Black Ice, the Philadelphia poet who became one of the most powerful voices in performance poetry, has died. He was 54. Born Lamar Manson, the Def Poetry Jam standout delivered sharp examinations of race, history, identity, and survival. His cause of death has not yet been made public.
According to Allhiphop.com, Russell Simmons, Jill Scott, Toni Blackman, Jessica Care Moore, and others paid tribute as news of his death spread.
Scott, who shared a 30-year friendship with Black Ice, wrote, “Rest beautifully WORDSMITH,” in a social media post. “We got to have 30 years as REAL FRIENDS with REAL pens.”