some spaz flailing away at his keybord while wearing a hockey helmet?

Dottefan · 06-08-2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaise

Because it makes you seem like some spaz flailing away at his keybord while wearing a hockey helmet?

OK..I GUESS I WILL BE THAT GUY..WHO CARES.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

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

........................moron

It calls his credibility into question.
Because in many ways... I'm the baggy pants wearing interview he'd pass over for employment because of my outward appearance.

When in truth, I recognize that he struggles with very basic concepts of English. That about blows a hole in the idea that you can truly judge a book by its cover.

But I wouldn't expect the poster who says MOST Black people who complain about Cordish politics PROBABLY DON'T PAY TAXES to understand that point.

|Zach| · 06-08-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

Personally, I'm sick of every social problem being blamed on racism. Does it exist, sure. Is it a problem, sure. But I think that the general public is suffering from racism accusation fatigue. When it's shouted 50 times a day it loses its value.

Maybe you are in a position to hear that more than the general public. So your perception is skewed.

There is a reason for everything.

HonestChieffan · 06-08-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC Fish

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.

One can be discriminating with out practicing discrimination. EEOC rules are strictly adhered to by corporate recruiters as well as the placement offices on campus. I agree that some people get all tated up and are probably super folks and do great work. Good for them.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 06-08-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

OK..I GUESS I WILL BE THAT GUY..WHO CARES.

Your future has been told. Ask Jasonsauto and DCS what that means. CONFORM OR DIE!!!!!

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild1

Personally, I'm sick of every social problem being blamed on racism. Does it exist, sure. Is it a problem, sure. But I think that the general public is suffering from racism accusation fatigue. When it's shouted 50 times a day it loses its value.

And the people who regularly are affected by it are just as sick of it being entrenched in the fabric of American society.

I'm never one to trump up an instance of racism...
But when the discussion is necessary... Let's have it.

**Lzen** · 06-08-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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

No. Even while some of your points may be valid, all caps and poor punctuation/grammar posts just makes you look like a fool. Have you never learned internet etiquette? It distracts. Just MO, of course.

Mr. Plow · 06-08-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

NO STUPID..MY POINT IS THEY ARE YOUNG AND THAT THEY WILL EVENTUALY DRESS A LITTLE MORE GROWN UP .....WHEN THEY GET OLDER, JUST LIKE THE WHITE GUYS WHO HAD RIPPED JEANS LONG HAIR AND A MAIDEN T SHIRT.... DUMB ASS AND SO WHAT IF THEY DRESS THAT WAY, YOU NEED TO GET OVER YOUR OWN PRE CONCIEVED NOTIONS OF WHAT THUGS ARE..THATS YOUR PROBLEM ,NOT MY BROTHERS PROBLEM..

I'm guessing your brothers have been hassled recently because of the way they dress.

KCUnited · 06-08-2009, 11:28 AM

I am tattoo boy and I wear long sleeves and long pants to work everyday. Why? Because I'm not trying to be tat boy at work. If someone is trying to be tat boy at work, then they are attention starved to the point that only the 'I'm having such and such for breakfast' twitter user can only understand.

Dottefan · 06-08-2009, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

And the people who regularly are affected by it are just as sick of it being entrenched in the fabric of American society.

I'm never one to trump up an instance of racism...
But when the discussion is necessary... Let's have it.

THIS..........JUST LIKE YOU ARE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT,SOME OF US ARE TIRED OF BEING AFFECTED BY IT..

**Reaper16** · 06-08-2009, 11:30 AM

Threads like this are awesome. They show the entire board who they can automatically discredit for being hateful mother****ers.

|Zach| · 06-08-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I am tattoo boy and I wear long sleeves and long pants to work everyday. Why? Because I'm not trying to be tat boy at work. If someone is trying to be tat boy at work, then they are attention starved to the point that only the 'I'm having such and such for breakfast' twitter user can only understand.

It is interesting you slam twitter here. This story broke and got legs from Twitter. Because it was relaying happenings and news. At no point did anyone say what they were having for breakfast.

Dottefan · 06-08-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

I'm guessing your brothers have been hassled recently because of the way they dress.

YES.

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

06-08-2009, 11:24 AM	#151
wild1 MVP Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: 31040 Casino cash: $10004900	Personally, I'm sick of every social problem being blamed on racism. Does it exist, sure. Is it a problem, sure. But I think that the general public is suffering from racism accusation fatigue. When it's shouted 50 times a day it loses its value.
Posts: 6,935

06-08-2009, 11:28 AM	#161
KCUnited Cheat Death Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Land of Drincoln Casino cash: $2318244	I am tattoo boy and I wear long sleeves and long pants to work everyday. Why? Because I'm not trying to be tat boy at work. If someone is trying to be tat boy at work, then they are attention starved to the point that only the 'I'm having such and such for breakfast' twitter user can only understand.
Posts: 33,880