Although Van Winkle was successful, he later regretted his business arrangements with SBK, which had paid him to adopt a more commercial appearance and had published fabricated biographical information without his knowledge. He strongly resented having to 'play along' with claims that he had survived violent underground gang fights while also wearing glamorized outfits. After surviving a suicide attempt by drug overdose when his mainstream fame evaporated, Van Winkle was inspired to change his musical style and lifestyle. Further albums by Van Winkle, including 'Hard to Swallow', 'Bi-Polar', and 'Platinum Underground', featured a less mainstream-oriented sound inspired by alternative metal. His latest album is 'Wisdom, Tenacity & Focus' (better known as just 'WTF'), which he released in 2011, which feature Ice's return to the more electronic and classic hip-hop sound that was present in some of his past classics.
As stated before, Van Winkle signed a contract with SBK Records in 1990, who reissued 'Hooked' under the title 'To the Extreme'. The reissue contained new artwork and music. According to Van Winkle, SBK paid him to adopt a more commercial, conventional appearance. Getting a break touring with MC Hammer, Van Winkle largely copied that artist's large stage shows, oversize pants, flamboyant hairstyles, and more. Van Winkle is quoted as saying that: {"They told me, we want you to wear these baggy pants because the young kids like it and it's all glittery and polished and everything, and I said, 'Fuck no, I'm not wearin' this gay-ass shit.' And they said, 'Well here's a million dollars, man, will you do it?' And I said, 'Fuck yes.' And anybody would have done the same thing if they were given the same chance."}
The distribution of fabricated biographical information (such as that he was from Miami rather than Texas and that he had a long gang history) also helped quickly erode his street credibility. Though confident in his rhyming abilities and flow, Van Winkle soon regretted his business agreements with SBK and even expressed reservations when his fame grew. 'To the Extreme' became the fastest selling hip hop album of all time, peaking at #1 on the Billboard 200. The album spent 16 weeks on the charts, and it sold eleven million copies before long. For many years, it remained the best selling hip hop album of all time.
Single "Ice Ice Baby" has been credited for helping diversify rap music by introducing it to a mainstream, white audience. Still, critical reviews of 'To the Extreme' have been mixed. Entertainment Weekly reviewer Mim Udovitch gave the album a B, citing "Ice Ice Baby", "Play That Funky Music", "Dancin'" and "It's a Party" as the album's highlights. Robert Christgau gave the album a C− rating, writing that Van Winkle's "suave sexism, fashionably male supremacist rather than dangerously obscene, is no worse than his suave beats".
Criticizing the technique and style shown, Allmusic reviewer Steve Huey wrote: {"Ice's mic technique is actually stronger and more nimble than MC Hammer's, and he really tries earnestly to show off the skills he does have. Unfortunately, even if he can keep a mid-tempo pace, his flow is rhythmically stiff, and his voice has an odd timbre; plus, he never seems sure of the proper accent to adopt. He's able to overcome those flaws somewhat in isolated moments, but they become all too apparent over the course of an entire album."}
Following the success of "Ice Ice Baby", California rapper Mario "Chocolate" Johnson, an associate of record producer Suge Knight, claimed that he had written and produced the song but had not received credit or royalties for the song. Van Winkle has often recounted the following story. Knight and two bodyguards arrived at The Palm in West Hollywood, where Van Winkle was eating. After shoving Van Winkle's bodyguards aside, Knight and his own bodyguards sat down in front of Van Winkle, staring at him before finally asking "How you doin'?" Similar incidents were repeated on several occasions. Eventually, Knight showed up at Van Winkle's hotel suite on the fifteenth floor of the Bel Age Hotel, accompanied by Johnson and a member of the Oakland Raiders. According to Van Winkle, Knight took him out on the balcony by himself, and implied that he would throw him off the balcony unless he signed the rights to the song over to Knight.
Van Winkle has changed his accounting of said story over the years, which is still controversial years on. At any rate, by late 1990, Van Winkle began an eight-month relationship with Madonna, and appeared in photographs for her book 'Sex' while living a lavish lifestyle as a commercial superstar. While on tour in 1991, Van Winkle found out that SBK had instigated the publication of a book, 'Ice by Ice: The Vanilla Ice Story in His Own Words', written by Quon and attributed to Van Winkle, which detailed false biographical information, including claims that he had attended school with Luther Campbell. According to Van Winkle: {"I was paid to have this label on it, 'authorized,' because there was like 6 or 7 books out before that says unauthorized right on the cover, meaning that it's bullshit right away. And so they paid me, I believe it was like $850,000 just to have that label and they printed the book. And it's full of shit. I read the book myself and I'm like, 'God, how could you fucking do that to me?'"}
After hiring investigators to find out who was involved in the book's publication, he found out that Quon and promoter Elaine Shock had been involved in publishing and promoting the fabricated biographical elements. Although he later greatly rejects being subject to such commercial exposure, Van Winkle found himself caught up in his 'sex, drugs, and rock n roll' lifestyle at the time. Buying motorcycles, mansions, and more, it was all a great change from his working-class upbringing.
Van Winkle's second major release was the live album 'Extremely Live', released in March 1991. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200. Reviews of the album were particularly negative, with Entertainment Weekly reviewer David Browne calling it "one of the most ridiculous albums ever released" (comparing it to 'The Best of Marcel Marceau', an album which consisted of two sides of silence opened by brief applause'). According to Browne, 'Extremely Live' "affords you the chance to hear inane stage patter and unaccompanied drumming, during which, one assumes, Ice and his posse are onstage dancing."
Van Winkle branched out into the film industry, making an appearance in the film 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze' and performing the tune "Ninja Rap". Beginning to film his own personal project, 'Cool as Ice', in April 1991, he found himself soon embroiled in more controversy. On June 3, 1991, Van Winkle was arrested in Los Angeles on firearm charges, after threatening a homeless man, James N. Gregory, with a pistol. Gregory had approached Van Winkle's car outside of a supermarket and attempted to sell him a silver chain. Van Winkle and his bodyguard were charged with three weapons offenses. Van Winkle pleaded no contest.
'Cool as Ice' opened on October 18, 1991 in 393 theaters in the United States, grossing $638,000, ranking at #14 among the week's new releases. However, it soon became a 'box office bomb' that severely weakened his career. Reviews of the film were widely negative. Film website Rotten Tomatoes, which compiles reviews from a wide range of critics, gives the film a score of 8%, and Van Winkle received a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star.
During this period, Van Winkle received criticism from other hip hop musicians. In 1991, 3rd Bass released a single called "Pop Goes the Weasel", comparing Van Winkle unfavorably to Elvis Presley. The song's music video featured Henry Rollins as Van Winkle, who is depicted as being assaulted by 3rd Bass. Del tha Funkee Homosapien referred to Van Winkle as mocking hip hop in the lyrics of "Pissin' on Your Steps", which appeared on his 1991 debut album (titled 'I Wish My Brother George Was Here').
By 1994, Van Winkle became isolated from the public spotlight, and had grown dreadlocks and began smoking cannabis. On March 22, 1994, Van Winkle released his second studio album, Mind Blowin. Reviews were unfavorable. Entertainment Weekly reviewer James Bernard called the album "more clunky than funky". Rolling Stone reviewer Danyel Smith praised the song "Get Loose" as "snappy", writing that although the lyrics are "inane", "the song is a thumping party, one of the few places where Ice loosens up. He sounds solid at the beginning of 'The Wrath' as well In 'Now and Forever,' a wet dream kind of song, Ice goes back to goofy lyrics." Allmusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "There isn't a single moment that establishes a distinct musical identity, and the whole thing is rather embarrassing." Primus bassist Les Claypool stated in response to Van Winkle's cannabis-oriented lyrics: "That's all fine and dandy and cute, but it could be misconstrued and manipulated by the wrong people."
Van Winkle began using ecstasy, cocaine and heroin. During periods of heavy drug use, Van Winkle received many tattoos from artist acquaintances. According to Van Winkle, "That was in my binge days. I didn't even realize how many I was getting". Van Winkle attempted suicide with a heroin overdose. After being revived, Van Winkle decided that it was time to change his lifestyle. As a symbol of his attempt to begin anew, he got a tattoo of a leaf on his stomach.
In 1995, Van Winkle set up a recording studio in Miami, and joined a grunge band, Picking Scabs. Van Winkle expressed an interest in performing hip hop-influenced rock music, but found that the band was unable to produce the sound which he was looking for. In 1997, Van Winkle married Laura, whom he had met at a party. Van Winkle later developed a friendship with producer Ross Robinson, who had become known for producing music by Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit and Sepultura. Robinson and Van Winkle shared an interest in motocross racing. According to Robinson, others had attempted to persuade him not to work with Van Winkle, feeling that it might hurt his reputation. Encouraged by this fear, Robinson agreed to work with Van Winkle. In an interview, Robinson stated "It's the most punk-rock thing you could do."
Van Winkle's third studio album, Hard to Swallow, featured a darker sound and lyrics than Van Winkle's previous work. Reviews of the album were generally negative. Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that "If history is any guide, Vanilla Ice's adoption of rap-metal means that hard rock is about to move on." Richard Torres of Rolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, writing that while "nothing, however, can redeem Ice's wack boasting," the album "isn't half-bad." In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Rob Kemp gave the album three out of five stars, writing that it contained Van Winkle's "most convincing music". In 1999, the music video for "Ice Ice Baby" was "retired" on the MTV special 25 Lame, in which Van Winkle himself appeared to destroy the video's master tape. When Van Winkle was given a baseball bat, he ended up destroying the show's set.
Independent releases (2000 onward)
Vanilla Ice appearing at the Tex-Mex Grill in Baltimore, Maryland.
Having attracted a following outside of his former mainstream audience, Van Winkle began recording independently. In May 2000, Van Winkle made an appearance at a wrestling match promoted by Juggalo Championship Wrestling, then known as Juggalo Championshit Wrestling, filling in for Insane Clown Posse member Joseph Utsler, who had been injured during a match. It was reported that Insane Clown Posse would make an appearance on Van Winkle's next album, tentatively titled Bomb Tha System. In October 2000, it was announced that Van Winkle's next album would be titled Skabz, and that Chuck D was confirmed to appear on the album. It was initially planned as a double album featuring a disc containing rock-oriented material and a disc of hip hop songs.
In January 2001, Van Winkle was arrested by police in Davie, Florida for assaulting Laura. According to the criminal complaint, Van Winkle and his wife argued as they drove on Interstate 595. Van Winkle admitted to pulling hair from her head to prevent her from jumping out of the truck's window. He pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct four months later, and was sentenced to probation and ordered to attend family therapy sessions. In July 2001, Van Winkle performed at the second Gathering of the Juggalos. On October 23, 2001, Skabz and Bomb Tha System were released as a single album, Bi-Polar. Bradley Torreano of Allmusic disliked the album, criticizing it as "wildly uneven and at times hilariously bad". In The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, Rob Kemp gave the album one out of five stars, calling the album "utterly listless".
From January to February 2004, Van Winkle appeared on the reality television series The Surreal Life. In November 2004, Van Winkle's pet wallaroo, Bucky, and pet goat, Pancho, escaped from his Port St. Lucie, Florida home. After wandering around local streets for over a week, the animals were caught and returned to Van Winkle. He had to pay a $220 fine for expired pet tags and an undisclosed fine for the escape of the animals. On August 2, 2005, Van Winkle released his fifth studio album, Platinum Underground. Van Winkle stated that the title of the album reflected the fact that he could maintain a fanbase without mainstream airplay. Allmusic reviewer Rob Theakston panned the album, writing that it "has more bad spots in it than most".
On April 10, 2008, Van Winkle was arrested in Palm Beach County on a battery charge for allegedly kicking and hitting Laura. He was released the following day after she declared that her husband had only pushed her. In court, the couple's neighbor, Frank Morales, stated that it was merely a verbal argument. Van Winkle was ordered by a Florida court to stay away from his wife following his arrest, and to communicate with his children only if Morales accompanied him. The judge told Van Winkle that he could only contact his wife via telephone. On April 29, 2008, Van Winkle's lawyers, Bradford Cohen and Joseph LoRusso, were able to get the case dropped after providing the state attorney with evidence that conflicted with what was originally reported.
Van Winkle began following a vegetarian diet. In September 2008, Van Winkle signed a contract with Cleopatra Records, recording the cover album Vanilla Ice Is Back! at the label's request. The album was released on November 4, 2008, and contained covers of songs by Public Enemy, House of Pain, Bob Marley and Cypress Hill. IGN reviewer Spence D. called the album "an embarrassing endeavor that sounds like it should have stayed locked inside Ice's studio (or at the very least leaked on YouTube and passed off as a piss take)." On February 27, 2009, Van Winkle performed as part of a joint performance with MC Hammer in Orem, Utah. In March 2009, Van Winkle participated in a Virgin Mobile advertising campaign titled "Right Music Wrongs", apologizing for his 1990s image. As part of the campaign, Van Winkle was placed on "trial", and was voted innocent by users of the campaign website. In August 2009, Van Winkle announced on his official Twitter account that he had signed a contract with StandBy Records, who will release his sixth studio album, Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow Is A Mystery.
Style and influences
Van Winkle performing in Massachusetts on February 16, 2007
Van Winkle's current live performances feature a mix of newer, rock-influenced material and old school hip hop. Van Winkle performs with a live drummer and DJ, and sometimes sprays his audience with bottled water. Describing his performances, Van Winkle stated "It's high energy, stage diving, pyrotechnics, girls showing their breasts. It's crazy party atmosphere." In promotion of Hard to Swallow, Van Winkle toured with a seven-piece live band which included bassist Scott Shriner. The band opened with rock-oriented material from Hard to Swallow and concluded with older hip hop songs.
Van Winkle stated that his musical style was influenced by underground music, rather than mainstream music, and that his influences included hip hop and funk artists such as Funkadelic, Rick James and Parliament. Van Winkle also stated that he enjoys Rage Against the Machine, Slipknot and System of a Down. Van Winkle sometimes plays bass, drums and keyboards on studio recordings. Rapper G-Child, best known for her appearance on ego trip's The (White) Rapper Show, has credited Van Winkle as being a major influence on her work. After meeting Van Winkle in 2000, G-Child performed freestyle raps at six of Van Winkle's performances, and opened for him four times.
Band members
Current
* DJ Dirty Chopstix — turntables and background vocals
* Keith Reber — drums
* DJ DP - turntables and background vocals
Former
* D-Shay — disc jockey
* Clint Barlow - drums
* Earthquake — disc jockey
* Rod J — disc jockey
* Zero — disc jockey
* Scott Shriner — bass
Discography
Main article: Vanilla Ice discography
* To the Extreme (1990)
* Extremely Live (1991)
* Mind Blowin (1994)
* Hard to Swallow (1998)
* Bi-Polar (2001)
* Platinum Underground (2005)
* Yesterday Is History, Tomorrow Is A Mystery (2009)
* WTF (2011)
Fame
Vanilla Ice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now everybody wants to have fame
But you'll pay the price if you're not playin' it by the game
'cause this game is made up of a bunch of crazy rules
And fools get took if they're not playing by the rules
Now, the Ice is kickin' it, kickin' it kickin' it like a champ
But don't try to play me like some wet food stamp
They say that it was a fluke
But here's the sccop, troop
The Ice is back to make it hoop
An' since it's 94, and now I'm back on the scene
Escapin from the hell of takin' it to the extreme
It's kind of strange, 'cause people say you've changed..
But I never changed
Even though I got Fame
Yo, I'm still the same... Ugh!
[Verse 2]
Fame, I'm still the same person
I never ever switch, an' even if I'm rich
But now it's like an itch
'cause I love the music
They say I do it for the money
And it's funny, clockin' all the honeys:
The ones that used to dis
Now they want to kiss
Lookin' at what my troops got
Now they're getting their boots knocked
Damn it's a shame - do I love 'em
No I don't "G"
A couple of years ago, they didn't want me
Now I got these so called friends
It's down with the Ice, 'cause they know I'm makin' ends
But my real friends have been friends through the fame
An' since I have fame ain't a damn thing changed
Yo I'm still the same... Ugh!
[Verse 3]
And let me tell you about the pros and the cons
Fame only lasts if you keep droppin' them bombs
Now in the public eye - you know I'm havin' to admit it
You become a target for a whole lot of critics
Reporters stickin' to ya like white on rice
Now everywhere I go they want to interview the Ice
Before every show it's like I'm steadily surrounded
By all of my fans and the media's houndin'
This is not a dis 'cause I love all my fans
But the media doesn't really understand
They take what ya say, twist it around into lies
And the next thing ya know
A bunch of rumors start to fly
Then they try to make you out to be a straight liar
And next you'll be the front page of the National Enquirer
Oh what a price to pay to play this crazy game
You betta' be prepared if you ever reach fame
Yo, I'm still the same... Ugh!
In Vanilla Ice's song Fame, he describes the difficulties of achieving and maintaining fame. He warns that the game of fame has crazy rules and that one must play by the rules or they will pay the price. He acknowledges that he used a popular beat (fat loop) to achieve his success, but he is back to make it hoop. Vanilla Ice expresses that it is strange that people say he has changed, but he insists that he is still the same person. He gained fame in 1990 with his hit song "Ice Ice Baby" and he escaped from "the hell of takin' it to the extreme" to make a comeback in 1994.
Vanilla Ice emphasizes that he is still the same person and he will never switch up, even if he becomes rich. He loves the music and not the money. He addresses the people who used to criticize him and now want to kiss him after seeing the success he and his team have earned. He describes the experience of having fake friends in the industry who only want to gain from his success. He acknowledges that his real friends have been there before fame, and they are still there afterwards.
In the final verse, Vanilla Ice gives an inside look at the drawbacks of fame. He confesses that fame only lasts if one keeps producing successful music. He admits that being in the public eye makes you a target for criticism and that haters and critics surround you like white on rice. He mentions that reporters stick to you, and they want to interview you all the time. Even though he loves his fans, he explains that the media doesn't always understand the truth and twists your words into lies. He reflects that fame has a price, it’s a crazy game that requires a lot of preparation if someone wants to reach their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Now everybody wants to have fame
Many people desire to be famous
But you'll pay the price if you're not playin' it by the game
If you do not follow the rules of the fame game, there will be consequences
'cause this game is made up of a bunch of crazy rules
The rules of the fame game are complex and unpredictable
And fools get took if they're not playing by the rules
People who do not follow the rules of the fame game often suffer negative consequences
Now, the Ice is kickin' it, kickin' it kickin' it like a champ
Vanilla Ice is performing at his best
But don't try to play me like some wet food stamp
Do not underestimate Vanilla Ice
They say that it was a fluke
Some people believe Vanilla Ice's success was a stroke of luck
'cause I used a fat loop
Because Vanilla Ice sampled a popular melody in his song
But here's the sccop, troop
But here is the truth, my friend
The Ice is back to make it hoop
Vanilla Ice has returned to the music scene
An' since it's 94, and now I'm back on the scene
It is now 1994 and Vanilla Ice has returned to the music scene
Escapin from the hell of takin' it to the extreme
Vanilla Ice is avoiding taking his music to the extreme
It's kind of strange, 'cause people say you've changed..
People believe that Vanilla Ice has changed
But I never changed
Vanilla Ice has not changed
Even though I got Fame
Despite his fame
Yo, I'm still the same... Ugh!
Vanilla Ice is still the same person
Fame, I'm still the same person
Vanilla Ice has not changed because of his fame
I never ever switch, an' even if I'm rich
Vanilla Ice does not change himself, even if he becomes wealthy
But now it's like an itch
His love for music is like an itch he cannot resist
'cause I love the music
Vanilla Ice loves making music
They say I do it for the money
Some people believe that Vanilla Ice makes music solely for monetary gain
And it's funny, clockin' all the honeys:
It is amusing to Vanilla Ice when women are attracted to him
The ones that used to dis
The people who used to dislike Vanilla Ice
Now they want to kiss
Those same people now want to be close to Vanilla Ice
Lookin' at what my troops got
People are envious of Vanilla Ice's success
Now they're getting their boots knocked
Other people are now experiencing success
Damn it's a shame - do I love 'em
Vanilla Ice has mixed feelings towards those who now want to be his friend
No I don't "G"
Vanilla Ice does not have affection for these people
A couple of years ago, they didn't want me
These people did not like Vanilla Ice in the past
Now I got these so called friends
People are now pretending to be his friend
It's down with the Ice, 'cause they know I'm makin' ends
They associate with Vanilla Ice because he is successful
But my real friends have been friends through the fame
Despite his success, Vanilla Ice's true friends have stood by him
An' since I have fame ain't a damn thing changed
Despite his fame, nothing has really changed for Vanilla Ice
Yo I'm still the same... Ugh!
Vanilla Ice is still the same person
And let me tell you about the pros and the cons
Vanilla Ice is going to talk about the advantages and disadvantages of fame
Fame only lasts if you keep droppin' them bombs
To maintain fame, you must consistently produce successful work
Now in the public eye - you know I'm havin' to admit it
Now that he is famous, Vanilla Ice acknowledges that he is constantly being watched
You become a target for a whole lot of critics
Famous people are often targeted by critics
Reporters stickin' to ya like white on rice
Reporters are persistent and always seeking information from famous people
Now everywhere I go they want to interview the Ice
Journalists and interviewers try to interview Vanilla Ice at every opportunity
Before every show it's like I'm steadily surrounded
Vanilla Ice is constantly surrounded by his fans before every performance
By all of my fans and the media's houndin'
Fans and journalists are constantly seeking Vanilla Ice's attention
This is not a dis 'cause I love all my fans
Vanilla Ice has a great appreciation for his fans
But the media doesn't really understand
The media often lacks a full understanding of a celebrity's life
They take what ya say, twist it around into lies
Journalists often misinterpret celebrities' statements
And the next thing ya know
Soon after,
A bunch of rumors start to fly
Rumors and false information begin to circulate
Then they try to make you out to be a straight liar
Journalists attempt to portray the celebrity as dishonest
And next you'll be the front page of the National Enquirer
These rumors and false information will likely be on the front page of a sensationalist tabloid newspaper
Oh what a price to pay to play this crazy game
Fame is a difficult, complex and unpredictable game
You betta' be prepared if you ever reach fame
If you become famous, you must be ready to face its challenges
Yo, I'm still the same... Ugh!
Vanilla Ice has not changed despite the challenges of fame
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PATRICK ROLLINS, ROBERT VAN WINKLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind