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 Micjones

Not 5 minutes ago you were certain that Cordish had personally booked DJJJ for the KC Live performance. I'm sure now you're certain that Cordish officials were aware of who Jeff Townes was and what his playlist would comprise. Got it.


KCL typically does not entertain Rap acts of ANY kind.

I don't remember ever saying Cordish at all. And I didn't ask if they typically booked rap acts. I asked if they play hip hop music.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by stevieray

KC Power and Light bulidng downtown ...14th and Baltimore.

My mom worked at IBM across the street for 30 years

Thats very cool. Too bad downtown sucks these days. I bet she saw KC in a good time to be in the city.

[KCUnited]

Why wouldn't ol boy turn it down, they get paid no matter what the volume level.

I could care less, but my speculation is they didn't have a problem with Rhianna and that other crap, but when the scary MC starting hyping they pulled the plug. I'm sure more will be coming out as it plays.

[cmh6476]

jazzy shoulda called up his old pal freddy kreuger

[Mr. Plow]

Originally Posted by wutamess

That is just DUMB! Hate to turn this into a race thread but ignorance is ignorance. And you wonder why black people play victim... It's because YOU think we're nothing but government assisted filth. You're THAT GUY that fuels the issues with your stereotypes! You're too young to be THAT ignorant.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Phobia

Okay, I'll defer to your $500,000 sound system experience.

Don't take my word for it.
Do some research.

I've had experience with soundsystems that expensive though.
Hell... Anyone who invests 1% of what Cordish has, into their PA, would be foolish not to put such features in place.

Are you suggesting that maybe they booked DJ Jazzy Jeff expecting some Winger cover songs? "She's only seventeeeeeeeeeeen, Daddy says she's too young but she's old enough for me!"

Who is they?

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Nzoner

Since there's so much speculation in this thread how about this angle....

P&L booked the act knowing exactly what they were getting and upon hearing about all this so called racial profiling going on Jazzy J and his posse decided to pull this stunt to try and stick it to the white man knowing the bad press it would create.

And they stand to gain exactly what from pulling such a stunt?
Jazzy Jeff lives in Philadelphia.
Boy I tell ya...

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

but my speculation is they didn't have a problem with Rhianna and that other crap, but when the scary MC starting hyping they pulled the plug.

The more i think about it, this could have been what happened.


Thats what this other storys says. They strayed from the requested "Top 40" playlist.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1238957.html

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by wutamess

~ Thought you were better than that.

That was your first mistake.

[Micjones]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The more i think about it, this could have been what happened.


Thats what this other storys says. They strayed from the requested "Top 40" playlist.

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1238957.html

Cordish head Jon Stephens said nothing at all about Jeff straying from a set playlist.

[Micjones]

Cordish Pres. Jon Stephens is on 610AM right now.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by wutamess

That is just DUMB! Hate to turn this into a race thread but ignorance is ignorance. And you wonder why black people play victim... It's because YOU think we're nothing but government assisted filth. You're THAT GUY that fuels the issues with your stereotypes! You're too young to be THAT ignorant.

I know... You probably have black friends.




Another ignorant statement. It's not the Plaza but it's not The Wire either. EVERYBODY can still go there and have a great time without having to look over your shoulder the entire time.

~ Thought you were better than that.

I call it how I see it. Bottom line is KC PL District doesn't want it to become another Westport for obvious reasons.

This isn't racial profiling. I went to PL one Sat night and at the entrance they were telling a group of thugs they couldnt come in because of what they were wearing. They had their pants sagged down with their asses hanging out, wife beaters, and red tilted hats all the same color. These hoodlums are the ones that are calling out P&L people racists. The people complaining about this are the ones that come out of the bad parts of town, claiming that city officials are trying to keep them away by having dress code requirements. You know what? If you dont wanna change out of your gang attire then go somewhere else that allows it (Westport).

There's nothing racist about it. No one is telling them they have to wear those kind of outfits. They CHOOSE to wear that kinda clothing. P&L is trying to stop trouble before it begins. It's been proven over and over again. People like that cause trouble at large gatherings like at late night clubs etc.

Had they come in with jeans just a regular shirt they would have been fine, but the culture they want to bring into that place isn't allowed. It isn't a racist thing as they choose what they want to look like. Put on some clothes that actually makes you look like you give a shit about life and there isn't any problem. The dress code is nothing more than a step to prevent certain issues from ever happening. They never once said "blacks can't come to P&L." There are a lot of african americans that go there. They just dont want any of the gang like activity or atmosphere to even step foot into the place which I totally agree with. The same goes for the white trash that want to present themselves in that manner as well. P&L doesn't want it there, and that's comepletely up to them.



As far as the Jazzy Jeff, I don't really believe his claim in stating they didn't want him to play Hip hop, he's a rap legend and officials KNOW that he's a hip hop legend and they wouldnt have booked him to play there if they didn't want to hear it. Just like they wouldnt book Garth Brooks there if they didn't want to hear country music.

[Lzen]

Originally Posted by blaise

They should have had Carlton come down and spin records.

[Demonpenz]

you holmes smell you later

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Micjones

Cordish head Jon Stephens said nothing at all about Jeff straying from a set playlist.

I think they heard or saw something that made them feel uncomfortable.