On this episode of History of the 90s we look back at the complicated legacy of Vanilla Ice who was the first rapper to have a number one song on the Billboard music charts.

His album To the Extreme, featuring Ice Ice Baby, sold 12 million copies and earned him an American Music Award for best new pop/rock artist in 1991. 

But Ice’s rising star quickly crashed to the ground when it was revealed that his back story was made up.  Plus, many in the hip-hop community criticized his homogenized style of rap and accused Ice of trying to cash in on black culture. 

And if that wasn’t enough, Ice also found himself in some hot water with hip-hop outlaw Suge Knight over writing credits on Ice Ice baby.   

Check out Vanilla Ice performing Ice Ice Baby on the 1991 American Music Awards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FAJyqXSoY4

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