Vanilla Ice Goes Real Estate Developer

Just when you thought the rap music industry made billions of dollars a year, Vanilla Ice is now a part of an even bigger industry: real estate developing. Yes, Vanilla Ice - born Robert Matthew Van Winkle - is involved in the building and selling of real estate. Well, it is a more respectable industry than rap music anyways and does not require a "Parental advisory" label attached to the front door of that new luxury house or condominium. ThirdAge reports how the popular rap star became real estate savvy over the years after making investments that proved to be fruitless. Vanilla Ice was interviewed by the New York Times and describes how he used to buy homes across the nation during the height of his career only to find out he could not possibly live in all of the houses at once. Then there is the problem of house maintenance and upkeep, including housecleaning. All of that costs money too, so Vanilla Ice decided to keep one house in Miami, Florida, a hot spot for celebrities and other socially prominent figures.

The DIY Network, a home oriented station, will feature Vanilla Ice's new show in October 2010 as he renovates a house from start to finish. Vanilla Ice admits he enjoys doing home renovations which is nice, since owning a personalized home is the dream of many Americans. I know I would not mind owning a home that Vanilla Ice renovated for me, adding all of those luxury marble floors in the foyer and dining room, and hot tubs in that gargantuan master bathroom. Robert Matthew Van Winkle is highly professional in renovating homes, having studied the books of Robert Shemin. It is nice to know that Vanilla Ice is handy around a house and can do repairs and renovations that most other rap stars would not know how to do. But Vanilla Ice knows the difference between a Phillips screwdriver and a hammer.

Vanilla Ice first became a rap star in 1991 with the smash hits "Play That Funky Music" and "Ice Ice Baby." After overcoming a bad record contract with SBK Records, Vanilla Ice took time off in between recording new discs and making real estate his second career. Vanilla Ice earned his rap name through his African-American friends, who noticed his break dancing talent. Vanilla Ice was not blue eyed soul in the traditional sense but he did make a significant contribution to the early years of rap music in the 1990's.