DJ Jazzy Jeff was supposed to play a free show at the Power & Light District Saturday night, but after a half hour of playing clean, radio edits of popular hip hop songs (we're told) the folks running P&L shut him down and sent him packing.
Here's what DJ Jazzy Jeff has been saying about it on his Twitter feed:
We've been reading lots and lots and lots of unhappy Tweets among the people we follow on Twitter. One even wrote that "Cordish had Jazzy Jeff escorted out by the fucking cops because P&L is a 'family establishment'"
- I MEAN I WAS PLAYIN SHIT LIKE JUST A FRIEND...ITS A HEINEKEN COMMERCIAL FOR GODS SAKE...AND 3000 PEOPLE WERE ROCKIN...WTF MAN
- SORRY KC...I HAD SOMETHING SPECIAL PLANNED...
- KC LIVE SUCKS...THEY SAID THEY WANTED TOP 40...LOOK AT THE TOP 40 LIST JACKASS
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Any tips on subscribing to your RSS feed with the Google Chrome browser?.. i keep getting errors on it.
Ok the Power and White thing is getting really old. Anyone who is well traveled can tell you that there are entertainment blocks/establishments like the power and lights all over the world. All of them enforce similar dress codes. If you are white and you break the dress code, your not getting in. if you are Latin and you break the dress code, your not getting in. If you are Asian and you break the dress code, your not getting in. If you're African American and you break the dress code, your not getting in. I'm a sharp dresser (GQ with a rockers edge) and one day my jeans were riding a little low on my hip and they thought I was sagging, guess what I didn't get in. It's all really quite that simple.
Let me put it to you another way, the military enforces a dress code far stricter than P&L (no sagging, baggy cloths ect.) ...is it because they are racist? No, its because the are trying to protect the image of the military and people serving in it. P&L and similar places across the globe are trying to do the same thing, protect their image. So either dress the part or don't and go somewhere else, its really up to you. But either way stop trying to pull the race card, believe it or not the whole world isn't out to get you.
PS yes they definitely miss handled the DJ Jazzy Jeff thing, but hey people make mistakes. Live and let learn.
I SAW JAZZY IN COPENHAGEN AND HE WAS THE BEST HIP HOP DJ I EVER SAW!
IF THEY TAKE HIM OFF STAGE..
THEY ARE DEEPLY CONFUSED!!!
IN WHAT THEY ARE BOOKING AND SHOULD DO SOMETHING ELSE.
THAT THEY CAN MANAGE...
BECAUSE THIS THIN GTHE FAILED BIGTIME!
I like P&L. Though I have some concerns like if you are going to have a dress code, why doesn't it apply to women? Have you seen how slutty some of those women dress? I guess men can't wear baggy pants but women can wear next to nothing? Doesn't really make any sense, does it? And the worst thing about P&L has got to be the parking. I don't live near by and there is no where to park but those damn garages, but I want to drink. However, if I drink so much I can't drive home and I need to get a taxi home, then when I come get my car the next day, the garage will charge me $15 to get my car because I left it there overnight! This is in addition to the taxi cab I had to pay to get back to my place and hopefully, I had a friend take me back to my car the next day. Why does P&L charge me so much just to leave my car there? It's like they are encouraging me to drive home drunk! My only other option is to try and find a spot somewhere on the street several blocks down from the P&L, but if you do that, make sure you aren't walking alone. No matter what P&L likes to think, the surrounding areas are not safe.
Now Tiana.. doesn't that sound like some racist sh@# coming from your mouth?
You just gave an example of grade A ignorance....
So it sounds to me that you are saying that black people as a whole push drugs and guns, join gangs, and drop out of school...I love the way you use blanket statements to describe a whole race.
You are a racist if I ever heard from one..a dumb one at that- and that is coming from a proud UCLA alumni with a clean record and blood stream...
If its grey its grey.. if its blue its blue..
Here is a hint to you - Letting black people visit your home does not make you a non racist if you are counting the number that walk through the door....
1 darky 2 darkies... 3.
I am so sick of hearing how the blacks are mistreated. This is not the 30s anymore and things have changed greatly. The way you all are talking on here shows that you are the ones keeping the racism card going. The whites do not put the guns and drugs in your hands, they do not force you to join gangs and drop out of school. That is your own doing. Its time that you start taking accountability for your own actions instead of trying to blame the whites on your own failures. As for this DJ it seems that all he is trying to do is gain publicity. Seeing that he jumped on talk shows and radio shows as soon as he could. i guess another way to exploit racism again.
My comment from last night got errased.. Lucky me I saved it in word... something told me that would happen.
NOw...
Lets recap the night...
1 DJ plays a mixture of hip hop and top 40.. loud enough for all of downtown to hear him...
DJ Exits the set.. in comes DJ Jazzy Jeff... I didn't notice any change in the sound of the speakers but there was a significant change in the mood of the crowd... everyone was actually having fun.. even the BBoys took a break from trying to steal the lime light... about 10 minutes in to the set we get a PSA that " Hey, they said we can't play hip hop"
Next thing I know bags are being packed, laptops turned off, and the crowd starts chanting "BULLSH#$"...
Power and Lights follow up all of this by playing "Welcome to the Jungle" on the speakers and follow it up with country music from various artists of some lost generation... (to me this was intentional)
This is not the first time that we have been told that Power and Light has banned hip hop music. Several times in various bars we have made specific requests only to be told that they "can't play that here"
I say the same thing the crowd said "BULL#$T%"
My advice to my people ...If they can't cater to you DONT SPEND MONEY DOWN THERE!
I expect the type of behavior displayed that night from the types of people that run Power and Light.. the thing that I dont understand is why black people stay and continue to spend money...
When someone shows you that you are not welcome.. believe them the first time.. dont' spend all your money to figure that out...
Out of the many reasons they put out there none of them add up...
#1 they said that he blew their speakers.. if there was an issue with the speakers why did they allow another DJ to play after him?
#2 they said he played too much rap or hip hop. Then you have to ask why this was not a problem when the white DJ played.
#3 they say that they allow rap but not hip hop....what do THEY consider hip hop? and what is rap to them? THEY COULDNT TELL YOU. Besides that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard... but from their eyes I guess thats just another way to try and mask the reality of the situation...
They don't want to play music that will attract a certain crowd.. that certain crown just happens to be brown and listens to hip hop
So please brown people take your green somewhere else!
I have worked at P&L for about a year. Being employed by Cordish has given me the opportunity to work hard to make a good living. I started there as a door guy, worked my way up to a barback then a bartender and now a manager. I love this company and anyone who claims we are unfair to any ethnic community is sadly mistaken. As a guy who has worked the door I can say that it is uncomfortable to tell someone they cannot enter your venue because the way they are dressed but its what you are paid to do. I can also say that we HONESTLY have to tell more white people they cant come in than black people. If you do not believe me I would like to invite you to stand at any of our bar entrances or checkpoints for a night to validate my point. When you tell someone they cant come in because the way they are dressed, black or white, you ussually dont get a positive response. But, black people claim racism 90% of the time, they will be vocal about it to. I just dont understand I guess... But what I do understand is that a company made a deal with our city to build an unbelievable venue that is designed to give a release or outlet to a hardworking community of people. It is in the best interest of Cordish and our city to protect our investment by creating stipulations to cater to the "ideal customer". The "Ideal Customer" has no color...it is a respectful hardworking person who would like to have a release to the daily grind in a fun and safe enviornment. With that said...Anyone who doesnt agree or comply to our standards is considered opposition and I can guarantee that you will be crushed. If you dont want to dress in correlation with our code than please boycott power and light, tell your firends to join you, start a revolution...and go to another bar or venue. Because I can guarantee that you will not have a experience like you could have with us. Thank you to the few posters who are sticking up for us, your business is appreciated.
K Sharp - its people like you that keeps racism going. Anytime a problem happens thats all you can do is bring up that it is racism against blacks. Instead of going that route why don't you try using what power you think you have and do something about the real issues such as the gangs in MO, the drugs the high amount of murders, the high drop out rates. Or is that the whites problem too, were the ones putting the drugs in thier hands, making them get in gangs and drop out of school. I came from a pretty poor white family but had wonderful parents who cared about me and kept me from straying into gangs, drugs or dropping out of school. They taught be values. Instead of yelling racism for every thing try teaching values to families so they can teach it to their kids.
I for one am glad that they are trying to keep it clean. I worked downtown for 10 years. I have had my car stolen, broken in to and have had a friend mugged and another who was carjacked. All they are trying to do is keep the thugs out. It is not a racist issue. It is getting so old that anytime something is done different that the old racism card has to be thrown out. Its time to get over it and try working on making things better instead of wining over not being able to where pants that the crouch hangs to the ground where you can't even shake their hands or their pants will fall off or clothes so tight that you look like you are out to do a job for the night.
@Above
- After an astounding amount of stupid posts, this has to be the most ridiculous yet. I'm surprised you didn't include a link to some ambulance chaser.
Anytime you exceed 110bd for more than 8 seconds you risk permanent hearing damage. If anyone who attended has any ringing in their ears and has taken a hearing test previously to the event they have every right to sue cordish company.
I, for one, am employed by Cordish\ECI. I am born and raised in KC. They promised me a salary in exchange for hard work. I delivered on my end and so did they. From an inside perspective, this is not the evil empire some of you would paint it to be. I refuse to work for a company that makes me compromise my values and I've never been asked to do such a thing. Like any high profile company, the day-to-day is filled with tough decisions. Not everyone likes the outcome and not every situation is handled perfectly - there is a degree of human error. But the P&L is FILLED with people from KC who make it run. There is no shadowy figure quietly pulling the strings; the leadership is shared between many professionals from all walks of life. The jobs it has created in the city, the tax money it generates, and the quality of life it has afforded my family are tremendous and I couldn't be happier to call this company home.
Ya suppose Cordish might be telling the truth?
I suppose it's possible, but they've sure told plenty of lies up until now. Why would they quit at this point?
As a contempory of DJ Jazzy Jeff I want to express sincere remorse for what happen in my city. The people who are in charge of The Power & Light District have a total lack of respect for People of Color and Hip Hop...That is why me and many other real black people choose not to support the P&L.
I'm ashammed that this happen. I will continue to BOYCOTT Power and Light.
KSharp
let me ask you this:
would you feel more comfortable if the Drug Dealers, "thugs"(i hate that word, and anyone that uses it should research its origins, it has nothing to do with american culture) wore 3-piece suits to the bar?
if i were a convicted murderer, would you think better of me because i dressed real nice?
i hope not. i also hope you dont think because i rock a white t-shirt(which was ok when the country boys were doin it in the 80's) and my hat turned back that i haven't served my country(ARMY), educated myself(CMSU), and contribute to society as a whole(Taxes, Voting, and Community work).
When you generalize and stereotype people by they way they look(skin, clothing, or otherwise), its discrimination plain and simple. and just because its mostly black folks complaining about the treatment down there doesn't mean we're wrong...
I feel I should add that I�m African American, it seems that you need to state your race in all these blogs so I�m just making it easy so you know right away. I to was at the slave concert in august and I was at the Jazzy Jeff show last night as well and it was the same sound people in August as it was last night, I was standing right behind the guy who was running front of house (that�s what actual sound people call the place where the head sound guy mixes from during a show). I was watching the sound guy he was putting compressors on Jeff's levels and it looked like he was EQ'ing the channels as well. It was actually getting better before Jeff was axed. Oh and if your a real DJ you know that your mixer is sending two lines back to the House engineer and you control the MIC's volume. Umm it's plugged straight into your mixer remember. I don't know what the real reason Jeff was axed and I really don't care. Yeah I do wish he had been allowed to play his whole set cause he was about to take the roof off that place. But I acted like an adult and booed for a minute (LOL) and then waited for them to set up MSTRKRAFT and then heard and watched a great show put on by them. I feel for the sound guys because I�m sure they took a lot of shit for nothing they had control over. I feel for Jeff for being axed when he was about to blow the P&L roof off. I don�t feel for the goons that run the Power and Light. Maybe a little bit more planning by the P&L and knowing who and what your DJ�s spin before they get there would help. Will I never go back to P&L probably not for a while, but if they bring Santigold or Ghostland Observatory I�m there.
I think ALL the comments on this blog DEFENDING The Power and Light District are posted by Cornish (the management company for P&L) employees. They are trying to drum up support for their racist District. NICE TRY...but we can all see through it.
kcsr responds �
�P&L kicks off DJ jazzy jeff for not playing top 40 �
http://www.kcsr.org/showthread...
Money B, Paul, M.Harris, 50 Grand... a couple of really quick notes...
All are entitled to their opinions. There were no sound system issues and there were no Unprofessionals acts by Jeff or the 2 other people with, Skillz and his manager. I was the fourth person as a guest. So I will say this. As a person who went to high school and currently living in Chicago. I was very proud to have visited the P and L
last year in August when a close friend was the host for Slave in concert. I was proud of the growth of our city.
I saw all types of folks partying to Slave, a MAJOR black funk group.
Today, at 1245a on June 8th, I am heartbroken at what I am reading here on this blog. Jazzy Jeff is Hip Hop from its beginning until its end... He is the Elvis of DJS, He has won a GRAMMY, had an EMMY winning television show. The list goes on and on.
This is not racism but an act of BLATANT disregard for the culture of HIP HOP that allows Burger King to use Sponge Bob and combine Sir Mix alots song to portray White women with square butts...or a culture that allows Heineken, a Dutch base beer company to use Biz Markie's Just a Friend song as an means to tell people to drink and let a taxi take you home. The commercial has all WHITE people in it... I represent the 1st HIP HoP group to have a MARVEL COMIC BOOK series, A NBC SAT MORNING CARTOON and 5 STUDIO Movies.
here is the point of those MAJOR examples... YOU cannot make moneyoff of HIP HOP and then dismiss it. its time to wake up.
KC has a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG way to go. I am truly ashamed to be from KC after what I witnessed last night. Anyone with comments or questions can hit me at madochi@gmail.com. Racism is now disrespect of cultures, Racism is no longer about skin color. It has transfered to beliefs and cultures. I AM HIP HOP UNTIL THE DAY I DIE. I AM JAZZ, FUNK, ROCK, TECHNO, COUNTRY, I AM MUSIC TIL THE DAY I DAY. I WATCHED REDMAN AND METHOD MAN DO A SHOW WITH WILLIE NELSON.
KC IS A CITY THAT IS CULTURALLY LOST.
BUT IT CAN BE FIXED, WHO'S GOING TO STEP TO THE PLATE AND ADMIT THE PROBLEM.
The entertainment district has a dueling piano bar, an Italian wine lounge, two Irish pubs, an upscale bowling alley, a posh Las Vegas-wannabe techno lounge, a place called Rock Bar and a Mexican cantina among other things within the KC Live block.
But there is no hip hop club. There is no jazz or blues lounge. Kansas City is the home of the American Jazz Museum.
Im glad people like Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys (Hip Hop artist) are considering never playing at the Sprint center.
qUOTE....The pOWER AND wHITE, entertainment district has a dueling piano bar, an Italian wine lounge, two Irish pubs, an upscale bowling alley, a posh Las Vegas-wannabe techno lounge, a place called Rock Bar and a Mexican cantina among other things within the KC Live block.
But there is no Hip hop club. There is no Jazz or Blues lounge. Kansas City is the home of the American Jazz Museum.
I am a long time follower of DJ Jazzy Jeff, who plays music from the depths of himself to crowds of music fanatics all over the world. ive experienced him rocking appreciative crowds from liverpool to bangkok to scotland, even russia! First, after 25 years in this business and the way the media loves to talk, we would have heard about compliance issues with him/his crew long before now if they were valid. and for all of the technical talk and logic behind who should have turned what equipment down, has anyone ever thought that once this apparently longstanding racist that runs this place decided he didn't want Jeff to finish, for whatever reason, he had his people mess with the sound on their end to sabotage the performance. if he has used deceptive tactics to fund, establish, and operate such a widely disputed section of a city, what makes anyone think he won't take drastic measures to get "whatever" he wants. He clearly is not for the people, with all of the complaints and accusations...he's for himself! I am not from Kansas but will b visiting there this summer and the funny thing is that before this show/issue even took place and I told my friends there i wanted to come and see the city, two of them said "we will not be going to P&L, it's too risky, you never know how you'll b treated." that's crazy. i hope DJ jazzy jeff continues to play in the thousands of cities/countries that appreciate music (for real) and all of the dedication and appreciation his years of diligence brings.
Ok ok.... The thought that the FOH has control of the dj is false..... Except for turing off the channel.
If you have the program scratchlive and you would like to test the theory yourself.
Plug in to a mixer. Crank up the master volume on your laptop. Then crank up the mp3 volume of the track. Ok we are still not done yet. Now on the mixer crank up the gain on the channel . And last crack up the master volume and listen to what is coming out of your now being cooked speaker. Go ahead and add compressors and limiters and see that the volume has dropped but the sound still sounds like $hit.
If the track is played too hot it would not matter if you had 3,5,10 compressors inline.
Sure have a lot of experts on here.. But yet no one has explained the """BULLSHIT"""
Oh and Mr seasoned DJ. I think you may need some more seasoning....
IF the music was too loud, why didnt a person on the soundboard etc just turn it down?? Sure the dj can control gain/volume on the mixer, but cant the sound engineer turn it down himself??
Is all the fuss over denied racism? Fine. We're racist. We don't want your kind or your money, nor do we need it. BOYCOTT US...I'M BEGGING YOU. Your culture can go destroy some other venue no one gives a shit about. Remeber the Westport of years past? Remember Kabal in its prime? We care about what we've built here and don't want to see it run into the ground like so many other INDIVIDUAL and FAMILY owned night spots in this city and others over the years.
I don't know why the sound issue keeps comming up. The people who were running the booth were not concerned about it. They coudn't understand why he was cut off either.
In response to P&L's statement about the reason of DJ Jazzy Jeff's early dismissal being because of a general concern of the condition of their soundsystem, we must look @ the facts. I spoke to Harvest (AKA the sound engineers) and they are singing a different tune. I know 2 of the people that were working the sound last night, and I officially asked the head sound guy why Jeff was cut and he said ... "P & L has a NO Rap policy because of the agressive nature. They had meetings discussing DJ Jeff's approaching set, and it was cleared because they were reassured that he was an Old School Hip Hop Act that featured an MC." He was running the sound and he didn't mention that the sound levels were why he was cut!!!! Now my source did mention that the DJ Booth had control over his own sound and his MC's, but as a seasoned DJ MYSELF who has been on similar sound systems KNOWS that the Front of the House has the last say to the levels of sound being projected. Sniff, Sniff!!! I SMELL CONSPIRACY!!!
Skillz Thank you for telling us what really happen because that whole story about the sound is BULLSHIT and anybody with common sense knows its BULLSHIT. I'm getting a group of people together and we are going to protest against POWER AND LIGHT DITRICT. enough is enough they dont want are music, they don't want are style of colthes then the don't need are MONEY.
BLACKS and WHITES and any race that is tired of bullshit like this BOYCOTT PLEASE its 2009 when is dumb shit like this going to stop.
This makes KANSAS CITY look real bad
E.RHYMES keep telling the truth. Lets look at the facts, The dress code the first thing they put on there when it opened was NO BAGGY PANTS, NO EXTRA LONG SHIRTS, NO PLAN COLORED T-SHIRTS, uuummmhhh I wonder who all that was for. O I know young black male's. I'ts not a fucking secert people, they don't want young blacks down there because they are fucking scared that something might happen get the fuck out of here, YOU RACIST FUCKS, you can play rock-n-roll that talks about death,satenizem,all that negitive bullshit thats in rock-n-roll but you can't play commecialized HIP HOP what whoever think the POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT is right you are a jackass. I was there in front me my wife my brother and his wfe. And that story about the sound is BULLSHIT because the DJ that was on right before DJ JEZZY JEFF music was just as loud so please get off that the loudness of the music was going to mess up the sound system BULLSHIT
Neil,
Thanks so much for setting us straight with those Race in America 101 pointers.
I have to tell you, though. Anyone who's been a little more reflective about these issues and has researched them beyond an undergrad requirement understands that their complexity reaches into issues of urban development and regulation of spaces public and private. Not to even begin to mention the football field that could be filled with research and theory of hip-hop's relationship to race issues.
If you have any true connects to diverse urban communities, you will be more likely to have heard.
Love,
Inner City KC Born and Raised
Well, I can't say that I'm surprised - but very disappointed. It is racisim at its lowest form. Say what you want, spin it how you like, but that's the truth. Now Neil talks about "hipsters" from JoCo and calls KC his City, but I've been around long enough to remember when Black folk couldn't go in a restaurant downtown and sit down to eat a meal so I KNOW racisim when I see it, when I'm exposed to it, and when all these excuses are given as to why DJ Jazzy Jeff was kicked out of the MOST PREJUDICED P&L District. Even though it's being called a family venue, when I drove through a few weekends ago, people were falling down drunk - literally, there were police and ambulances everywhere. I don't know about you, but I would not subject my family to that type of atmosphere. If the only equipment they had couldn't take the volume, sounds to me like they need to get some more updated equipment. This is not over!!!
If the sound guy wanted the music turned down to not ruin the speakers he has the capability to turn it down himself. Just cause your djin doesnt mean your the only one to control the volume. I smell bullshit!!
peace
CROS1
@NEIL
if you'd like to have this discussion in person, we could do so the remnants of my birthplace on 62nd and wabash,my current home right off the 30's and troost, or my recording studio home right down the street on troost..
and when did you pry this city from my cold, dead hand? i didn't get the memo..
this isnt a case of rich kids pointing out atrocities they've never experienced themselves, nor is it an issue of those not experience in the area of audio production and performance. there have been many that have posted on this issue that are considered experts in that discipline and all came to the conclusion that if an audio system is worth its ass, it has equipment in place to avoid the "catastrophic damage" that Corsdish is outright spinning as an excuse. Compressors and Limiters are but a couple that come to mind.
if the P&L fails, you can't blame on the city that fitted the bill and is not please with its performance...
To all hipsters from Johnson County who feel the need to stir shit in my city:
The DJ was hired by the club to play hip-hop. His playing of hip-hop was not the issue. Race was not the issue. The music was simply too loud...sound from speakers=distorted.
For those who make their living playing music, from time to time club managers will ask that you lower the volume depending on the crowd. Those requests have nothing to do with race. Simple logistics.
The bottom line is that if P&L fails, our city will be left with a huge tab to pay. End of story. Think what you will about the project, but as it stands, it's a done deal, and it needs to succeed. Perhaps our judgement is collectively clouded with 24 hour-a-day news network group-think, but seriously, step back from your own bullshit and consider the enormity of the issue.
Likewise, consider that while you're currently into tattoos, coke, PBR, tight jeans, etc., in ten years when you're back in JoCo following in your loving parents' footsteps with retirement plans and dead-end jobs with families, you'll very likely want to indulge in a nice night out in a place like P&L.
Stop with your high and mighty tripe. Consider putting your energy into fighting real race issues like inadequate health care and predatory lending. It's easy to be cynical, but much harder to step outside yourself and consider other sides to a story.
RE SKills
THE "GANG SIGNS" comment is Frequently made in KC about suposed "gangsters".. I had a discussion like this that was COMPLETELY crazy and untrue a few weeks ago with a venue.
IGNORANCE.
BOOMmmmmbbffbfppppfffpfpff tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Bitch nigga ho
BOOMmmmmbbffBOOMppfffpfpff tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk
Better have my money yo!
really folks. what did you expect? we're talking about cordish. they should of not booked jeff if they seem to not know what the guy is about.
while this incident is about race, cordish is all about the benjamin's. their corporate culture doesn't stop at racism. they also enjoy scamming cities for tax money and have no qualms about using their leverage against the city to basically turn the city council into a bludgeon and the health department and liquor control into agents of fear in their quest to either close or substantially hinder the restaurants and bars in the downtown and crossroads area. ask anyone you know that works in a bar or restaurant either downtown or in the crossroads if their place of employment has had any problems with the city in the last 2 years or so. ask the truckload of folks who were formerly employed at one of the places at the p&l. you will hear a lot of stories that would make you think more than twice about trying to open up a business down there.
what can you do though? cordish has the city over a barrel. big time. almost a billion dollars worth. that's a lot of $10 beer.
you know, if they had maybe, lived up to their lopsided bargain, they would of added some hip clothing boutiques by now, so they could of sold you the kind of clothes they think you should be wearing.
"hip hop legend? jazzy jeff and fresh prince were the sesame street of hip hop. what a joke." - robert.
you must be high or thinking of vanilla ice and mc hammer. jazzy jeff, whether you want to believe it or not, was not only a pioneer of turntablism, but is a well respected producer as well.
i find it hard to believe that jeff was pushing the levels too hard when his sound was noticeably lower in decibels than z-trip's set. as a dj myself (and an avid music listener), this wasn't a hard discrepancy to hear. anyone with half a brain could've heard the difference.
this was the only time i have ever been to the P&L as a patron and i'm still pissed that our tax dollars are paying for what has only been a blight on the city since they first started. it's a strip mall of kitchy, tacky, gimmicky bars that has done absolutely ZERO for the actual city itself other than act as a bigoted, money-thieving parasite.
i left when the laptop and the decks were taken away, so i can't speak to anything that happened afterwards, but if the crew was kicked off the stage for playing hip hop to a relatively subdued, but party-ready crowd, then P&L needs to get it's priorities straight. music is music. get over it.
If white people accept this behavior they are part of the cause. I agree with you Lawrence Local Girl! I've already been on the phones telling my friends not to put up with that place.
Skillz:
Your explanation is good enough for me. I've been hearing vague reports about racism at Power & Light ever since it opened. After extensive research, I have now come to a decision.
I'm hearing about an African American boycott of P&L but that just isn't good enough.
I'm a 38-year-old white woman and I will not be spending any hard-earned disposable income at establishments who accept racist practices as a norm. Neither will any of my friends.
It is time for forward-thinking people to echo these thoughts and agree to do the same. BOYCOTT THE POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT.
Robert sure is knowledgeable about hiphop, you should've DJ'd last night!
Thank you Skillz for the response. I guess you'll be "Doin Time in the Cypher".
After being at the show, enjoying the night...then the disappointment 15 minutes into Jazzy Jeff's set...now reading these posts. Personally, i feel that if some of these posts are the mentality of the people in the P&L district, working and/or patrons, you won't find me there anymore. Many of these were just disgraceful.
Additionally the way the situation was handled as a whole...i will never go down to the P&L district again. looks bad from all around, puts a negative mark on KC either way. At this point, i feel there is no way to fix this.
Why do you think so many people showed up to this event? DJ Jazzy Jeff does what? Who? Oh, yeah...he's a Hip-Hop/Rap Legend. I'm done with P&L.
hip hop legend? jazzy jeff and fresh prince were the sesame street of hip hop. what a joke.
Skillz-
Thank you for explaining what happened. Your explanation makes total sense.
The claim that Jeff was cut off because of the sound system being damaged is beyond ridiculous. A $500k soundsystem has multiple safeguards in place (called a compressor or limiter) to prevent anything happening to the amplifiers or speakers.
I imagine those responses are Cordish cronies attempting to muddy the waters or at least perform a little damage control.
A 25 year veteran and music industry LEGEND doesn't have that long of a career not knowing how to run a dj mixer.
I was the MC there.My name is Skillz ..for proof hit me @ twitter.com/skillzva and Jeff didn't push any levels..we were told that they didn't want RAP music played after we started. The mgr's exact words to our road mgr was " we don't want TI played here" as we played Live Your Life feat. Rihanna. We played clean versions and I didn't curse or disrepect the venue or the crowd. We played Kanye, TI, Neyo and Big Markie's Just a Friend..which are all top 40 or known records. I was told by my road mgr to annouce to the crowd why were were stopping. I asked why? And he said they said they don't want rap music played" I said you want me to say that to them " and he said yes. So I did. I said word for word " I have just been informed we have to stop because they don't want rap music played here" I said jeffs website address and we left. I dropped the mic( and that was the only thing that couldve been taken as disrespect). We went backstage and the Barcardi people apologized to us. I went to the side of the stage to speak to a friend. And the stage a guy walked up to me and said " why would you do that" I'm like " do what" " why would you turn the crowd against me" and I'm like " excuse me, who are you?" And he replied to the cops " I want him off the property" and I was escorted out. It was 30 people there with me when that happened.I left. Later that night we were told that " my posture " was an issue. They said I continued to grab my crotch and throw gangsigns. It was never an issue of sound. They didn't want rap music in their spot. And me being there dressed with my jeans and my hat on backwards telling peeps to sing the words to Neyo was too much for them. I'm sure they're thinking different this morning though.
I was at the concert last night, and I was enjoying the best party I had been to in a long time. Everybody was singing and dancing and having fun. About 15 min. into the show it sounded like he had messed up one of the speakers. When the show got shut down I thought that they had shut it down because of the speaker problem. I went over to talk to the guys in the sound booth about it, and they told me that the speaker was fine, it was a problem with DJ Jazzy Jeff's gain output on his computer and not the speaker. They said that there really wasn't anything they could do to fix the problem, but that it was not the reason that the show was called off.
I am a white person who is not going to tolerate this injustice to my black brothers and sisters. P&L will never get my business again.
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