Robert Matthew Van Winkle (born October 31, 1967), best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper and home improvement television personality. Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Texas and South Florida, Van Winkle released his debut album, Hooked, in 1989 through Ichiban Records, before signing a contract with SBK Records, which released a reformatted version of the album under the title To the Extreme. Van Winkle's single "Ice Ice Baby" was the first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts. 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. After surviving a suicide attempt, Van Winkle was inspired to change his musical style and lifestyle. Later albums by Van Winkle, including Hard to Swallow, Bi-Polar and Platinum Underground, had a less mainstream rock-oriented sound, and did not chart. Robert Matthew Van Winkle was born in Dallas, Texas. Van Winkle never knew his real father, and was given the name of the man his mother was married to at the time of his birth.
Buy low ... SELL HIGH ... at least that's the real estate advice Vanilla Ice is handing out on the streets of New York -- telling TMZ, now's a better time than ever to purchase a new… READ MORE >
Vanilla Ice says it's "amazing" that Britney Spears is a fan of "Ice, Ice Baby" ... and tells us the footage of Brit jamming out to the song at a recent "X Factor" audition is nothing less than a… READ MORE >
Vanilla Ice's Florida mansion was in jeopardy of foreclosure ... but only for a second.Ice lives in a gated community in Palm Beach. Seems Hurricane Wilma destroyed some palm trees back in 2005,… READ MORE >
Vanilla Ice received the ultimate token of appreciation this month from the temperamental crowd at the Gathering of the Juggalos -- a 5-foot mega-bong -- and the rapper RIPPED it on stage.Someone… READ MORE >
TMZ has learned Vanilla Ice is committed to attending Gary Coleman's upcoming memorial service -- which begs the obvious question ... why?Turns out Vanilla and Gary hit it off when Coleman guest… READ MORE >
With their rickety 1990 musical bones still intact, Vanilla Ice and Freedom Williams of C+C Music Factory reminisced about the good 'ol days at the Hard Rock Hotel in Florida last week.Question is… READ MORE >
Here's some video of Vanilla Ice performing this weekend in Las Vegas because, well, it's Labor Day and why the hell not.While at New York, New York's Rok bar, Ice sang the best song ever willed… READ MORE >
Neither of 'em have had hit songs since the early '90s -- but don't expect Bobby Brown to hit the road with Vanilla Ice anytime soon.Good to hear Bobby still has some standards. See Also Vanilla… READ MORE >
He hasn't had a mainstream album in 18 years, but yesterday in Hollywood, Vanilla Ice showed off his biggest hit yet ... See Also Vanilla Ice, Freaky Clown Collaborate and Listen 2 Legit 2 Just… READ MORE >
Ok, what's scarier: That creepy ass, Pennywise-looking clown grinding on some hot chick ... or the fact that people still go bananas for Vanilla Ice?It all went down in Vegas last night. Word to… READ MORE >
