Black Ice
Black Ice (born Lamar Manson) is a Philadelphia poet, featured on Russell Simmons' television program Def Poetry Jam. His poems, which frequently involve racial and social issues, combine hip-hop flow with rich vocabulary to create a unique style.
Before poetry was big business there was Lamar Manson, known throughout the spoken word community as Black Ice. Black Ice is a prolific artist, whose stage performances bridge the gap between hip-hop and poetry. Circa 1993, Black Ice's spellbinding presence, combined with writing that speaks to the common man, helped to bring poetry out of the coffee houses and into the mainstream, simultaneously creating a career as a dynamic performer whose talents proliferate television, radio and theater. Because of his intense love for children and youth, his message can also be heard in classrooms and lecture halls across the country. Black Ice, has lent his genius to the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia, and has made feature TV appearances on BET (Live 8 Concert Special, Rap City the Basement and 106th & Park) and NBC (Showtime at the Apollo), in addition to starring in six consecutive seasons of HBOs Def Poetry Jam. He was cast as a lead member in Def Poetry on Broadway, which went on to win the 2003 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. The works that most closely define Black Ices personal vision are those where he uses his craft to uplift the masses. Black Ice has performed to audiences as diverse as those at the Hip-Hop Summit, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Source Youth Foundation and ShiNE, and performed for such notables as the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Muhammad Ali and Minister Louis Farrakhan, as well as performing a poem on rapper Fabolous' third album Real Talk. He has released an album called The Death of Willie Lynch in September 2006. His poem "Truth Is" was featured in Pete Rock's 2004 album Soul Survivor 2.
