OK...I know this sounds crazy but on Saturday night, legendary musical artist DJ Jazzy Jeff of the Grammy Winning Duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, was in town to perform on the KC Live Stage at the Kansas City Power & Light District.
According to numerous postings on Twitter & Facebook, after a 15-30 min performance, DJ Jazzy Jeff was asked to discontinue his performance because he was playing Hip-Hop Music.
Check out the post on
Jeff's Twitter page,
"they wanted Top 40" and
"they kicked me off the stage in Kansas City for playing Hip-Hop."
KC P&L District officials explained their side of the story on the
pitch.com. They are saying that after several attempts to get Jeff to comply, they asked him to discontnue his performance becasue his music was too loud.
I am not making this up!
Now, I'm not saying that either side is not being dishonest with us, but I will say that KC P&L is coming out of this with egg on their face. I'm happy to see that P&L Officials decided to release a statement, even though they didn't call me while we were talking about on the air...but had they called me, I would have asked two questions....
Why didn't you have a limiter on your system?
Sound professionals use a tool called a limiter...it prohibits the sound from exceeding a certain level....just like some people place limiters on the automobiles...I did say automobile becasue you will never find a limiter on a whip, but anyway, the limiter will prohibit you from exceeding a certain speed. So, for P&L to not have limiter on their system...the same system that would be used on any giving night when they employ country & rock bands to play, shows a lack of professionalism or ignorance.
Why is Jeff's people operating your system?
In the professional world, the rule is if you bought or leased it, you manage and control it. Example, you bought a house and I tell you how to run your house...well, that ain't gonna fly. In the profession of sound, the owner operates and controls his sound system or he/she hires someone to run it on their behalf...it's that simple.
For the past year, I have wondered to myself why hasn't the real issue been addressed as it pertains to the P&L. Personally, I feel that the City & the City Council dropped the Ball when they utilized
"dress code" to address the P&L issue. Anybody can & should have a dress code for their establsihment...I don't let my kids go out of the house looking crazy...that's my dress code.
The real issue has never been
"dress code"...the real issue centers around RACE! People let's get it out in the open...say it with me...RACE! Don't you feel much better!
Check out the two vocal comments on the right and see what these people think. Also, scroll down my blog to find my entry on my incident in the P&L back in May 2008.
Their is a lack of repect for inclusion in the P&L....and until this is addressed, the wounds of racism will be open and overflow Troost Ave with the blood of disenchantment which will increase the exisiting divide within this City.
Address the issue and hold people accountable!