When Vanilla Ice was Mind Blowin’

By Daniel Sumpton | Misfit Media Columnist

As the story goes, it only took from around August 1990 to March 1991 for Robert Van Winkle A.K.A Vanilla Ice to turn from a worldwide sensation to receiving worldwide ridicule. After selling over 10 million copies worldwide, starring in his own film, writing his own autobiography, and releasing all kinds of outlandish merchandise, the Ice Man went totally underground. Assumed exhausted from all the diss tracks, mockery, and lies made about him, Rob turned to motocross and notably made a name for himself in the sport. Although Robert was set in the world of professional jet skiing, motocross and cars, something compelled him in 1994 to hit back with his sophomore album.

There is a lot to unpack from the 1994 Vanilla Ice record Mind Blowin’. There are themes of anger, isolation, drugs, violence, sex, partying, and fame explored within the record.  Most intriguing of all though, the rapper that was once considered vanilla like his name, was aggressively firing back at his most vocal critics in his songs.

“With Twice the punch
I put the crunch on Marky
And take the funky out of his bunch”

Vanilla Ice attacked personalities who had previously dissed him like Mark Wahlberg, who was then known as the rapper Marky Mark, in the song Hit ‘Em Hard. The song itself is a direct response to his detractors. Rob was beginning to sound like many of the other rappers from the streets coming up at the time, and that was a good thing. He also went after fellow rapper MC Hammer, and hip-hop group 3rd Bass with humble yet hard hitting lines.

“It was a good video, and I can admit that
All that money’s wasted cause your song’s wack.”

The album is jam packed with clever lines, great production, and a more believable lyricist than the cookie-cutter guy who came out with Ice Ice Baby. “The direction is true to hip hop because that’s what the music is and what I’m listening to. This is me and this is no image … and I want to give the people me, whether they like it or not,” Robert said while discussing the 1994 record. With blonde dreads and a more hardcore image, Vanilla Ice also addressed his self-awareness in the album Mind Blowin’ about his own skills and limitations.

“Lyrics might be simplistic, but I’m no simp
On the strength cause I know how to pimp it.”

Ending on a melancholy note, Robert also had vulnerable moments on the album such as in his song I Go Down, which delved into his loneliness and growing necessity for someone in his life. Unfortunately, these cries for help were left unattended which led to Robert’s attempted suicide on the 4th of July 1994, just over 4 months after the album released. 

“But the odds are still against me
I’m making paper, but I still need the one who wants to get with me
and not for the money or the fame but for me
someone who can give me that security”

The album Mind Blowin’ flopped majorly and led to SBK Records dropping the rapper who went on to find success through other ventures such as a TV show and acting in movies. It is hard not to wonder where the Ice Man would be today if people had taken a chance on the more raw, unrestrained, and talent showcasing period of his career.