Rob van Winkle a.k.a. Vanilla Ice, poses for a portrait in Boca Raton, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011. / )
All right stop, collaborate and listen.Vanilla Ice is back on the scene to shed some light on milies in need. On Nov. 18 theWellington-based rapper gold for sale wow, also known as Robert Van Winkle, headed to VidPop Productions inBoca Raton to film a public service announcement for his Making Lives Brighter campaign with Habitat For Humanity and Capitol Lighting. Hes asking people to donate their old lighting fixtures to any Capitol Lighting showroom in South Florida or New Jersey now through Feb. 28 to be repurposed for a Habitat for Humanity home or sold at one of Habitat For Humanitys Re-Stores. As a thank-you for donating Dofus Kamas, Capitol Lighting will give donors 10 percent off any new lighting purchase and a tax deduction from Habitat for Humanity. Rob is such a passionate guy and hes bringing great attention to an important cause, said Eric Lebersfeld,Titan Gold. president of Capitol Lighting. Were really excited to have him on board.
Van Winkle, who began working with Capitol Lighting when he started his home improvement show, The Vanilla Ice Project, is loving his new role as the renovating rapper. Heres what Van Winkle had to say about home makeovers, his upcoming movie with Adam Sandler and what typically happens when he hits The Mall atWellington Green.
Was over homes something you were always interested in?
Not always. About 18 years ago I started getting into the real estate and decorative end of it. I had a 15,000-square-foot home on Star Island. I had it decorated by decorators and it was cool, but I was about 16. I had turned the place into a big bachelor pad and it was like living in a shopping mall. I got tired of it after a while because the colors were too crazy. I had purple rooms,World of Warcraft US Gold green rooms and yellow rooms. And so I started looking at magazines and getting ideas to decorate it myself. I saw earth tone colors and liked it. I redid the whole thing. It took me about a year and a half to redo the whole house. But after I did it, I was like Wow, that came out pretty nice. It felt more warm and inviting as a home should. And I did that just by looking at a bunch of Florida Design magazines. Now Ive got my own television show, which Im very proud about. It won five awards and got the highest rating onHGTV. We didnt even expect it or know it was gonna happen. We did season one out here inWellington and it just happened on us. Its good karma. The new season starts Jan. 21 on DIY Network and later in the year on HGTV.
Being a resident ofWellington, where do you hang out?
I dont really hang out too much because Im gone a lot lately. I stay in the UK as well. I have a place over there. Im playing Captain Hook in Peter Pan over there in a stage production until January. Its like Broadway. Its my first time acting a play. I also have a new movie coming out in June with Adam Sandler. Its called I Hate You, Dad. I watched it a few days ago with Adam and its amazing. The movie takes place over a 30-year period and I play Uncle Vanny in the movie. All theSaturday Night Live cast is in it. And I swear Im not just saying this because Im in it but Ive never seen a movie top Happy Gilmore on funniness but this one tops it. Its unbelievable.
Whats your voriteWellington restaurant?
I like the Bonefish. Its my little hangout where no one bothers me. But now that you know that I probably wont be able to go there. Maybe I shouldve said some sushi place!
Do you go to the mall inWellington and do people mob you?
I go to theWellington Mall and yes, they do. Ive seen all walks of life. Theres been crazy things that have happened and I could probably shock you on many of them. If you could imagine its happened, it probably happened. My motto is Shake a hand, make a friend. I dont walk around with a bunch of bodyguards or all that. I like to be normal. Ive got two kids and I like for them to see Dad being normal even though they know who I am and come out and see shows. Theyre used to people coming up to me. They grew up with it and theyll even take pictures of me with ns now.
Have your kids seen Cool As Ice?
Oh yeah, they love it and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.
Do you still perform the Ninja Rap from the movie?
I do. I love it. Theres a remake of it you can download for free on Vanillaice.com.
Speaking of music, I know you have a new album out. I heard you were doing this crazy genre mixing thing withtechno,maple story,maplestory mesos,maplestory guide,mapl. hip-hop and country. What direction is your music taking now?
My music never has a direction, it has a moment. The way I record music is, its my diary. So every record tells where Im at at that time in my life. Long story short, Ive got rock records Ive done in the past with Korn and Limp Bizkit. Now Ive moved on to happy, fun stuff. Im doing techno dancWorld of Warcraft EU Golde music with no explicit lyrics–just a good, mily record. Anybody can lis