"Ice Ice Baby" was initially released as the B-side to Van Winkle's cover of "Play That Funky Music", but the single was not initially successful. When a disc jockey played "Ice Ice Baby" instead, it began to gain success. "Ice Ice Baby" was the first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts. Topping the Australian, Dutch, Irish, Italian and UK charts, the song helped diversify hip hop by introducing it to a mainstream audience.
Robert Van Winkle, better known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, wrote "Ice Ice Baby" at the age of 16, basing its lyrics upon his experiences in South Florida. The lyrics describe a drive-by shooting and Van Winkle's rhyming skills. The chorus of "Ice Ice Baby" originates from the signature chant of the national African American fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha. Of the song's lyrics, Van Winkle states that "If you released 'Ice Ice Baby' today, it would fit in today's lyrical respect among peers, you know what I'm sayin'? My lyrics aren't, 'Pump it up, go! Go!' At least I'm sayin' somethin'."
The song's hook samples the bassline of the 1981 song "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie.Freddie Mercury and David Bowie did not receive credit or royalties for the sample. In a 1990 interview, Van Winkle said the two melodies were slightly different because he had added an additional note. In later interviews, Van Winkle readily admitted he sampled the song and claimed his 1990 statement was a joke; others, however, suggested he had been serious. Van Winkle later paid Mercury and Bowie, who have since been given songwriting credit for the sample. In December 1990, Van Winkle told Smash Hits magazine where he came up with the idea of sampling "Under Pressure":
โ The way I do stuff is to go through old records that my brother has. He used to listen to rock 'n' roll and stuff like that. I listened to funk and hip hop because rock wasn't really my era. But having a brother like that, well, I just mixed the two, and he had a copy of 'Under Pressure'. And putting those sounds to hip hop was great. โ
Van Winkle described himself as the first rapper to cross into the pop market, and said as a result he "had to take the heat for a lot of people" for his music's use of samples, but the criticism he received over sample use allowed sampling to become acceptable in mainstream hip hop.
[edit] Release
"Ice Ice Baby" was initially released by Ichiban Records as the B-side to Van Winkle's cover of "Play That Funky Music". The 12-inch single featured the radio, instrumental and a cappella versions of "Play That Funky Music" and the radio version and "Miami Drop" remix of "Ice Ice Baby". When a disc jockey played "Ice Ice Baby" instead of the single's A-side, the song gained more success than "Play That Funky Music". A music video for "Ice Ice Baby" was produced for $8000. The video was financed by Van Winkle's manager, Tommy Quon, and shot on the roof of a warehouse in Dallas, Texas. In the video, Van Winkle is shown rapping the lyrics while he and others dance to the song. Heavy airplay of the video by The Box while Van Winkle was still unknown increased public interest in the song. "Ice Ice Baby" was given its own single, released in 1990 by SBK Records in the United States, and EMI Records in the United Kingdom. The SBK single contained the "Miami Drop", instrumental and radio mixes of "Ice Ice Baby" and the album version of "It's A Party". The EMI single contained the club and radio mixes of the song, and the shortened radio edit.The single was quickly pulled from the American market soon after the song reached number one, in a successful attempt to drive consumers to buy the album instead.
Reception
"Ice Ice Baby" was the first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts. It has been credited for helping diversify hip hop by introducing it to a mainstream (not exclusively black) audience.
Entertainment Weekly reviewer Mim Udovitch wrote that "[Vanilla Ice] probably would have scored with his hit rap single 'Ice Ice Baby' even if he hadn't been white. There's just something about the way its hook โ a sample from Queen and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure' โ grabs you and flings you out onto the dance floor."
Ice Ice Baby
Vanilla Ice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's kick it
Ice ice baby
Ice ice baby
All right stop
Collaborate and listen
Ice is back with a brand new invention
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop?
Yo, I don't know
Turn off the lights and I'll glow
To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal
Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle
Dance
Go rush the speaker that booms
I'm killin' your brain like a poisonous mushroom
Deadly, when I play a dope melody
Anything less than the best is a felony
Love it or leave it
You better gangway
You better hit bull's eye
The kid don't play
And if there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Now that the party is jumping
With the bass kicked in, the Vegas are pumpin'
Quick to the point, to the point, no faking
I'm cooking MC's like a pound of bacon
Burning 'em if you ain't quick and nimble
I go crazy when I hear a cymbal
And a hi-hat with a souped up tempo
I'm on a roll, it's time to go solo
Rollin' in my 5.0
With my ragtop down so my hair can blow
The girlies on standby
Waving just to say, "Hi"
Did you stop?
No, I just drove by
Kept on pursuing to the next stop
I bust a left and I'm heading to the next block
That block was dead
Yo, so I continued to A1A Beachfront Ave
Girls were hot, wearing less than bikinis
Rockman lovers driving Lamborghini
Jealous 'cause I'm out getting mine
Shay with a gauge and Vanilla with a nine
Ready for the chumps on the wall
The chumps are acting ill because they're so full of eight ball
Gunshots ranged out like a bell
I grabbed my nine, all I heard were shells
Fallin' on the concrete real fast
Jumped in my car, slammed on the gas
Bumper to bumper the avenue's packed
I'm tryin' to get away before the jackers jack
Police on the scene
You know what I mean?
They passed me up, confronted all the dope fiends
If there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Take heed, 'cause I'm a lyrical poet
Miami's on the scene just in case you didn't know it
My town, that created all the bass sound
Enough to shake and kick holes in the ground
My style's like a chemical spill
Feasible rhymes you can vision and feel
Conducted and formed, this is a hell of a concept
We make it hype and you want to step with this
Shay plays on the fade, slice it like a ninja
Cut like a razor blade so fast
Other DJ's say, "Damn"
If my rhyme was a drug
I'd sell it by the gram
Keep my composure when it's time to get loose
Magnetized by the mic when I kick my juice
If there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla
Ice ice baby, Vanilla ice
Yo man, let's get out of here
Word to your mother
Ice ice baby (too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
The lyrics to Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" are a classic example of rap from the early 1990s. The song opens with a simple call-and-response between Vanilla Ice (VIP) and an unnamed collaborator. The lyrics are repetitive and rely heavily on internal rhyme schemes. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Ice ice baby" four times in a row, is probably the most memorable part of the song.
The first verse of "Ice Ice Baby" sets the tone for the rest of the song. It's a straightforward statement of purpose that emphasizes the rapper's skills and experience. Vanilla Ice describes himself as a "vandal" who can "rock a mic" with ease. He also references his ability to "wax a chump like a candle," which is a playful way of saying that he can outperform his competition.
The second verse of "Ice Ice Baby" is more focused on the rapper's lifestyle. Vanilla Ice describes himself as a "lyrical poet" from Miami who has created a style of music that is uniquely his own. He references his love of fast cars and women, as well as his willingness to confront his enemies with a gun if necessary. The song ends with another repetition of the chorus, which reinforces the idea that Vanilla Ice is a rapper who deserves to be respected.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, VIP
Let's kick it
Vanilla Ice is telling someone to join him to sing his song
Ice ice baby
Ice ice baby
Vanilla Ice is reminding listeners of the song's title
All right stop
Collaborate and listen
Vanilla Ice is calling for everyone to stop and collaborate to listen to what he has to say
Ice is back with a brand new invention
Something grabs a hold of me tightly
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly
Will it ever stop?
Yo, I don't know
Turn off the lights and I'll glow
Vanilla Ice is back with a new idea and promises to flow so smoothly that he will leave an impact on listeners. He doesn't know if the flow will ever stop, and he promises that he will shine in the dark (when the lights go out)
To the extreme I rock a mic like a vandal
Light up a stage and wax a chump like a candle
Vanilla Ice is stating that he will bring his extreme style to the stage, rapping to the beat like a vandal, and defeating any opponent or competition (chumps) like a melting candle
Dance
Go rush the speaker that booms
I'm killin' your brain like a poisonous mushroom
Deadly, when I play a dope melody
Anything less than the best is a felony
Love it or leave it
You better gangway
You better hit bull's eye
The kid don't play
And if there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Vanilla Ice encourages his listeners to dance and rush to the singers that provide the booming sound, he will dominate their brain like a poisonous mushroom with his dope melody . He states that anything less than perfection is not acceptable, and he will not tolerate those who don't follow his music. Vanilla Ice prepares his listeners for any possible issues and assures them that he will solve whatever problem they have, and asks everyone to take a look at the hook while the DJ spins the track
Now that the party is jumping
With the bass kicked in, the Vegas are pumpin'
Quick to the point, to the point, no faking
I'm cooking MC's like a pound of bacon
Burning 'em if you ain't quick and nimble
I go crazy when I hear a cymbal
And a hi-hat with a souped up tempo
I'm on a roll, it's time to go solo
Rollin' in my 5.0
With my ragtop down so my hair can blow
The girlies on standby
Waving just to say, "Hi"
Did you stop?
No, I just drove by
Kept on pursuing to the next stop
I bust a left and I'm heading to the next block
That block was dead
Vanilla Ice talks about how the party is lively and how the bass is booming everywhere. He aims to cook the MC's like bacon and roast them if they are not quick or nimble enough. He goes wild when he hears a cymbal and hi-hat with a souped-up tempo. It's a great time for him to go solo and ride his 5.0 car, he's on his way to the next block where the party keeps blowing up.
Yo, so I continued to A1A Beachfront Ave
Girls were hot, wearing less than bikinis
Rockman lovers driving Lamborghini
Jealous 'cause I'm out getting mine
Shay with a gauge and Vanilla with a nine
Ready for the chumps on the wall
The chumps are acting ill because they're so full of eight ball
Gunshots ranged out like a bell
I grabbed my nine, all I heard were shells
Fallin' on the concrete real fast
Jumped in my car, slammed on the gas
Bumper to bumper the avenue's packed
I'm tryin' to get away before the jackers jack
Police on the scene
You know what I mean?
They passed me up, confronted all the dope fiends
If there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Vanilla Ice describes how he drives to A1A Beachfront Ave where all the girls are hot and wearing less than bikinis, and where the Rockman lovers are driving their Lamborghini. He feels jealous of the chumps on the wall who are acting sick because they are probably under the influence of eight ball drugs. Gunshots are fired, and Vanilla Ice grabs his nine and hears the shells falling on the concrete. He begins to drive away from the scene, where the avenue is packed bumper-to-bumper with cars. The jackers, which means robbers, are out, and he's trying to get away from them. The police are on the scene, and they pass him to confront the dope fiends. But Vanilla Ice still assures everyone that he will solve any problem and asks them to check out the hook while the DJ continues to play.
Take heed, 'cause I'm a lyrical poet
Miami's on the scene just in case you didn't know it
My town, that created all the bass sound
Enough to shake and kick holes in the ground
My style's like a chemical spill
Feasible rhymes you can vision and feel
Conducted and formed, this is a hell of a concept
We make it hype and you want to step with this
Shay plays on the fade, slice it like a ninja
Cut like a razor blade so fast
Other DJ's say, "Damn"
If my rhyme was a drug
I'd sell it by the gram
Keep my composure when it's time to get loose
Magnetized by the mic when I kick my juice
If there was a problem
Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it
Vanilla Ice mentions that he's a lyrical poet from Miami. He says that his town is famous for creating the bass sound in music so powerful that it can shake and make holes in the ground. He compares his style to a chemical spill, where his rhymes are easy to visualize and feel. He explains that the concept is extraordinary because they make it hype and listeners will surely feel the need to dance with their music. Shay, his DJ who is in charge of tweaking the fades, handles the tracks adeptly like a ninja with razor blades. When the other DJ's heard what Vanilla Ice was doing, they were amazed, and they said, 'Damn.' He brags that if his rhyme were a drug, he could sell it for a gram. He is relaxed, yet in control of himself when it's time to come out and show what he can do. He magnetizes people with his voice and lightens the mood by playing his juice. Once again, he tells anyone with a problem to leave it to him and to take a listen to the hook played by the DJ.
Ice ice baby (too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
Ice ice baby (too cold, too cold)
This is another rhythm to compliment the hook played by the DJ
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Anthem Entertainment, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian May, David Bowie, Floyd Brown, Freddie Mercury, John Richard Deacon, Mario Johnson, Robert Van Winkle, Roger Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rtlthemusician5598
โYou can do anything you want with my music, just donโt make it boringโ -Freddie Mercury
@johndaily3698
RTL The Musician too late this song was made
@ninjawithgunz1060
Didnโt he sued this song tho?
@emilgarney6729
random gamer29 under pressure came out in 1981 and this 1989. Vanilla Ice wrote the ice ice baby song when he was 16 around 1983,1984 so this is definitely a sample.
@viperswhip
@@ninjawithgunz1060 his label did I think.
@oldnoob1
@@johndaily3698 The song is a banger
@marknorville9684
You have to give this guy credit, he was pre emeinen and made one of the biggest songs of the 90's.
@kanndy1386
True
@walkworthy
of ALL TIME.
@scottdw72
where is he now, what's he doing this very minute??