Robert Matthew Van Winkle, known as Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, actor, and television host born in 1967. Raised in Miami, he made history as the first solo white rapper to achieve major commercial success with his 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby," which topped the Billboard charts and helped open doors in hip hop for future white artists like Eminem. His debut album, originally released as Hooked, was reissued as To the Extreme and became the fastest-selling hip hop album at the time. Vanilla Ice also gained attention with his appearance in the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II, performing "Ninja Rap," and starred in his own movie, Cool as Ice. Although his early popularity led to media scrutiny and backlash, he continued his music career with later albums exploring different styles, including rap rock and nu metal. In the 2000s, Vanilla Ice reinvented himself on reality TV and found success as the host of The Vanilla Ice Project, a home renovation show. Beyond music and television, he is active in motocross racing and real estate.