Power & Light boots Jazzy Jeff!
EDITOR’S COMMENTARY
BRUTAL TREATMENT OF HIP-HOP LEGEND WILL SCAR KANSAS CITY’S REPUTATION by Wayne Hodges
“How did they kick me off stage in Kansas City for playin’ hip-hop…I’m a 25 year legend…this is some bull****!” – from DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Twitter on 06/07/09
KANSAS CITY, MO – Can somebody please tell me what the heck is going on at the Power & Light District? First the taxi cab scandal, and now this? Acclaimed performer and producer DJ Jazzy Jeff, accused of playing his hip-hop too loud on stage, was given the proverbial boot by Power & Light officials less than 30 minutes into his concert performance on June 6. “My road manager walked up to me and said they were having problems with the music I was playing,” said a stunned Jazzy Jeff. “I played three more songs and he comes back. I knew something was wrong. They said I had to kick [MC] 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.”
OK, let me get this straight. An entertainer of 25 years, recruited to give a live hip-hop performance for a hyped KC crowd, faced the prospect of criminal arrest for what’s considered to be ‘excessive’ loud music? Now, that’s a new one. Boy, you have to give Kansas City credit; when we screw up, we screw up big. If you’re not familiar with Jazzy Jeff, I’ll brief you. As a teammate of recording artist and award-winning actor Will Smith, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince won the first ever Grammy for hip-hop in 1989. Let me repeat that. The dynamic duo of Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith won the first ever hip-hop Grammy. You would think one of the original pioneers of what has become arguably the most popular music in the world would garner a little more respect, right? Apparently, not in KC.
According to Jenee Osterheldt of the Kansas City Star, venue officials (who asked to remain anonymous) claimed Jeff’s music attracted the “wrong element.” Hmm…the wrong element, huh? This statement alone represents another “black eye” for an entertainment district that has gained an unwanted reputation for racial discrimination; against African-Americans in particular. Remember, not too long ago, the Power & Light District, owned by the Cordish Company, was accused by patrons of enforcing an unfair dress code.
Whether the perception is true or not; this latest fiasco sure as hell doesn’t help. And I’m quite sure Jazzy Jeff (pictured above), whose probably friends with just about everybody in the music industry, will not speak too highly of Kansas City. Believe me; hip-hop artists will think twice before giving a commitment to KC promoters in the near future. Heck, most Americans living outside the Kansas & Missouri borders already view Kansas City as a hillbilly town anyway. The unceremonious dismissal of Jazzy Jeff just provides more ammunition for the critics.
Not convinced? Here’s what Sam Sessa of the Baltimore Sun had to say about the debacle: “I can’t believe Power & Light officials would book (Jeff) there and then kick him off stage for playing hip-hop. I don’t buy the volume excuse either. I seriously doubt that Jeff was playing too loud. That’s insane!” Take a bow Kansas City. Our town is now nationally known for giving the boot to one of hip-hop’s most highly respected artists. I’m terribly disappointed. Shame on you, Power & Light. Shame on you.
Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the editor of “Mass Appeal News.” He is also an adjunct professor, MPA at Kansas University, and legislative intern with the Kansas Senate. Wayne welcomes your comments at whodges@massappealnews.com
To see DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “Parents don’t understand”, click the play arrow.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:40 am
The Power & Light has always had problems with race, this is nothin’ new. I have friends who got kicked out because their shirts were considered too long then I’d see other white guys wearing shirts just as long or longer and they dont get kicked out. P&L is a joke…
June 10th, 2009 at 6:07 am
I was at the concert on Saturday night and at first i thought it was a skit. Then I saw everybody take their laptops and equipment off stage. The music was not too loud. Everybody in the crowd was havin a good time, i don’t understand why the power & light people shut it down, they even pulled the plug on the speakers…i thought it was an act, part of the routine, but we soon came to understand it wasnt.
June 10th, 2009 at 6:30 am
For those interested, there’s plenty more on this story at http://thismayconcernyou.com/2009/06/07/dj-jazzy-jeff-the-power-light-district/
June 10th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
As long as he got paid I’m sure Jazz didn’t mind. They can kick me off stage as long as the money is right.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:40 am
The Power and White Dist as it’s come to be known is full of it! They have live concerts, with live music, with people jumping around screaming in the mics. Now if the system can handle, Guitars, vocals, keyboards, etc. but not a FRICKIN RECORD PLAYER, then their system sucks and it needed to be blown out! They are a lie and I can’t believe the powers that be in the city has allowed that lie to ride.
Wayne when I saw your email and it said you were treated well at those establishments, you were there to do a story right? I’m sure they knew you were there to do a story right? So why wouldn’t they treat you well?
On the flip side, the Power and Light is an entertainment District, Bars and the like. But there is a dress code to even be on the side walk. You talked about going inside the club, but they say you can’t even be in the area dressed a certain way, come on dude that’s some ish right there.
And Iknow you remember all the nights we spent down on westport and not once did they keep us from walking on the street cause of our dress.
June 12th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Yeah JD, I must admit; the club owners and managers were aware of my intention to write a bar review. Hey, maybe next time I won’t mention anything about journalism just to see what type of reaction I get. Then I’ll write a story about that.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Hey JD, i like your statement of “Power & White District.” Pretty funny. I agree…I’m sure the owners have plenty of cash to buy quality music equipment for the artists so I’m not buying the “JAZZY JEFF PLAYED HIS MUSIC TOO LOUD” excuse. Anybody who believes this is an idiot. Jeff got kicked out because he played too much hip-hop music, plain and simple.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:30 am
I guess the Power & Light dummies won’t be satisfied until they run all the people of color out of there. Don’t they know that racial integration and diversity is the new face of America? I thought we put some of this to rest with the election of President Barack Obama. I guess not.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Why do people keep spending their money in a place they’re not wanted? Its obvious nothing is going to change. There are other good places to go to in Kansas City.
June 14th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Maybe we should let Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton loose on the Power & Light District, then we’ll see some change. Anybody got the phone number to the Rainbow Coalition???
June 16th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I say its about time we boycott Power & Light…let’s patronize Westport instead