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.”

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I guess I don't understand. The article refers to Hip Hop as a style of music numerous times.


Also, Wikipedia lists it as a musical genre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_hop_music

Billboard has a listing for top R&B/Hip Hop music
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/chart...phop_index.jsp

You can call it Hip Hop music.
Because Hip Hop is the culture that encompasses Rap music.
So it's Hip Hop's music.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

I didn't read the article but thats cool it's not a racial thing at all! I mean if they told them that, they told the white DJ the same thing as the black DJ

If the only implications dealt with the DJ's themselves.
It's bigger than that.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Micjones

You can call it Hip Hop music.
Because Hip Hop is the culture that encompasses Rap music.
So it's Hip Hop's music.

I'm still confused because as I search the internet I see Hip Hop as a culture AND Hip Hop as a musical genre.

Since I neither listen to the music nor participate in the culture, I'll defer to your expertise.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I'm still confused because as I search the internet I see Hip Hop as a culture AND Hip Hop as a musical genre.

Since I neither listen to the music nor participate in the culture, I'll defer to your expertise.

It's really splitting hairs honestly.

The term was originally coined to describe the culture of Hip Hop.
B-boying and DJing predated the Rap element. That's why I said in truth Hip Hop more honestly describes the encompassing culture.

"Rap" is derived from Jamaican "toasting" (similar in form).
It was initially introduced by DJ's and became Hip Hop's official soundtrack.

But the terms are used interchangeably.

I guess my larger point was that they aren't two distinct forms of music.
If ANYTHING they're one in the same, but Hip Hop snobs started the process of trying to draw a line in the sand.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Micjones

IF anything they're one in the same, but Hip Hop snobs started the process of trying to draw a line in the sand.

I did gather that from my research and think I understand now.

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Micjones

If the only implications dealt with the DJ's themselves.
It's bigger than that.

It's really not. The hip hop culture encompasses people of all races. They are apposed to hip hop not a particular race. I listen to all kinds of music DJJJ's quote that he plays music for music lovers basically discribed me, I can listen to anything from rap to country, from rock to reggae, so they are discriminating against me the same as you.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I did gather that from my research and think I understand now.

Dope!
Sorry... Rap colloquialism. Means "good".

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

It's really not. The hip hop culture encompasses people of all races. They are apposed to hip hop not a particular race. I listen to all kinds of music DJJJ's quote that he plays music for music lovers basically discribed me, I can listen to anything from rap to country, from rock to reggae, so they are discriminating against me the same as you.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there KD. And I think the very well documented aspects of Cordish's behavior (over the years) reinforces that opinion.

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Micjones

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you there KD. And I think the very well documented aspects of Cordish's behavior (over the years) reinforces that opinion.

That is where I'll defer to you and others, because I haven't really kept up with Cordish behavior. I might do a little research on that tonight. My stance on the matter might change after, but right now it's purely a discrimatory case against everyone in hip hop not a particular race since the hip hop culture includes essentially every race.

The area I'm from didn't have a lot of black people, but I got to guess 50-60% of the youth would get turned away by the dress code at P&L, the majority of whats left were country kids that had the wranglers and boots. They might have gotten turned away also because of the no cut off rule.

Like I said though, I'll research Cordish tonight.

[Reaper16]

I use the terms hip hop and rap interchangeably. They are synonyms for me when discussing music.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Kyle DeLexus

That is where I'll defer to you and others, because I haven't really kept up with Cordish behavior. I might do a little research on that tonight. My stance on the matter might change after, but right now it's purely a discrimatory case against everyone in hip hop not a particular race since the hip hop culture includes essentially every race.

The area I'm from didn't have a lot of black people, but I got to guess 50-60% of the youth would get turned away by the dress code at P&L, the majority of whats left were country kids that had the wranglers and boots. They might have gotten turned away also because of the no cut off rule.

Like I said though, I'll research Cordish tonight.

Ultimately KD, I understand the Cordish desire to keep the criminal element on the outside. That's the point that's gotten lost in all of this bickering that everyone (myself included) has contributed to.

I don't wanna keep company with thugs and criminals either.
I just think there are less discriminatory ways to achieve that.

And my problem with Cordish is multi-layered.
I haven't even spoken on just how poorly thought out the concept of the complex itself was in the first place. Over-priced shops/restaurants? Very little retail? Baaaaad idea.

Cordish has a whole heap of trouble to contend with right now.
I hope they find their way (if they intend to do just that...find their way).
Cause right now P&L is bad for everybody.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I use the terms hip hop and rap interchangeably. They are synonyms for me when discussing music.

Yeah. I probably do the same without even realizing it.

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

I use the terms hip hop and rap interchangeably. They are synonyms for me when discussing music.

I really don't use hip hop. I use rap and R&B. If I did use hip hop it would probably be in place of R&B. I could be wrong I just listen to the music not catagorize it.

[MOhillbilly]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Dope!
Sorry... Rap colloquialism. Means "good".

white people learned that years ago tv and all.

[Kyle DeLexus]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Ultimately KD, I understand the Cordish desire to keep the criminal element on the outside. That's the point that's gotten lost in all of this bickering that everyone (myself included) has contributed to.

I don't wanna keep company with thugs and criminals either.
I just think there are less discriminatory ways to achieve that.

And my problem with Cordish is multi-layered.
I haven't even spoken on just how poorly thought out the concept of the complex itself was in the first place. Over-priced shops/restaurants? Very little retail? Baaaaad idea.

Cordish has a whole heap of trouble to contend with right now.
I hope they find their way (if they intend to do just that...find their way).
Cause right now P&L is bad for everybody.

I'm with you. I just turned 21 a couple months ago and going to P&L hasn't even crossed my mind (alright 1 time I wanted to go ride the bull at PBR and then go back to the party I was at.) I think the only way P&L survives is if they get a pro team at the sprint center, and that just doesn't look like it is going to happen anytime soon.