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Vanilla Ice, born Robert Matthew Van Winkle, is an American rapper, actor, and television host, who achieved significant commercial success and transitioned into home renovation and real estate ventures.
Vanilla Ice launched a new beer promotion in partnership with the New Zealand beer brand, Export, and was featured in a humorous campaign by DB Breweries and Special.
Vanilla Ice partnered with BrandStar Studios to launch 'The Vanilla Ice Home Show,' utilizing BrandStar's multi-million upgraded studios.
Vanilla Ice launched Joyburst natural energy drink in partnership with No Sugar Company CEO Brad Woodgate.
Ice served as a spokesperson for Nike throughout 1991 and 1992. In 2007, Nike released Vanilla Ice shoes for their 'Fallen Heroes' pack.
Ice served as a spokesperson for Coca-Cola throughout 1991 and 1992.
After taking a break from music, Ice became the world's No. 6-ranked sit-down jet ski racer, earning a Kawasaki sponsorship by the summer of 1995.
In March 2009, Ice participated in a Virgin Mobile advertising campaign titled "Right Music Wrongs," apologizing for his 1990s image.
He appeared in a commercial for the South African light beer Castle Lite.
In 2021, Vanilla Ice was part of a Samsung eco advertising campaign featuring a remixed version of "Ice Ice Baby."
Robert Matthew Van Winkle was born on October 31, 1967, in South Dallas, Texas, and raised by his mother. His early life involved frequent moves between Dallas and Miami. During his teenage years, he was a self-described poor student and dropped out of school. He found an outlet in breakdancing and later rapping, where his natural talent for performance led him to sign up at a local nightclub. He earned the nickname “Vanilla Ice” due to being the only white member of his breakdance crew. In 1989, he signed with SBK Records and initially released the LP “Hooked.” However, it was the B-side single “Ice Ice Baby,” which sampled Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure,” that propelled him to stardom upon its re-release in 1990. The album “To the Extreme,” featuring “Ice Ice Baby,” sold over 15 million copies, setting a record for the highest-selling rap album at the time. This period marked a peak in his mainstream popularity, leading to extensive merchandise and a tour with M.C. Hammer. He later appeared in the film “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze” in 1991 and starred in his own feature film, “Cool as Ice,” the same year.
Following a decline in mainstream music success and personal struggles, including drug abuse and an attempted overdose in 1994, Van Winkle shifted his focus. He took a two-year hiatus from music to pursue motocross under his real name and began investing in real estate, renovating houses. This period marked a significant turning point, leading him to explore different musical genres, including nu-metal and hip-hop, in subsequent albums like “Hard to Swallow” (1998) and “Bi-Polar” (2001). His career saw a mainstream resurgence in the 2000s, primarily through television. He began hosting “The Vanilla Ice Project” on DIY Network in 2010, a series focusing on home renovation, which ran for nine seasons. He also appeared in films such as “That’s My Boy” (2012), “The Ridiculous Six” (2015), and “Sandy Wexler” (2017). His diversified career showcases his adaptability and sustained presence in both entertainment and business.
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