He is one of the most famous music artists of the 1990s, who became a sensation in the music world after his iconic track Ice Ice Baby soared to the top of the charts. The song not only captured the attention of millions of listeners but also made the author famous. He became the first hip-hop artist whose single topped the Billboard charts and was played everywhere, on the radio, in clubs and at every party. The article tells about how one song turned an ordinary guy from Dallas into a true legend of American rap. Read more on dallaski.
Youth and first experience on stage
Robert Matthew Van Winkle was born on October 31, 1967 in Dallas, Texas. He never knew his biological father and got his last name from the man his mother was married to at the time of his birth. The fate of the boy since childhood was full of constant changes. When Robert was only four years old, his mother divorced. This was the beginning of an endless journey between Dallas and Miami.
From an early age, Van Winkle was fond of hip-hop. At the age of 13-14, he got fond of break dancing and became part of a local group of dancers. His friends noticed that he was the only white person on the team and nicknamed him Vanilla. At first, he did not like this nickname. Over time, it turned into a kind of personality sign.
In 1985, Van Winkle fully focused his energies on motocross, winning three championships. However, life had other plans for him. After he broke his ankle while racing, his career in professional sports was put on hold. Instead of stopping, he began to improve his dance moves and create his own styles. His passion for beatboxing and breakdancing turned into a new way of expressing himself. In one of the interviews, he mentioned that he did not have a clear idea about the future. However, he felt the energy that surrounded him and understood that he had to do something with it.
One night while visiting the City Lights club in South Dallas, Van Winkle decided to accept a challenge from a friend who invited him to take the stage at an open mic. This performance became iconic. Van Winkle captivated the audience. The club’s manager, John Bush, offered him to perform on a regular basis. That’s how he became a performer of City Lights, opening concerts for such stars as N.W.A., Public Enemy, The D.O.C., Tone Lōc, 2 Live Crew, Paula Abdul, Sinbad and MC Hammer. This was the beginning of the path to fame of an ordinary guy from Dallas.
Ice Ice Baby, popularity and the first tour
In 1989, a young and ambitious guy from Dallas, Vanilla Ice, created a track that would change his life and hip-hop culture forever. It was the song Ice Ice Baby. In September 1990, this track became the first single from his debut studio album, To the Extreme. At first, the song did not attract much public attention. However, luck always finds those who work hard. Thus, Ice Ice Baby gradually began to be noticed by famous DJs, who played it on the radio and in discos.
Subsequently, the track became the best-selling one in the history of hip-hop. It topped the charts in seven countries, including the UK and US, becoming the first hip-hop track to top the Billboard Hot 100. The album To the Extreme set records for the speed of sales, staying at the top position of the Billboard 200 for 16 weeks. The number of copies sold exceeded 11 million.
In 1991, Vanilla Ice started his first music tour in support of the album. The tour began in January 1991 in Louisville and ended in August 1992 in Mexico City. During this tour, Vanilla Ice performed in arenas and theaters around the world, including Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe. His success was unprecedented and he quickly became a superstar.
The story of Vanilla Ice became a vivid example of how one track can not only radically change the fate of an artist but also significantly influence the development of an entire musical genre.