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‘Boss up’: Son of Detroit rapper who inspired popular NFL celebration, helping that legacy live on

DETROIT – We all know how popular the Blade Dance created by Blade Icewood has become. But Blade’s son is saying that’s not good enough.

“It’s been going on for some years. But now it’s like on a whole nother level. They’re doing it in commercials now. Different teams that aren’t even from here are even doing it - Star players, you know,” said Blade Icewood’s son, Darnell “Lil Blade” Lindsay Jr.

Darnell has been watching his father’s legacy continue to play out over the NFL, with pretty much players from every team breaking out with the blade dance after scoring.

“It just makes me feel good that my dad still gets to live on in the afterlife, you know what I’m sayin’,” Darnell added.

You can find gear that even shows the dance at places like Plugged in the D. But his father’s legacy expands far beyond entertainment. Now his father’s name is being used to give back to the city, support youth, and empower single mothers through the nonprofit called the Icewood Foundation.

“I have a single mothers program because I grew up in a single-parent household with my father’s passing. I had to watch my mom really go hard for me and my sister by herself. And I know how hard it can be,” Darnell explained.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Icewood Foundation will be teaming up with the Brensean Winston’s Foundation, which is hosting the 2025 New Year Workshop in Detroit—An amazing opportunity to provide mentorship, entrepreneurship training, and leadership development to those in need, especially the youth.

“It’s always good to empower the youth and show them a different direction than becoming a product of our environment or even being a statistic. It’s good to just change the narrative,” said Brensean.

At the end of the day, Lil Blade believes it is what his father would do if he was still here.

“I hope he would just say he’s proud of me, man. I’m trying to do the right thing in the world and stay on the straight and narrow path and just put out a good image for myself, and my family and him,” Darnell concluded.

That event is happening at WeWork Downtown from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., right on Woodward Ave. You must RSVP, click here to do so.


About the Authors
Brandon Carr headshot

Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service.

Victor Williams headshot

Victor Williams joined Local 4 News in October of 2019 after working for WOIO in Cleveland, OH, WLOX News in Biloxi, MS, and WBBJ in Jackson, TN. Victor developed a love for journalism after realizing he was a great speaker and writer at an early age.