Vanilla Ice, born Robert Matthew Van Winkle in 1967, is a rapper and actor who rose to fame in the early 1990s with his hit single “Ice Ice Baby.” He began his career as a breakdancer and rapper, performing at local clubs and parties.
Despite his early success, Vanilla Ice faced controversy and legal issues, including a dispute over the sampling of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” in “Ice Ice Baby” and a run-in with notorious music executive Suge Knight.
He appeared in films such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” and “Cool as Ice,” which was widely panned by critics. Despite setbacks, Vanilla Ice continued to perform and release music, and was a cultural icon of the early 1990s.
Key Takeaways
- Vanilla Ice rose to fame in the early 1990s with his hit single “Ice Ice Baby” and debut album “To the Extreme.”
- He faced controversy and legal issues, including a dispute over the sampling of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure” and a run-in with notorious music executive Suge Knight.
- Vanilla Ice pursued an acting career, appearing in films such as “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” and “Cool as Ice.”
Early Life and Career
Vanilla Ice, whose birth name is Robert Matthew VanWinkle, was born in Texas in 1967. As a child, he developed an affinity for rap music while traveling between Dallas and Miami.
He took up breakdancing as a teenager, and his friends gave him the nickname “Vanilla” because he was the only white kid in the crew. He combined this nickname with his signature move, “the Ice,” to create his stage name.
Breakdancing and Motocross
Vanilla Ice started performing in rap battles at parties, where his rhyming skills impressed anyone who heard him. However, it was his success in Motocross that brought him early glory.
He won three championships in 1985 but eventually turned his focus back to breakdancing. He performed around local malls and eventually took his rapping street performing talents to the stage, where he earned rave reviews for his open mic performances.
Rap and Stage Performances
Vanilla Ice’s first single, “Play That Funky Music,” received limited airplay at radio stations. However, the B-side track of that album, “Ice Ice Baby,” would ultimately change his life forever. The song became a huge hit in the state of Georgia.
Vanilla Ice signed a contract with record label SBK Records and re-recorded his first album under the new title, “To the Extreme.” The album hit the top of the charts, where it remained for 16 consecutive weeks.
Controversies and Legal Issues
Vanilla Ice had a scary encounter with Suge Knight. He wanted Mr. Ice to sign over the publishing rights to his song. He initially declined until one night Suge and another large man showed up at his suite which was on the 15th floor.
Suge Knight threatened to throw Vanilla Ice off the balcony unless he signed over the publishing rights. Vanilla Ice signed over the rights to the song around $4 million. Suge Knight later used that Ice Ice Baby money to fund Death Row Records.
Copyright Infringement
Vanilla Ice’s hit song faced controversy due to its similarities to the iconic song “Under Pressure” by David Bowie and Queen. Despite claims that the songs were different, Bowie and Queen threatened to sue him for copyright infringement.
Eventually, the parties settled out of court with Vanilla Ice paying $4 million for publishing rights to the song and giving credit to Bowie and Queen for the underlying music.
Award Nominations and Wins
Vanilla Ice’s hit song “Ice Ice Baby” brought him into the limelight, and it wasn’t long before he started receiving award nominations. These included the following:
- Nomination for Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance.
- Won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Song and the Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song.
- Soul Train Award nomination for Best R&B Contemporary New Artist.
Vanilla Ice’s early success led to merchandise like dolls and appearances on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secret of the Ooze.
Vanilla Ice Merchandise
Vanilla Ice’s popularity resulted in a significant demand for Vanilla Ice merchandise. Dolls, t-shirts, and posters bearing his name and image flooded the market. The rapper was featured in various magazines and television shows.
Vanilla Ice’s live performances were highly sought after, and he went on several tours to meet the growing demand. His shows were known for their mix of dance and hip-hop, which made them highly entertaining.
Despite the decline in his popularity, Vanilla Ice continued to tour for nearly three years, performing to his fans who still loved him.
Acting Career
Vanilla Ice made several appearances in movies and shows over the time of his popularity. We highlight two of them below:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: In the movie, he played himself and performed his hit song “Ninja Rap.” He later described the experience as “the coolest time of his life.” After his iconic performance, Vanilla Ice decided to pursue a career in acting.
- Cool as Ice: Vanilla Ice’s acting career got off to a rocky start with his starring role in the 1991 film “Cool as Ice.” The movie was panned by critics and was a box office bomb, only making 1.2 million dollars on a reported 6 million dollar budget. It was nominated for seven Razzie Awards, with Vanilla Ice winning Worst New Star.
He also appeared on reality TV shows such as The Surreal Life and Dancing with the Stars.
Decline and Aftermath
Despite the failure of Cool as Ice, Vanilla Ice continued to release music and tour. In 1994, he released his third album Mind Blowin’, which failed to achieve the same success.
He took a hiatus from music before returning in 1998 with his fourth album, Hard to Swallow. This album saw him move away from his previous pop-rap style and towards a more rock-oriented sound. It was met with mixed reviews and failed to chart.
Vanilla Ice continued to release music throughout the 2000s and 2010s, with varying degrees of success. In recent years, he has focused on home renovation and has hosted his own DIY Network show, The Vanilla Ice Project.
Despite his ups and downs, Vanilla Ice remains a cultural icon and a reminder of the brief but impactful popularity of early 90s pop-rap.
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