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Published on July 14th, 2016 | by Landon Buford

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LaRoyce Hawkins Talks New Season of NBC’s Chicago PD and More!

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From humble beginnings LaRoyce Hawkins is living every actors dream as Detective Kevin Atwater on the NBC hit drama series Chicago PD created by Dick Wolf. On the show, Hawkins’ character Kevin Atwater is an honorable and trustworthy detective who stands for what is right and always puts others well-being before himself. Chicago PD has been renewed for its fourth season and is set to return this fall.

Fans of Hawkins may remember he started portraying the character of Officer Kevin Atwater on NBC’s Chicago Fire prior to his role on Chicago PD. A multi-talented entertainer, Hawkins is a stand-up comedian, theater, and movie actor.  He has appeared in several popular television shows including HBO’s Ballers, TBS’ Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, MTV’s Underemployed, and ABC’s Detroit 1-8-7.

In a case of art imitating life, Hawkins knows Chicago well. He was born and raised in Harvey, a suburb about thirty minutes south of Chicago with a population of little over 25,000.  Often ignored and neglected, Harvey is a city that struggles with high levels of crime, poverty, and unemployment, much like Chicago. As a child, Hawkins lived in the hood with his grandparents who raised him until the age of 13. Though starring on hit network show and inspiring others with his passion for acting and striving to be the best, Hawkins credits his grandparents for where he is at today. In an interview with The Hype Magazine, Hawkins discusses a variety of different topics, including the recent news headlines of police brutality in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and other important police related events happening around the country.

It has been highly published that you landed your first role of Art Baker in the Motion Picture “The Express” the Ernie Davis story about the first African American “Heisman Trophy Winner.”  At that point, did you feel like you made it and was this considered the opportunity you were hoping for at the time?

I was eighteen when I landed that particular role. I was fresh out of high school and entering my second semester of my freshmen year in college. So, to interrupt my college career with that kind of opportunity, you couldn’t tell an eighteen year Laroyce Hawkins I hadn’t made it.  I honestly thought that  was it, and I had aspiration to move to Los Angeles because the opportunity was so powerful. Being that young, I was under the impression that I had to strike while the iron was hot sort of speak. In addition, I have to say I was absolutely humbled by events that occurred after this film, because at the age of eighteen I didn’t really know how to handle all of those finances that I was being paid at the time. Furthermore, the gap between my very first gig and my second, which was the Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, was almost two years apart. That gap taught me that I did not want to be just an overnight sensation and I want to have longevity in this business. During that time I decided to go back to school and obtain my degree, which also helped me to master some of my craft as an actor, artist, and a poet.

In a lot of your interviews, I saw where you referenced the word “powerful” can you go into more detail on what you mean?

I love telling this story! It all started when my grandfather sent me the book “212 The Extra Degree” by Sam Parker and Mac Anderson. I learned from reading the book that “at 211 degrees Fahrenheit, water gets very, very hot, but at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, water boils. And when you get boiling water, you can create steam, and that steam is powerful enough to move a locomotive,” so I learned to go that extra degree. Literally one degree more and you’ll be powerful enough to move that locomotive. That “powerful” word just stood out in that quote, and so I just started using that to describe everything, for instance if turn in that powerful paper, you’re making a commanding statement to your professor or the student teacher. This also encouraged me to create an organization by the name of “Be Powerful LLC”.

Being that you are from the Chicago area, Harvey in particular with a population of a little more than 25,000 is currently ranked 20th on the Top 30 Murder Capitals of America. Are there any organizations you are currently partnered with to stop the violence in the city of Chicago?

So, I said I pretty much do work as an in-house movement with the “Be Powerful LLC,” which is an entertainment company that I’ve created. Through the company, I work with kids at my high school and partner with other officials within the community to help provide these young adolescents an outlet to stay off the streets. I just wanted to be able to do my part and help my community just like some of my mentors, for example, Lupe Fiasco, Napoleon Harris, Antwaan Randall EL to name a few.

With the recent action in the news involving shootings in Baton Rouge and Dallas, what your thoughts on how law enforcement is handling these situations?

I think the roots of the issues are more deeply rooted than these two situations in question. I think some of the steps should be taken before the police arrive on the scene, because I feel this is where the problem occurs. Meaning, I feel there is a powerful misunderstanding between law enforcement and the public and there has to be common ground, to connect both worlds. Growing up in Harvey, I had good situations and bad situations with law enforcement. The one thing that we can all agree on, is that nobody hates a bad cop more than a good cop, but the good cops need to speak up more and hold these others accountable.  Social media is not really helping the situation and it is getting to point where I wish I did not have Instagram.

While attending Thornton Township High School you were an athlete who played basketball and with that being said, what do you think about Kevin Durant choosing to leave Oklahoma City and joining forces the Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors?

I think it was a powerful move for his career and it’s something I have to give the man respect for making a decision like that, because I know what it might look like. But being from Chicago and being a huge Bulls fan, I have to stick to my roots and go with the fact Michael Jordan wouldn’t want to join forces with the likes of Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, or Karl Malone, because he loved the competition aspect of the game. Today’s generation-of-athletes has adopted the AAU mentality by putting together these super teams, just to try to win a championship. I’m happy for Kevin Durant. I’m just from the old school era!

Where do you think Russell Westbrook will land after this upcoming season?

As a Bulls fan I would love for Westbrook to come to Chicago, but it’s hard to tell at this point in time.  In addition, I would also love for him to come to the east to help shift some of the power from the west and make it more competitive. Obviously, whichever team he decides to join with will benefit tremendously, but seeing him in the east would definitely make it more interesting than it has been in years past.

What are thoughts about the Bulls landing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade?

I think it’s a couple of great pickups for the Bulls and the community of Chicago. Through his charity works with the Dwyane Wade Foundation, he’s done a lot for the city of Chicago already and both players will allow the team to sell tickets. This is a powerful and strategic move from both camps, because Dwayne is already a leader in this community. As for Rajon Rondo, he was the best point guard in the league last year as far as assists and his other decisions on the court. We know with Rondo comes some baggage, but contribute that to his competitiveness, he is a floor general and he wants his time to perform at a high level.

How hard was it to sit and watch Derrick Rose not be able to perform on a MVP level for the city of Chicago?

Watching Derrick Rose be a shell of his former self during these last couple years was very hard for the city of Chicago, because he’s from here. I personally have grown up watching him and play against him while attending Thornton Township High School; I knew he was going to be powerful. The city wanted to succeed so badly, because he is from and I consider myself television “Derrick Rose”.  I feel he wasn’t back emotionally, because of the injuries and this caused him to lose focus on just playing the game. I would like to see him revitalize his career in New York City and get back to the caliber player we know he can be at the end of the day.

What are some of the things you are currently involved with outside of the entertainment business?

I’m actually involved with a non-profit organization which was started by a dear friend of mine by the name of Justin Johnson out of Chicago. He is one of the greatest young financial advisers to come out of Chicago. He and I started networking and became real close and began working on the “Kicks for the City,” which involves us donating shoes to the less fortunate children in the inner cities.

“Kicks for the City” is currently in six cities nationwide and we have also formed partnerships with companies such as, Nike and The Athlete’s Foot. Our mission is to bring awareness to these struggles and provide shoes for those in need during the holidays or when it’s time to go back to school. We want to promote that kicks encourage confidence. In addition, we as a collective group want kids to be rewarded for their hard work in school and let them know to stay focused on their education and not worry about what their peers are wearing on a daily basis.  Furthermore, we just had our first annual sneaker ball with help from our partners and other contributors. Finally, everyone came to the ball suited and booted with their favorite sneakers on. “Kicks for the City” is currently operating in Atlanta, New York City, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Washington DC.

With President Obama also being from Chicago have you had the opportunity to meet him and what is something you are going to cherish from his term in office over the last eight years?

I have not had the pleasure of meeting President Obama yet, but once he leaves office I feel we will cross paths at some point because I know a lot of his staff in the White House. So, I feel when he returns to Chicago there is a high possibility we will meet at some point. As for something that I will cherish, is the fact that his time in office was not easy, but he was able to open doors. He opened doors not only for African Americans, but allowed opportunities for others to succeed. President Obama reinforces my hope that you can come from any background and accomplish your dreams. In addition, I will also cherish the fact I had the opportunity to vote for another black man. Not just any black man, but one that stood for hope during his two terms and leaving that powerful legacy with the door open, is truly an honor and shows how far we have come in a short amount of time.

You’ve had a wonderfully successful start to your career.  Once your career is set in stone what is something you want to be remembered for as a public figure?

I always want to be remembered as someone who’s like a drum major for freedom.  In addition, I want my work on-and-off screen to reflect that and I think we can find this within our gifts. Furthermore, I am a firm believer that freedom is more than just equality. It is liberty, love, life, and laughter. At the end of the day I want to be able to solidify my significance in this world, just like my mentors before me, to have powerful interviews like this one. I want to add this is an honor by the way.

How much of a transition was it for you going from Chicago Fire to becoming a regular on Chicago P.D?

This was a powerful time in my career, because at the beginning we were all under the impression that the Chicago Fire cast would be making the transition to Chicago PD. But this wasn’t the case because of all the casting changes. I did not know if I would be a part of the show. In addition, I had another offer on the table from Ballers on HBO starring Dwayne “The Rock’ Johnson as Spencer Strasmore. It was an opportunity to play something different and during this time I felt like a rookie ballplayer coming out of college. But Chicago PD gives me the opportunity to stay in the city of Chicago and also allows me to play an individual that is a man of integrity, honor, and a pillar in his community.

Finally, what can the viewers expect from Officer Kevin Atwater this season on Chicago P.D.?

You are going to see Atwater doing his best to up hold his theme of ambition and integrity, while trying to stay loyal to his squadron.


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About the Author

Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.


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