Over 30 Years In Entertainment

An Award Winning Spoken Word Life Artist

6X NATIONAL POETRY AWARD WINNER

4X SPOKEN WORD MAGAZINE AWARD WINNER

10X CHICAGO MUSIC AWARD WINNER

8X DUBCEEZ UNDERGROUND MUSIC AWARD WINNER

2023 DUBCEEZ AWARDS ARTIST OF THE HONOREE​

2018 LANGSTON HUGHS AWARD HONOREE

2017 GAME CHANGER AWARD HONOREE 

2016 ICON AWARD HONOREE

32 RELEASED ALBUMS & DVDS

​HE HAS PRODUCED 15 ALBUMS FOR OTHER ARTIST

9X PUBLISHED AUTHOR

CEO & FOUNDER OF P.O.E.T (EST.1990)

CREATOR & C0-FOUNDER OF

THE LEGENDS OF CHICAGO HIP HOP (EST. 2013)

CEO & FOUNDER OF P.O.E.T RADIO STATION (EST. 2012)

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN KING OF POETRY BLAQ ICE

BLAQ ICE AKA THE FATHER OF THE CHICAGO POET LAUREATE

BLAQ ICE SELLS OUT THE CITY WINERY 04.23.24

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HOW THE CHICAGO POET LAUREATE GOT STARTED

De'Andre Hawthorne, also known as Blaq Ice, holds the distinction of being the driving force behind the establishment of the Chicago Poet Laureate. In a historic move, he successfully advocated for the position by engaging with Chicago 17th Ward Alderman David Moore who brought it to the city council in 2022. Through persistent efforts, including numerous phone calls and emails, Blaq Ice's dedication culminated in the appointment of Avery Young as Chicago's inaugural poet laureate on April 24, 2023. Beyond achieving a significant milestone, Blaq Ice's pivotal role has not only solidified his status as the Father of the Chicago Poet Laureate, but has also created a lasting impact by opening doors for future generations in the poetry and Spoken Word community.

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BLAQ ICE WINS THE 2024 CHICAGO MUSIC AWARDS 

BLAQ ICE FEATURES AT THE  BLACK WOMENS EXPO

BLAQ ICE KILLS IT AT 2024 FESTIVAL OF LIFE

KING OF POETRY

BLAQ ICE​

POET     ACTIVIST     MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER     DJ     HOST    PROMOTER      PRODUCER     ACTOR    PUBLISHED AUTHOR

TO SEE ALL OF BLAQ ICE UPCOMING EVENTS PLEASE GO TO THE EVENTS PAGE

The Beginnings

HISTORY MAKER

Blaq Ice made history, as part of the Black Heroes Matter Movement, he led the rallying cry with his poem, BLACK HEROES MATTER. The poem is about Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the Founder of Chicago. This movement, led by Ephraim Martin, successfully got the street name changed from Lake Shore Drive to Jean Baptist Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Inspired by early Hip Hop of the '80s and the release of the movie Krush Groove in 1985, Blaq Ice decided to try his hand at being a rap artist. After a brief encounter with a local Rap group called the M.O.C. crew, his passion for words, writing and performing finally came to life. 

He cultivated his silky-smooth style in the Englewood community in his hometown of Chicago, where he also founded the international P.O.E.T organization in 1990. Over the next 34 years his career, he would go from local to international. See more in the bio section.