Editing Vanilla Ice (section)

==Career==

===Early career (1985–1989)===
In 1985, he was focusing all of his energy on motocross, winning three championships.<ref name="bein">{{cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/video-how-vanilla-ice-learned-to-love-life-again-by-flipping-houses-8046351|title=How Vanilla Ice Learned to Love Life Again by Flipping Houses|last=Bein|first=Kat|date=November 16, 2015|work=Miami New Times|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306170737/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/video-how-vanilla-ice-learned-to-love-life-again-by-flipping-houses-8046351|url-status=live}}</ref> After breaking his ankle during a race, Ice was not interested in racing professionally for some time, using his spare time to perfect his dance moves and creating his own while his ankle was healing. Ice used his beatboxing and breakdancing skills as a street performer with his friends at local malls during this time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roctober.com/roctober/greatness/vanilla.html|title=Vanilla Ice: The Ice Is Right|access-date=May 5, 2011|last=Austin|first=Jake|date=October 24, 1999|work=Roctober|archive-date=June 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609192659/http://www.roctober.com/roctober/greatness/vanilla.html|url-status=live}}</ref>  One evening he visited City Lights, a South Dallas nightclub, where he was dared to go on stage by his friend Squirrel during an open-mic. He won the crowd over and was asked by City Lights manager John Bush if he wanted to perform regularly, which he accepted. Ice would be joined on stage by his disc jockeys D-Shay and Zero, as well as Earthquake, the local disc jockey at City Lights. The Vanilla Ice Posse or ''The V.I.P.'' would also perform with Ice on stage.<ref name="Vontz"/> As a performer for City Lights, Ice opened up for [[N.W.A]], [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]], [[The D.O.C.]], [[Tone Lōc]], [[2 Live Crew]], [[Paula Abdul]], [[Sinbad (entertainer)|Sinbad]] and [[MC Hammer]].<ref name="Vanilla Ice: Interviews">{{cite web|url=http://vanillaicecentral.com/jan302interview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308031423/http://vanillaicecentral.com/jan302interview.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |title=Vanilla Ice: Interviews |publisher=Vanillaicecentral.com |date=January 3, 2002 |access-date=April 10, 2012 }}</ref>

In January 1987, Ice was stabbed five times during a scuffle outside of City Lights. After spending ten days in the hospital, Ice signed a contract with the owner of City Lights, Tommy Quon, and his management company, Ultrax.<ref name="Newsmakers">{{cite book|editor=Mooney, Louise|title=Newsmakers: The People Behind Today's Headlines|edition=1991|publisher=Gale Group|isbn=0-8103-7344-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/newsmakerspeople0000unse_t8r6/page/442 442]|year=1991|url=https://archive.org/details/newsmakerspeople0000unse_t8r6/page/442}}</ref><ref name="Westfahl">{{cite book|last1=Westfahl|first1=Gary|title=Science Fiction, Children's Literature, and Popular Culture|year=2000|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=0-313-30847-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/sciencefictionch00west_0/page/100 100]|chapter=Legends of the Fall: Behind the Music|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/sciencefictionch00west_0/page/100}}</ref> Two years later, Ice would open for [[EPMD]], [[Ice-T]], [[Stetsasonic]], and [[Sir Mix-A-Lot]] on the [[Stop the Violence Tour]].<ref name="Peisner">{{cite web|url=http://www.well-rounded.com/music/interviews/vanillaice.asp|title=Vanilla Ice: The Well Rounded Interview|access-date=February 13, 2009|last=Peisner|first=David|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020606031005/http://well-rounded.com/music/interviews/vanillaice.asp|archive-date=June 6, 2002 |year=1998|publisher=Well Rounded Entertainment}}</ref><ref name="deepcover">{{cite AV media | people = Vanilla Ice, [[Sway Calloway]] | title =  Deep Cover: Vanilla Ice Explains What Really Happened w/ Suge Knight & Death Row Records Involvement | medium = Radio interview | publisher = SwaysUniverse.com | date = January 28, 2013 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE5sRXF34b4}}</ref> Quon saw commercial potential in Ice's rapping and dancing skills.<ref name="Mooney"/><ref name="McVea">{{cite news|first=Denise|last=McVea|title=The Hip-Hop Hustle|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/1996-09-05/news/the-hip-hop-hustle/2|work=[[Dallas Observer]]|page=2|date=September 5, 1996|access-date=March 13, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417222004/http://www.dallasobserver.com/1996-09-05/news/the-hip-hop-hustle/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> Buying studio time with Quon's earnings from City Lights, they recorded songs that had been perfected on stage by Ice and his acquaintances with various producers, including [[Khayree]]. The two year production was distributed by an independent record company called [[Ichiban Records]] in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/vanilla-ice,13518/|title=Interview with Vanilla Ice|access-date=March 10, 2009|last=Thompson|first=Stephen|date=May 6, 1998|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415142329/http://www.avclub.com/articles/vanilla-ice,13518/|url-status=dead}}</ref> "[[Play That Funky Music]]" was released as the album's first single, with "Ice Ice Baby" appearing as the [[A-side and B-side|B-side]].<ref name="Westfahl"/><ref name="Wartofsky">{{cite news|first=Alona|last=Wartofsky|title=The Iceman Returneth; Vanilla Ice: Once Hated, He's Back With a Different Rap|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-696609.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023110920/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-696609.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2012 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 22, 1998|access-date=February 13, 2009}}</ref> Tommy Quon personally sent out the single to various radio stations around the U.S., but the single was seldom played and when it was, it did not get the reaction Quon was hoping for. When disc jockey Darrell Jaye in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] played "Ice Ice Baby" instead of the single's A-side, the song gained a quick fanbase and other radio stations followed suit.<ref name="Westfahl"/> Quon financed $8,000 for the production of a music video for "Ice Ice Baby",<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=Corcoran|title=Black and white & rap all over: Mass America moves to beat of hip-hop|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3733140C43839&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=January 27, 1991|access-date=February 26, 2009|archive-date=October 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017140944/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3733140C43839&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Robert|last=Hilburn|title=Why Is Everyone Still Fussing About Ice?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-17-ca-687-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 17, 1991|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527050417/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-17-ca-687-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which received heavy airplay by [[The Box (US TV channel)|The Box]], increasing public interest in the song.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Banks|first1=Jack|title=Monopoly Television: MTV's Quest to Control the Music|url=https://archive.org/details/monopolytelevisi0000bank|url-access=registration|year=1996|publisher=Westview Press|isbn=0-8133-1821-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/monopolytelevisi0000bank/page/56 56]|chapter=Other Video Music Program Services}}</ref>

===Mainstream success (1990–1992)===
On the basis of Ice's good looks and dance moves, [[Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy]] tried to convince their producer, [[The Bomb Squad|Hank Shocklee]], to sign Ice to [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allrovi.com/name/vanilla-ice-mn0000262445 |title=Vanilla Ice - Music Biography and Discography |publisher=AllRovi.com. |access-date=April 10, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905014148/http://www.allrovi.com/name/vanilla-ice-mn0000262445 |archive-date=September 5, 2012  }}</ref> but Ice later signed a contract with [[SBK Records]] in 1990.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Stephanie English |title=On Our Short List |date=March 1991 |journal=[[Syracuse University Magazine]] |volume=7 |issue=3 |page=8 |url=https://surface.syr.edu/sumagazine/vol7/iss3/4/ |access-date=January 25, 2023}}</ref> During [[MC Hammer]]'s ''[[Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em World Tour]]'', Ice served as an opening act.<ref name=":1" /> SBK remixed and re-recorded ''Hooked'' under the title ''[[To the Extreme]]''. The reissue contained new artwork and music.<ref name="Huey">{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/to-the-extreme-mw0000316695|title=Review of ''To the Extreme''|access-date=March 7, 2009|last=Huey|first=Steve|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005122442/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/to-the-extreme-mw0000316695|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> According to Ice, SBK paid him to adopt a more commercial, conventional appearance. This led Ice to later regret his business agreements with SBK.<ref name="Stillman">{{cite web|url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2006/02/27/news/20060227-archive5.txt|title=Word to your mother|access-date=February 13, 2009|last=Stillman|first=Kevin|date=February 27, 2006|work=[[Iowa State Daily]]|archive-date=December 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204151103/http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2006/02/27/news/20060227-archive5.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>

''To the Extreme'' became the fastest selling [[hip hop music|hip hop]] album of all time,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Forman|first1=Murray|title=The 'hood Comes First: Race, Space, and Place in Rap and Hip-hop|year=2002|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|isbn=0-8195-6397-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/hoodcomesfirstra00form/page/61 61]|chapter='Welcome to the City'|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/hoodcomesfirstra00form/page/61}}</ref> spending sixteen weeks at #1 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]<ref name="Billboard1">{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/to-the-extreme-mw0000316695|title=Charts and awards for ''To the Extreme''|access-date=March 7, 2009|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005122442/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/to-the-extreme-mw0000316695|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> and selling eleven million copies.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kihn|first=Martin|date=May 18, 1992|title=Charles in Charge|journal=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|volume=25|issue=20|page=40}}</ref> SBK Record executive [[Monte Lipman]] stated that he received calls from radio stations reporting over 200 phone calls requesting "Ice Ice Baby". SBK wanted Ice on the road as soon as possible. [[MC Hammer]], an old acquaintance from his club days, had Ice on as an opening act on his tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ_FYvli4dE | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/BZ_FYvli4dE| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|title=The Rise Of Vanilla Ice |publisher=YouTube |date=January 13, 2010 |access-date=April 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Reviews of ''To the Extreme'' were 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.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/11/02/extreme/|title=Review of ''To the Extreme''|access-date=February 13, 2009|last=Udovitch|first=Mim|date=November 2, 1990|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415125856/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318500,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Robert Christgau]] gave the album a C− rating, writing that Ice's "suave sexism, fashionably male supremacist rather than dangerously obscene, is no worse than his suave beats".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Vanilla+Ice|title=Review of ''To the Extreme''|access-date=March 7, 2009|last=Christgau|first=Robert|year=1990|work=[[The Village Voice]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415111009/http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Vanilla+Ice|url-status=live}}</ref> Criticizing the technique and style of Vanilla Ice, [[Allrovi]] reviewer Steve Huey wrote:

{{blockquote|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.<ref name="Huey"/>}}

==== Media image ====
In late 1990, Ice began an eight-month relationship with [[Madonna]], and appeared in photographs for her book, ''[[Sex (book)|Sex]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/madonnamen.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522005602/http://www.usatoday.com/life/madonnamen.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2007 |title=Crazy for Madonna's men |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=March 13, 2009 |date=December 19, 2000 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="EntertainmentWeekly">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,578492,00.html|title=Stupid Questions|access-date=February 13, 2009|date=January 23, 2004|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Dalton|last=Ross|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415130943/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,578492,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the height of Ice's popularity, SBK licensed a 12" doll which was made by THQ. In January 1991, he was the musical guest on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Ice branched out into the film industry with an appearance in the film ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze]]'', which he later called "one of the coolest experiences" of his career.<ref name="Mooney"/> Ice was very secretive about his personal life, with the intention of protecting his family. When a Dallas Morning News reporter asked Ice what his mother's profession was, he replied, "None of your fucking business."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Mack|first=Bob|title=Vanilla Fudged|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318708,00.html|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|publisher=EW.com|access-date=January 24, 2016|date=November 30, 1990|archive-date=August 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810131508/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,318708,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an attempt to rectify this, his former label wrote a fake biography in his name and tried to pass it off as his official life story without his knowledge. While on tour in 1991, Ice found out that SBK had instigated the publication of the biography which detailed false biographical information, including claims that he had attended school with [[Luther Campbell]], and exaggerating his living conditions in Miami, which Ice later had to debunk by himself.<ref name="Atria">{{cite news |title=Vanilla Ice back with a brand new invention |first=Travis |last=Atria |url=http://www.ocala.com/article/20100407/ARTICLES/4081005/1016/ENTERTAINMENT?p=1&tc=pg |newspaper=[[Star-Banner]] |location=Ocala, Florida |date=April 7, 2010 |pages=2–3 |access-date=April 14, 2010 |archive-date=February 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224205730/http://www.ocala.com/article/20100407/ARTICLES/4081005/1016/ENTERTAINMENT?p=1&tc=pg |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Suge Knight incident ====
Following the success of "Ice Ice Baby", record producer [[Suge Knight]] and two bodyguards arrived at [[The Palm (restaurant)|The Palm]] in [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]], where Ice was eating. After shoving Ice's bodyguards aside, Knight and his own bodyguards sat down in front of Ice, staring at him before finally asking "How you doin'?"<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite book |last1=Sullivan |first1=Randall |title=LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal |publisher=Grove Press |year=2003 |isbn=0-8021-3971-X |page=56}}</ref> Similar incidents were repeated on several occasions. Eventually, Knight showed up at Ice's hotel suite on the fifteenth floor of the Bel Age Hotel, accompanied by a member of the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] football team.<ref name="Sullivan" /> According to Ice, Knight took him out on the balcony by himself, and implied that he would throw him off the balcony unless he signed the publishing rights to the song over to Knight; Knight used Ice's money to help fund [[Death Row Records]].<ref name="deepcover" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Fischer |first=Blair R. |date=March 12, 1998 |title=To The Extreme and Back |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanillaice/articles/story/5921192/to_the_extreme_and_back |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509133342/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanillaice/articles/story/5921192/to_the_extreme_and_back |archive-date=May 9, 2006 |access-date=November 14, 2008 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref>

==== Live album, ''Cool as Ice'', and tours ====
Ice's second major release was the live album ''[[Extremely Live]]'', released in March 1991. The album was a live recording during Vanilla Ice's performance in Miami during his ''[[To the Extreme World Tour|To The Extreme World Tour]]''. Premiering new songs like "[[Rollin' in My 5.0]]", "Road To My Riches" and "Satisfaction", the album peaked at #30 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref name="Billboard2">{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/extremely-live-mw0000674867|title=Charts and awards for ''Extremely Live''|access-date=March 7, 2009|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005123824/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/extremely-live-mw0000674867|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> but it received mainly negative reviews. ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' reviewer [[David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]] called 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/07/26/extremely-live/|title=Review of ''Extremely Live''|access-date=March 7, 2009|last=Browne|first=David|date=July 26, 1991|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415130938/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,314929,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Monte Lipman later stated that SBK only released the live disc to make more money from Ice's fame. In April 1991, Ice began to film the SBK produced ''[[Cool as Ice]]'', in which he played a leading role.<ref>{{cite news|last=Broeske|first=Pat H.|title=That's a Rap!|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-24-ca-2345-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 24, 1991|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-date=May 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527062307/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-24-ca-2345-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

''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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458336/20021025/index.jhtml?headlines=true|title=Nirvana Meet World, Vanilla Ice Tanks, Kid 'N Play Party: This Week In 1991|access-date=March 7, 2009|date=October 28, 2002|publisher=[[MTV News]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415125221/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458336/20021025/index.jhtml?headlines=true|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reviews of the film were negative. Film website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], which compiles reviews from a wide range of critics, gives the film a score of 8%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cool_as_ice/|title=Tomatometer for ''Cool as Ice''|access-date=January 9, 2007|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=October 18, 1991 |archive-date=May 24, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524070142/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cool_as_ice/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ice received a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] for Worst New Star.<ref>{{cite news|first=Helen|last=Sierra|title=Jackson tour notes Razzie contenders Sleek camels live longer He'll buy American|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24441424.html?dids=24441424:24441424&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+18%2C+1992&author=Helen+Sierra.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Jackson+tour+notes+Razzie+contenders+Sleek+camels+live+longer+He%27ll+buy+American&pqatl=google|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 18, 1992|access-date=March 11, 2009|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415004038/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24441424.html?dids=24441424:24441424&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+18%2C+1992&author=Helen+Sierra.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Jackson+tour+notes+Razzie+contenders+Sleek+camels+live+longer+He%27ll+buy+American&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref> SBK stated that they overexposed Ice and Ice decided to stop taking their business advice, as well as distancing himself from the image that SBK was trying to create for him. In late 1991, Ice appeared in the [[Circus of the Stars|Circus of the Stars and Sideshow]], driving his motorcycle through a wall of fire. While his fame in the United States had severely dropped, Ice continued touring in 1992, playing in South America, Europe, Australia and Asia, and premiering new songs like "Get Loose", "The Wrath", "Now & Forever", "Where the Dogs At? (All Night Long)", "Minutes of Power" and "Iceman Party".  After a performance in [[Acapulco]], the city honored Ice with a medal that represented "all the respect and admiration to [Ice's] music and to [him] as an artist from the Mexican people".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFaDJFJpHK4| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/GFaDJFJpHK4| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|title=vanilla ice concierto acapulco 92| date=September 12, 2011|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ice also served as a spokesperson for [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] and [[Coca-Cola]] throughout 1991 and 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Other works for Vanilla Ice|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406678/otherworks|work=Internet Movie Data base|publisher=IMDb.com, Inc.|access-date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=January 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104220103/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406678/otherworks|url-status=live}}</ref>

===''Mind Blowin'', music break and drug abuse (1993–1996)===
In 1993, Ice toured Eastern Europe again and premiered songs off his upcoming album in [[St. Petersburg]], Russia in front of President [[Boris Yeltsin]].<ref>{{cite web |date=March 14, 2010 |title=vanilla ice saint-petersburg fest. white nights 1993 russia |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m66YMbN5IZA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/m66YMbN5IZA |archive-date=November 2, 2021 |access-date=April 10, 2012 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After almost non-stop touring for the previous three years, Ice took a break from music and began competing in [[jet skiing]],<ref name="paso">{{cite news|url=http://elpasoheraldpost.com/tntm-vanilla-ice-interview/|title=TNTM Vanilla Ice Interview|last=Stegner|first=Troy|date=April 10, 2016|work=El Paso Herald-Post|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=September 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921065459/http://elpasoheraldpost.com/tntm-vanilla-ice-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as resuming [[Motocross]] racing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeNEwGaA4JM | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211102/BeNEwGaA4JM| archive-date=November 2, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Vanilla Ice - 6th Best Jet Ski Racer in the World (1993) |publisher=YouTube |date=February 29, 2012 |access-date=April 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After becoming more interested with the [[Rastafari movement]], Ice became a vegetarian,<ref>{{cite web |date=July 14, 2011 |title=Vanilla Ice |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/vanilla-ice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814175452/http://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/vanilla-ice/ |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |work=Dimitri Ehrlich |publisher=Interview Magazine}}</ref> grew [[dreadlocks]] and talked more openly about smoking cannabis.<ref name="Pearlman">{{cite magazine |last=Pearlman |first=Jeff |date=May 12, 2003 |title=Ice Shift |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/siadventure/27/ice_shift/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018042329/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/siadventure/27/ice_shift/ |archive-date=October 18, 2013 |access-date=October 17, 2013 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref> Ice then began work on his next album, although by this time he received less publicity and faded from the public spotlight. On March 22, 1994, Ice released his second studio album, ''[[Mind Blowin']]''. Reviews were unfavorable. ''Entertainment Weekly'' reviewer James Bernard called the album "more clunky than funky".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/03/25/mind-blowin/|title=Review of ''<nowiki>Mind Blowin'</nowiki>''|access-date=March 7, 2009|last=Bernard|first=James|date=March 25, 1994|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415130638/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,301550,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Allrovi]] 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/mind-blowin-mw0000108435|title=Review of ''Mind Blowin''|access-date=June 30, 2008|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005122140/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/mind-blowin-mw0000108435|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref>

At around this time, Ice began using [[MDMA|ecstasy]], [[cocaine]] and heroin. During periods of heavy drug use, Ice received many tattoos from [[tattoo artist|artist]] acquaintances. According to Ice, he "was in [his] binge days. [He] didn't even realize how many [he] was getting".<ref name="Boytano">{{cite news|first=Larry|last=Boytano|title=Ice Age|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1998-10-15/music/ice-age/|work=[[Miami New Times]]|date=October 15, 1998|access-date=March 13, 2009|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415104001/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1998-10-15/music/ice-age/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ice attempted suicide with a heroin [[drug overdose|overdose]] on July 4, 1994, but was revived by his friends. After being revived, Ice 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.<ref name="Boytano"/> After expanding his Mind Blowin tour overseas in 1995, Ice sold his estate in California and took a break from music, rather focusing on [[motocross]]ing and jet skiing in Florida. By the summer, Ice was the world's No.&nbsp;6-ranked sit-down jet ski racer, competing nearly every weekend and earning a [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries|Kawasaki]] sponsorship.<ref name="Pearlman"/>

Uncertain about his future career, Ice studied real estate and started working on the side renovating and selling houses. In late 1995, he set up a recording studio in Miami and joined a [[grunge]] band, Pickin Scabz. The name was set to reflect Ice's career, and how he was healing from his suicide attempt, and that he was now "picking up the pieces".<ref name="Peisner"/> In 1996, longtime associate and friend Monte Lipman signed Ice for [[Universal Republic Records]]. He did guest vocals with no stage name for the song "Boom" by [[Bloodhound Gang]] on their CD ''[[One Fierce Beer Coaster]]''.

===Rock era (1997–2001)===
Ice later developed a friendship with producer [[Ross Robinson]], who had become known for producing music by [[Deftones]], [[Korn]], [[Limp Bizkit]] and [[Sepultura]]. Robinson and Ice shared an interest in [[motocross]] racing.<ref name="Peisner"/> Monte Lipman hoped that Robinson would produce a new Vanilla Ice album. According to Robinson, others had attempted to discourage him from working with Ice, saying it might hurt his reputation. Rather than being dissuaded, Robinson was encouraged by their reticence and agreed to work with Ice. In an interview, Robinson stated, "It's the most [[punk rock|punk-rock]] thing you could do."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04EFD8173AF931A2575BC0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=He's Back Back, Baby: A New (Improved?) Ice|access-date=February 18, 2008|last=Strauss|first=Neil|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 12, 1998|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311165416/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/12/arts/the-pop-life-he-s-back-back-baby-a-new-improved-ice.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite not being happy with his old image, Van Winkle stated that he never had a problem with his older music. He decided against changing his stage name, as he felt no need to run from his past, despite being uneasy with some of it, and started performing again, booking a hundred shows a year.<ref name="Vanilla Ice: Interviews"/>

Ice's third studio album, ''[[Hard to Swallow]]'', featured a darker sound and lyrics than Ice's previous work, as well as various mixtures of different styles of hip hop and hard rock, which garnered media attention. Ice attracted a whole new audience when he started touring again, some who were even unfamiliar with his more mainstream sound.<ref>{{cite news|first=Donna|last=Freydkin|title=Vanilla Ice rolls the dice: The Iceman resurfaces with new rap-metal album|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9901/08/vanilla.ice/index.html|publisher=[[CNN|CNN Interactive]]|date=January 8, 1999|access-date=November 10, 2007|archive-date=October 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028062847/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9901/08/vanilla.ice/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Reviews were generally negative; Jon Pareles of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote,  "The most earnest new song, ''Scars'', condemns an abusive father. The sentiments would sound more genuine if Korn hadn't gotten there first."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07EFDF113DF930A15753C1A96E958260|title=Ditching Rap for More Hardcore Metal|access-date=March 13, 2008|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=October 23, 1998|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=November 21, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121210957/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D07EFDF113DF930A15753C1A96E958260|url-status=live}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanillaice/albums/album/118944/review/5945083/hard_to_swallow|title=Hard to Swallow Review|access-date=November 10, 2007|last=Torres|first=Richard|date=November 13, 1998|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013031429/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/vanillaice/albums/album/118944/review/5945083/hard_to_swallow <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref> In ''[[Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]]'', Rob Kemp gave the album three out of five stars, writing that it contained Ice's "most convincing music".<ref name="Kemp">{{cite book|last=Kemp|first=Rob|editor=Brackett, Nathan|editor2=Hoard, Christian|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|edition=fourth|year=2004|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=0-7432-0169-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/843 843–844]|chapter=Vanilla Ice|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/843}}</ref> In promotion of ''Hard to Swallow'', Ice toured with a seven-piece live band which included future [[Weezer]] bassist [[Scott Shriner]].<ref name="Luerssen">{{cite book|last1=Luerssen|first1=John D.|title=Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story|year=2004|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1-55022-619-3|page=371|chapter=I wish you luck}}</ref> The band opened with rock-oriented material from ''Hard to Swallow'' and concluded with older hip hop songs.<ref>{{cite news|first=Neva|last=Chonin|title=The New Vanilla Ice Leaves Bland Taste At Maritime Hall|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/02/11/DD73607.DTL&hw=bless+Neva+Chonin&sn=004&sc=1000|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=February 11, 1999|access-date=March 26, 2009|archive-date=April 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415014009/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F1999%2F02%2F11%2FDD73607.DTL&hw=bless+Neva+Chonin&sn=004&sc=1000|url-status=live}}</ref> The setlist also included "Power", based upon [[Led Zeppelin]]'s "[[Immigrant Song]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=''At the 9:30, Pain Vanilla'' |first=Mike |last=Musgrove |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/42619189.html?dids=42619189:42619189&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+23%2C+1999&author=Mike+Musgrove&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=At+the+9%3A30%2C+Pain+Vanilla&pqatl=google |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 23, 1999 |access-date=December 13, 2009 |archive-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619085154/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/42619189.html?dids=42619189:42619189&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+23%2C+1999&author=Mike+Musgrove&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=At+the+9%3A30%2C+Pain+Vanilla&pqatl=google |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ice said that writing the songs and performing them were like therapy, as he had tried to hide his anger when making his older songs but Robinson was the first producer who told him to use it to create.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Vanilla Ice was a member of the softball team ''The Hip Hop Stars'' alongside [[Dr. Dre]], [[Snoop Dogg]] and [[Method Man]] in a 1999 game shown on [[MTV Rock N' Jock]] . Later in 1999, MTV asked Vanilla Ice to join their cast to "retire" the music video for "Ice Ice Baby" on the MTV special ''25 Lame'', in which Ice himself was asked to destroy the video's master tape. When Ice was given a baseball bat, he ended up destroying not only the film but the show's entire set as well.<ref name="EntertainmentWeekly"/><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/05/14/vanilla-ice-cracks/|title=Vanilla Ice cracks|access-date=February 13, 2009|last=Karger|first=Dave|date=May 14, 1999|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-date=May 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502013116/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,273353,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, DJ ReAnimator remixed "Ice Ice Baby" with Vanilla Ice re-doing his vocals for the track. ''Ice Ice Baby 2001'' was released as a single and music video for the European market, spawning a wave of new overseas interest in Vanilla Ice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1435112/20001026/vanilla_ice.jhtml|title=Vanilla Ice Picks "Skabz" On Next LP|access-date=February 5, 2008|last=Saidman|first=Sorelle|date=October 26, 2000|publisher=[[MTV News]]|archive-date=January 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121094455/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1435112/20001026/vanilla_ice.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Having attracted a following outside of his former mainstream audience, Ice began recording independently, despite still being signed to Universal. During a recording session, Ice met the all-female American [[hard rock]] band from [[Southern California]], [[Betty Blowtorch]]. [[Bianca Halstead]] bonded with Ice and asked if he wanted to contribute a rap interlude to their track ''Size Queen''. On Ice's collaboration with the band, lead vocalist and bassist Halstead was quoted saying, "I asked him if he could rap over [the track] and he said he can rap over anything. And he could!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1441232/vanilla-ice-boastin-braggin-betty-blowtorch.jhtml|title=Vanilla Ice Boastin', Braggin' On Betty Blowtorch Track|access-date=February 5, 2011|last=Kemp|first=Rob|date=May 25, 2001|publisher=[[MTV News]]|archive-date=March 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312184419/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1441232/vanilla-ice-boastin-braggin-betty-blowtorch.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Per his stepfather's request, Ice started working with his former manager Tommy Quon again. While hoping to re-create some of the magic that they worked hard on in the early 1990s, Ice denied any interest in trying to become big again, stating that his only passion was music, not fame.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/>

In May 2000, Ice wrestled in a match promoted by [[Juggalo Championship Wrestling|Juggalo Championshit Wrestling]], filling in for [[Insane Clown Posse]] member [[Shaggy 2 Dope]], who had been injured during a match. [[MTV News]] reported that Insane Clown Posse would make an appearance on Ice's next album, tentatively titled ''Bomb Tha System''.<ref name="Johnson">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430310/20000425/i_c_p.jhtml|title=Vanilla Ice Wrestles ICP For New Album|access-date=February 5, 2008|last=Johnson|first=Tina|date=April 25, 2000|publisher=[[MTV News]]|archive-date=August 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829200517/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430310/20000425/i_c_p.jhtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In July 2001, Ice performed at the second Gathering of the [[Juggalo]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bruce|first=Joseph|author-link=Violent J|author2=Hobey Echlin |editor=Nathan Fostey|title=ICP: Behind the Paint|url=https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol|url-access=registration|edition=2nd|publisher=Psychopathic Records|location=Royal Oak, Michigan|isbn=978-0-9741846-0-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/icpbehindpaint00viol/page/470 470–496]|chapter=Hatchet Rising|date=August 2003}}</ref> On October 23, 2001, Ice released the album ''[[Bi-Polar (Vanilla Ice album)|Bi-Polar]]''. Initially conceived as a double album consisting of one disc of rock music (''Skabz'') and one disc of hip hop music (''Bomb Tha System''), both parts were released on one disc.<ref name="Discography">{{cite web|url=http://www.vanillaice.com/bipolar.htm|title=Vanilla Ice discography – ''Bi-Polar''|access-date=April 4, 2008|publisher=Ultrax Records|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629024300/http://www.vanillaice.com/bipolar.htm|archive-date=June 29, 2008}}</ref>  The album also featured [[La the Darkman]], Perla, [[Insane Poetry]] and [[Bob Kakaha]]. Bradley Torreano of [[Allrovi]] disliked the album, criticizing it as "wildly uneven and at times hilariously bad," but also stating "Vanilla Ice is still better than a lot of the rap-metal bands that erupted in 2000/2001" and that the rap beats on ''Bomb Tha System'' "are surprisingly solid."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/bipolar-mw0000015334|title=Review of ''Bipolar''|access-date=January 5, 2008|last=Torreano|first=Bradley|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005120158/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/bipolar-mw0000015334|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> In ''The New Rolling Stone Album Guide'', Rob Kemp gave the album one out of five stars, calling the album "utterly listless".<ref name="Kemp"/> According to a [[Sony BMG]] executive, sales of ''Bi-Polar'' were "not bad...for Vanilla Ice. That's pretty respectable. Seriously."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://vanillaicecentral.com/july402interview.html |title=Ice Ice Maybe |access-date=November 10, 2007 |last=Wilonsky |first=Robert |newspaper=[[Dallas Observer]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414234010/http://vanillaicecentral.com/july402interview.html |archive-date=April 14, 2009  }}</ref><ref name="Vanilla Ice">{{cite web|title=Hot Sex|url=http://www.vanillaice.com/hotsex.htm|access-date=January 20, 2012|author=Vanilla Ice|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111132524/http://www.vanillaice.com/hotsex.htm|archive-date=January 11, 2012}}</ref>

===Independent releases and television (2002–2009)===
With Quon back as manager, Ice was scheduled to appear in various reality TV programs. Ice, still an entertainer at heart, felt that the experience would be good for him. In 2002, he appeared on Celebrity Boxing, fighting [[Todd Bridges]] under the name 'Bi-Polar'. In 2003, he appeared in five episodes of [[Hollywood Squares]], eight episodes of ''[[The Farm (British TV series)|The Farm]]'' and three episodes of Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, and made a cameo appearance in [[The New Guy]] in 2002. Around this time, Vanilla Ice also returned to the world of motocross. He auditioned for the 2002 X Games in the freestyle division and placed seventh at the 2003 Suzuki Crossover challenge, according to Sports Illustrated. He told the magazine that the track "is where I'm happiest."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bookthebest.com/booking_vanilla_ice |title=Book Vanilla Ice, Vanilla Ice booking fees, Vanilla Ice booking agency |publisher=Book the Best! |access-date=April 10, 2012 |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710204631/http://bookthebest.com/booking_vanilla_ice |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Vanilla Ice and Ol' Dirty Bastard together on stage.png|thumb|right|Vanilla Ice and [[Ol' Dirty Bastard]] performing together in 2004.]] -->
In 2003, Ice contributed vocals to "Off the Chain" by 7x70, a side project of [[Iron Maiden]] drummer [[Nicko McBrain]] and [[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]] guitarist [[Dan Spitz]]. A demo of the song was [[Music leak|leaked]] in June.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=12902 |title=Dan Spitz/Nicko McBrain Collaboration: First Music Posted Online! |date=June 19, 2003 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=December 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316231156/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=12902 |archive-date=March 16, 2005  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=14709 |title=Iron Maider Drummer Comments On Collaboration With Vanilla Ice |date=August 25, 2003 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=December 15, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040907112309/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=14709 |archive-date=September 7, 2004  }}</ref> In 2003, Ultrax reissued ''Bomb Tha System'' (the second part of "Bi-Polar") under the title ''Hot Sex'', which was a single from the original album.<ref name="Vanilla Ice"/>

From January to February 2004, Ice appeared on the reality television series ''[[The Surreal Life]]''.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/> Although much of the series was staged, Ice found the experience to be therapeutic, stating that a comment made by [[Tammy Faye Messner]] during filming, "We are who we are because of who we were", helped him accept his past.<ref name="Atria"/>

On August 2, 2005, Ice released his fifth studio album, ''[[Platinum Underground]]''. He stated that the title of the album reflected the fact that he could maintain a fanbase without mainstream airplay.<ref name="WashingtonPost"/> [[Allrovi]] reviewer Rob Theakston panned the album, writing that it "has more bad spots in it than most".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/platinum-underground-mw0000307135|title=Review of ''Platinum Underground''|access-date=February 25, 2009|last=Theakston|first=Rob|publisher=[[Allrovi]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005121940/http://www.allrovi.com/music/album/platinum-underground-mw0000307135|archive-date=October 5, 2013}}</ref> Ice included a song titled ''Ninja Rap 2'', which was set to be a hardcore remix. Aside from the name, the song has very little connection to Ice's original 1991 single, but rather talks about his appreciation of his fans, his love of performing at clubs and playing at the [[Gathering of the Juggalos]] with [[Insane Clown Posse]]. ''Ninja Rap 2'' was the first song to be released from ''Platinum Underground'' and was available to download for free on Ice's official website.

In 2007, Ice returned to a spin-off of ''The Surreal Life'' titled ''[[The Surreal Life: Fame Games]]'', where he again trashed the set after being voted off. In September 2008, Ice signed a contract with [[Cleopatra Records]], recording the [[cover version|cover album]] ''[[Vanilla Ice Is Back!]]'' at the label's request.<ref>{{cite news|first=Timothy|last=Flynn|title=90s rapper Vanilla Ice puts new twists on old hits|url=http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2008/09/90s_rapper_vanilla_ice_puts_ne.html|work=[[The Flint Journal]]|date=September 19, 2008|access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-date=December 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210214110/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/flint/index.ssf/2008/09/90s_rapper_vanilla_ice_puts_ne.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The album was released on November 4, 2008, and contained covers of songs by [[Public Enemy (band)|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)."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.ign.com/articles/933/933529p1.html|title=Review of ''Vanilla Ice Is Back!''|access-date=February 27, 2009|author=Spence D.|date=November 24, 2008|website=[[IGN]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220015840/http://music.ign.com/articles/933/933529p1.html|archive-date=February 20, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On February 27, 2009, Ice performed as part of a joint performance with MC Hammer in [[Orem, Utah]], called "Hammer Pants And Ice", which featured twenty four dancers and a full choir.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Forces for One-Night "Hammer Pants and Ice" Show|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/02/11/vanilla-ice-mc-hammer-join-forces-for-one-night-hammer-pants-and-ice-show/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212041854/http://www.rollingstone.com//rockdaily//index.php//2009//02//11//vanilla-ice-mc-hammer-join-forces-for-one-night-hammer-pants-and-ice-show// |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2009 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref>

===2010–present===
In August 2009, Ice signed a contract with [[StandBy Records]]; however, Ice later left the label.<ref name=Twitter>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/vanillaice/status/22469961552 |title=Twitter / Vanilla Ice: You can pre order the new |publisher=Twitter.com |date=August 29, 2010 |access-date=April 10, 2012 |archive-date=October 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131025224341/https://twitter.com/vanillaice/status/22469961552 |url-status=live }}</ref> Ice was a special musical guest at the [[National Television Awards#2010|2010 National Television Awards]] in January, performing with [[Jedward]] for their remix and debut single "[[Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby)]]". Ice also recorded his verse for their album [[Planet Jedward]] and appeared in the music video. He was a part of The Back2Kool concert tour with [[Turbo B]] and MC Hammer, playing worldwide in late 2010, and reunited with his former DJ, Floyd 'Earthquake' Brown, for the shows overseas. In early 2011, Vanilla Ice appeared on the [[Dancing on Ice (series 6)|sixth season]] of the UK show ''[[Dancing on Ice]]'', as well as various ice skating tours surrounding the show.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vanilla Ice–Dancing on Ice|url=http://dancingonice.itv.com/2011/TheCelebrities/vanilla-ice-1280|publisher=ITV|access-date=January 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223072109/http://dancingonice.itv.com/2011/TheCelebrities/vanilla-ice-1280|archive-date=December 23, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Houston Dash 90s Bash, 2023-10-08 (53255837776) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Vanilla Ice (left) performing alongside [[Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)|Michelangelo]] of the [[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]] in 2023.]]

In 2009, Ice started filming a reality television series called ''[[The Vanilla Ice Project]]'', which premiered on [[DIY Network]] on October 14, 2010. The season was focused on renovating a house in Palm Beach, Florida, with each episode dedicated to a different room in the house.<ref name="Mooney"/><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272633740.shtml
|title = Vanilla Ice DIY Series – Home Makeover Series, The Vanilla Ice Project|work = [[National Ledger]]|date = August 4, 2010|access-date= August 5, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101025091959/http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272633740.shtml|archive-date = October 25, 2010|url-status= dead|df = mdy-all}}</ref> In 2011, Ice published a book on the subject, ''Vanilla Ice Project – Real Estate Guide'', on how to succeed in real estate. The book was made available as a free digital download on his real estate website.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Vanilla Ice Project: Learn to Make Money in Real Estate... from the Man Himself|url=http://www.vanillaicerealestate.com/|work=Vanilla Ice Real Estate|access-date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904114145/http://www.vanillaicerealestate.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The second season began airing in January 2012, the third season in January 2013.

In June 2011, Ice filmed a role in the movie ''[[That's My Boy (2012 film)|That's My Boy]]'', starring [[Adam Sandler]] and [[Andy Samberg]], (released in 2012).<ref>{{cite web|title=Vanilla Ice Lands Role in Adam Sandler Movie|date=April 3, 2011 |url=http://www.theboombox.com/2011/04/03/vanilla-ice-lands-role-in-adam-sandler-movie/0|publisher=BoomBox|access-date=April 3, 2011|archive-date=March 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319062146/http://www.theboombox.com/2011/04/03/vanilla-ice-lands-role-in-adam-sandler-movie/0|url-status=live}}</ref> In the film, Ice portrays an exaggerated version of himself called Uncle Vanny. While shooting, he collaborated with Samberg and Sandler musically.<ref>{{cite web |author=Amanda Crum |url=http://www.webpronews.com/vanilla-ice-to-record-album-with-adam-sandler-2012-06 |title=Vanilla Ice To Record Album With Adam Sandler? |publisher=WebProNews |date=June 13, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620153722/http://www.webpronews.com/vanilla-ice-to-record-album-with-adam-sandler-2012-06 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In August, Ice performed at the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos; he signed with [[Psychopathic Records]], but later departed from the label without releasing anything.<ref name="GOTJBillboard">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/467925/down-with-the-clown-icp-gathering-of-the-juggalos-diary-day-2 |title=Down With the Clown: ICP Gathering of the Juggalos Diary, Day 2 |author=Kevin Rutherford |date=August 13, 2011 |publisher=Rovi Corporation |access-date=August 16, 2011 |archive-date=February 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213063623/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/467925/down-with-the-clown-icp-gathering-of-the-juggalos-diary-day-2 |url-status=live }}</ref> His sixth studio album, ''[[W.T.F. (Wisdom, Tenacity and Focus)|WTF]]'', was released on August 19 through Radium Records. While the record featured an array of different styles, like other recent Vanilla Ice albums, it also featured Ice's return to [[Electronica]], with songs like "Turn It Up", "Rock Star Party", "Nightmare Disco" and "Cadillac Ninjas".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Wtf/dp/B005J9PQU6 |title=Wtf: Vanilla Ice: MP3 Downloads |website=Amazon |access-date=April 10, 2012 |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313231927/https://www.amazon.com/Wtf/dp/B005J9PQU6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wtf/id459828270 |title=iTunes Store |publisher=itunes.apple.com |access-date=April 10, 2012 |archive-date=June 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628040002/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wtf/id459828270 |url-status=live }}</ref> Regarding the new record and its numerous musical genres, Ice said, "It's like techno hip-hop. European. I live a lot in Europe, and when I'm over there I get way into the techno stuff and I get into new music. So I thought I'd make a record of it. I did the thing and it was a lot of fun".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rebelinkmag.com/view-article.php?aid=1 |title=Rebel Ink - CELEBRITY INK - Hank III - Inked Rebel |publisher=Rebelinkmag.com |access-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-date=August 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809094418/http://www.rebelinkmag.com/view-article.php?aid=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In December 2011, Ice played Captain Hook in the [[Chatham, Kent]], Central Theatre pantomime production of ''Peter Pan'', a role that previously belonged to [[Henry Winkler]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Vanilla Ice to Play Captain Hook in U.K. Peter Pan Pantomime|url=http://london.broadway.com/buzz/155842/vanilla-ice-to-play-captain-hook-in-uk-peter-pan-pantomime/|publisher=Broadway|access-date=March 31, 2011|archive-date=March 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316124614/http://london.broadway.com/buzz/155842/vanilla-ice-to-play-captain-hook-in-uk-peter-pan-pantomime/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also turned on the Christmas lights for [[Rochester, Kent]], in [[Rochester Castle]], as part of the promotion for the panto.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dickens Christmas Market|url=http://www.dickenschristmasmarket.com/|publisher=KM FM|access-date=November 30, 2011|archive-date=November 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120204123/http://www.dickenschristmasmarket.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 12, 2012, Vanilla Ice helped in the launch of the [[Mr. Freeze (roller coaster)|Mr. Freeze Reverse Blast]] roller coaster at [[Six Flags over Texas]] in [[Arlington, Texas|Arlington]] with a free concert for valid daily park ticket or 2012 Season Pass holders.<ref>[http://content.sixflags.com/news/overtexas/mr-freeze-launches MR. FREEZE: Reverse Blast Launches with Street Concert by Vanilla Ice] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512234832/http://content.sixflags.com/news/overtexas/mr-freeze-launches |date=May 12, 2012 }} - [[Six Flags|Six Flags Official Press Release]]. Retrieved May 10, 2012.</ref> In mid 2013, Vanilla Ice joined the [[New Kids on the Block]] tour alongside [[Boyz II Men]].

On September 15, 2013, Vanilla Ice performed at the halftime show of a [[Houston Texans]] game. Houston went on to lose the remaining fourteen games of the season, leading some players to blame Vanilla Ice for the losing streak.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/texans-bash-vanilla-ice-but-why-should-they-have-all-the-fun-112613|title=Texans bash Vanilla Ice, but why should they have all the fun?|date=November 26, 2013|website=FOX Sports|access-date=September 30, 2019|archive-date=September 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930125750/https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/texans-bash-vanilla-ice-but-why-should-they-have-all-the-fun-112613|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[Western (genre)|Western]] comedy film ''[[The Ridiculous Six]]'', released in 2015, Ice portrayed [[Mark Twain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2479478/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919094334/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2479478/|url-status=dead|title=The Ridiculous 6|archive-date=September 19, 2016|website=IMDb.com}}</ref> He also had a non-speaking cameo in another [[Netflix]] movie; ''[[Sandy Wexler]].''

In 2016, Vanilla Ice competed on [[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 23)|season 23]] of ''[[Dancing with the Stars (U.S. TV series)|Dancing with the Stars]]''. He was partnered with professional dancer [[Witney Carson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|title='DWTS' 2016 Celebrity Cast Revealed: Ryan Lochte, Amber Rose, Rick Perry Among Star Lineup|work=Good Morning America: Yahoo|access-date=August 30, 2016|date=August 30, 2016|archive-date=August 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830144906/https://gma.yahoo.com/dwts-2016-celebrity-cast-revealed-ryan-lochte-amber-123029354--abc-news-tv.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They were eliminated on October 4, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dwts-season-23-vanilla-ice-babyface-axed-sasha/story?id=42570714|title=Vanilla Ice, 'Babyface' Axed in 'DWTS' Double Elimination|last=Clarke|first=Suzan|date=October 4, 2016|website=ABC News|access-date=October 5, 2016|archive-date=September 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926011406/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/dwts-season-23-vanilla-ice-babyface-axed-sasha/story?id=42570714|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 16, 2017, Vanilla Ice joined [[Insane Clown Posse]] in a free concert, the ''Juggalo March On Washington''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://juggalomarch.com/the-artists|title=The Concert - Juggalo March on Washington - Sept 16th, 2017|website=Juggalomarch.com|access-date=January 6, 2017|archive-date=January 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105044508/http://www.juggalomarch.com/the-artists|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 2015 and 2016, Vanilla Ice was one of the main headliners for the worldwide 'I Love the 90s Tour'.

On January 4, 2019, [[Dave Franco]] was cast to star as Ice in a biopic chronicling the rapper's life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanilla Ice Biopic Happening with Dave Franco in the Lead |date=January 4, 2019 |url=https://movieweb.com/vanilla-ice-movie-dave-franco/ |publisher=Movieweb |access-date=May 18, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233020/https://movieweb.com/vanilla-ice-movie-dave-franco/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On December 31, 2020, Ice was the star attraction at a New Year's Eve party at [[Donald J. Trump|President Trump's]] mansion [[Mar-a-Lago]]. The President himself was unable to attend, but [[Donald Trump Jr.]] captured Ice's performance on his cellphone. New Year's Eve 2020 was also the younger Trump's 43rd birthday. Notable attendees included Don Jr.'s girlfriend [[Kimberly Guilfoyle]], [[Rudy Giuliani]], [[Sean Spicer]] and others.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Crowley|first=Michael|date=January 1, 2021|title=Without Trump, or Masks, Mar-a-Lago Partied On|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/us/politics/trump-new-years-eve-mar-a-lago.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/01/us/politics/trump-new-years-eve-mar-a-lago.html |archive-date=December 28, 2021 |url-access=limited|access-date=January 4, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In June 2021, Ice narrated a [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] documentary podcast covering the theft of the racehorse [[Shergar]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Vanilla Ice to narrate podcast about Shergar, the kidnapped champion Irish racehorse |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/vanilla-ice-shergar-podcast |website=IrishCentral |date=June 9, 2021 |access-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611211537/https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/vanilla-ice-shergar-podcast |url-status=live }}</ref>