Vanilla Ice is coming to Ramona on Saturday, and you guessed correctly: He’s the one who sings the dance-friendly rap song with the catchy hook, “ice, ice, baby.”
Born Robert Matthew Van Winkle, Vanilla Ice was one of the earliest white hip-hop artists to break through in the genre but couldn’t maintain commercial success beyond his 1990 To the Extreme album. “Ice Ice Baby” was dubbed a one-hit wonder, and Vanilla Ice wandered. Critics blasted every album Vanilla Ice recorded and harshly critized his rhyme and flow style.
The now 42-year-old spiraled out of control and began using ecstasy, cocaine and marijuana. After unsuccessful attempts with the albums Mind Blowin and Extremely Live, Vanilla Ice found comfort in tattoos and attempted suicide while overdosing on heroin. Seeing value in his life, he stopped using drugs and joined a grunge band, Picking Scabs.
Vanilla Ice is now touring behind his sixth studio album, appropriately titled, WTF. Certainly you’ll hear tracks from his older albums, including the modest hit, “Play That Funky Music,” and “It’s a Party.”
Catch him onstage at Ramona Mainstage on Saturday, Oct. 9. D Fresh will open the show at 7:30 p.m.
