Music Incident at P&L District shocks DJ Jazzy Jeff - Page 14

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.”

Demonpenz · 06-08-2009, 11:54 AM

they should just open up a belt kiosk win-win!

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

No business that receives benefits from public taxpayers should have the right to be discriminatory.

so having a dress code is now discriminatory?

CoMoChief · 06-08-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

You're right. Because most of them are too stupid to understand a concept like "code switching".

And... They probably don't pay taxes either.

Bottom line here is if they don't want to change out of their ****ing thuggish gang attire, then they can leave and go somewhere else that allows it. No one is forcing them to come to P&L. I'm more than sure they can get in if they went home and changed clothes but I guess that's just asking waaaay too much.

Go to a high dollar restaurant that requires a coat and tie and show up wearing baggy jeans and a T-shirt and see what they tell you and see if they don't laugh in your face when you try pulling out the race card.

**Iowanian** · 06-08-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

No business that receives benefits from public taxpayers should have the right to be discriminatory.

Really?
How many places have the "No shoes, no shirt, no service" sign up?

I don't think it is discriminatory. It sounds to me like the same people, if they tucked in their shirt and cinched up their belts would be allowed entrance.

A few years ago, I wasn't allowed into a bar/club in Des Moines while wearing a Chiefs ball cap. I took it back to the car, and walked right in. I didn't understand it at the time, but my choices were to leave and not join my friends, or take the hat off and conform to their rules.

There are plenty of places down on the plaza you couldn't go in shorts and flip flops.

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

If thats the case, why cant they conform to the dress code? Seems simple enough to me?

A better question might be... Why should they have to?
Why should a dress code be discriminatory?

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

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

must be something about us WYCO guys, i did the same thing when i first arrived here. it pisses some off

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Really?
How many places have the "No shoes, no shirt, no service" sign up?

That's a 1:1 with "no White T-shirts" isn't it?

Quote:

I don't think it is discriminatory. It sounds to me like the same people, if they tucked in their shirt and cinched up their belts would be allowed entrance.

Unfortunately it's not always even been that simple.
I've had friends in suits turned away because their pants were cuffed.

**SAUTO** · 06-08-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

A better question might be... Why should they have to?
Why should a dress code be discriminatory?

what about a dress code is discriminatory?

Fairplay · 06-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

A better question might be... Why should they have to?
Why should a dress code be discriminatory?

About any restaurant in town says shirt and shoes required.

That is a form of a dress code. Do you agree with that statement?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Bottom line here is if they don't want to change out of their ****ing thuggish gang attire, then they can leave and go somewhere else that allows it. No one is forcing them to come to P&L. I'm more than sure they can get in if they went home and changed clothes but I guess that's just asking waaaay too much.

Go to a high dollar restaurant that requires a coat and tie and show up wearing baggy jeans and a T-shirt and see what they tell you and see if they don't laugh in your face when you try pulling out the race card.

Yes suh, we's be on our way boss...
We don't wants ta ruins yo good districk...
We's be moving along naw.

HonestChieffan · 06-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

That's a 1:1 with "no White T-shirts" isn't it?

Unfortunately it's not always even been that simple.
I've had friends in suits turned away because their pants were cuffed.

Cuffed Pants? Where did that happen?

Dottefan · 06-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brock
Aside from the irony contained in you calling me stupid, if your brothers want to dress in a manner that attracts negative attention, their (and your) complaining about it is dismissed as immature, unimportant whining about the way the world is.

No you just need to get over yourself. I love putting on my white t`s and baggy shorts and watching you uptight ****s in JO get all scared when a big black brother shows up. I have the right to dress how I want. I will assume you dress in dockers in Polo's, and suits, just like those men from Enron, and the guys who started the savings a loan mess, and all the rest of those THUGS who stole money and robbed the American Dream from so many people...that's what I will think when I see you. Does that seam fair to you? No, and it shouldn't.So if they don't let black guys in clubs in white tees then........... From now on any White Male in a Suit and Tie should not be let near any bank or any financial institution because you know how all those white guys in suits are..they will still all the money..lol..because from your logic that's how the world is right?

Micjones · 06-08-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairplay

About any restaurant in town says shirt and shoes required.

That is a form of a dress code. Do you agree with that statement?

Is it a 1:1 with "no jerseys or work boots"?
Think McFly.

CoMoChief · 06-08-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottefan

The bottome line is that if you are not a minority , or a kid who dresses "hip hop" you will not know how it feels to be discriminated against by the power and white district. Most of the people who dress this way are young people, who are not thugs and work all week and want to go blow off some steam at a club. All of us when we were younger dressed in some form that older people did not like. Its just ironic that the same people who are calling these kids thugs, were the kids in the ripped jeans and metal t shirts and long hair who peopel thought were trouble makers when they were young. How easily we forget. If you have a problem with how this KIDS dress get over it. Most of these kids will grow out of this fase( just like almost all of us did) and will dress a little more mature as each year goes by.

These kids and age group you speak of wouldnt even be allowed in P&L because of their age. Most people grow out of that shit after High school.

The hip hop culture in general relates to gang like activity and violence. Besides Will Smith and maybe a few more, I can't really think of another rapper or hip hop artist that doesn't rap about bling, bitches, pimps, ho's, killing, and getting ****ed up.

**DeezNutz** · 06-08-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micjones

That's a 1:1 with "no White T-shirts" isn't it?

What's the problem with a white t-shirt (particularly a wet one on a chick)?

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, 11:54 AM	#196
Demonpenz I got Rice cookin in the micro Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Apartment "G UNIT!" Casino cash: $3082136	they should just open up a belt kiosk win-win! __________________
Posts: 54,279

06-08-2009, 11:58 AM	#207
Dottefan Banned Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: FROM KCK, LIVIN N J\O Casino cash: $10004900	Quote: Originally Posted by Brock Aside from the irony contained in you calling me stupid, if your brothers want to dress in a manner that attracts negative attention, their (and your) complaining about it is dismissed as immature, unimportant whining about the way the world is. No you just need to get over yourself. I love putting on my white t`s and baggy shorts and watching you uptight ****s in JO get all scared when a big black brother shows up. I have the right to dress how I want. I will assume you dress in dockers in Polo's, and suits, just like those men from Enron, and the guys who started the savings a loan mess, and all the rest of those THUGS who stole money and robbed the American Dream from so many people...that's what I will think when I see you. Does that seam fair to you? No, and it shouldn't.So if they don't let black guys in clubs in white tees then........... From now on any White Male in a Suit and Tie should not be let near any bank or any financial institution because you know how all those white guys in suits are..they will still all the money..lol..because from your logic that's how the world is right?
Posts: 1,295