Vanilla Ice has cast his lot with the Juggalos. The revelation came as a surprise to most in the audience of about 400 Friday at Crossroads KC. Only a handful of fans at the outdoor venue appeared to be Juggalos, the label applied to rabid fans of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse.
The troubled career of the faded pop star best known for his 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby" has been characterized by unlikely detours, but hearing Vanilla Ice litter his brief set with the "whoop whoop" war cry associated with Juggalos and refer to his new affiliation with the Insane Clown Posse's Pyschopathic Records was mildly disconcerting.
Mercilessly ridiculed as a talent-challenged opportunist even as he topped the charts 20 years ago, Vanilla Ice is a sort of cultural punch line. The mere evocation of his name guarantees a knowing smirk among many music fans. In that context it makes sense that Vanilla Ice, born Rob Van Winkle in 1967, would partner with Insane Clown Posse, an anti-societal act that proudly calls itself "the most hated band in the world."
At times during his energetic performance Vanilla Ice seemed refreshingly self-aware. "Whoever would have thought that this crazy-ass white boy would sell 160 million records?" he mused.
Other moments were loaded with unintentional irony. A veteran of several reality television programs including "Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge," Vanilla Ice repeatedly touted his current home improvement reality show on the HGTV network.
"That's how a real entertainer invests his money," he suggested. "You don't want to end up like MC Hammer."
The bargain-basement stage props and modest pyrotechnics utilized Friday implied that Vanilla Ice isn't exactly living large. The pitiful distractions were easily overshadowed by the female fans that danced enthusiastically alongside the rapper. A live drummer and DJ helped sustain interest on weaker selections like "Born on Halloween" and "Hot Sex."
No one expected to receive a musical epiphany Friday. The only relevant concern, consequently, was whether or not Vanilla Ice entertained his fans. Even the unveiling of the new Juggalo connection didn't dissuade the audience from having a good time. After "Ice Ice Baby" was performed midway through the 45-minute set, the majority of the audience was content to stick around.
"Ain't no shame in my game," the rapper shouted. That assertion is debatable. For a few minutes on a pleasant Friday evening, however, Vanilla Ice earned the genuine appreciation of his fans.
Mercilessly ridiculed as a talent-challenged opportunist even as he topped the charts 20 years ago, Vanilla Ice is a sort of cultural punch line. The mere evocation of his name guarantees a knowing smirk among many music fans. In that context it makes sense that Vanilla Ice, born Rob Van Winkle in 1967, would partner with Insane Clown Posse, an anti-societal act that proudly calls itself "the most hated band in the world."
At times during his energetic performance Vanilla Ice seemed refreshingly self-aware. "Whoever would have thought that this crazy-ass white boy would sell 160 million records?" he mused.
Other moments were loaded with unintentional irony. A veteran of several reality television programs including "Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge," Vanilla Ice repeatedly touted his current home improvement reality show on the HGTV network.
"That's how a real entertainer invests his money," he suggested. "You don't want to end up like MC Hammer."
The bargain-basement stage props and modest pyrotechnics utilized Friday implied that Vanilla Ice isn't exactly living large. The pitiful distractions were easily overshadowed by the female fans that danced enthusiastically alongside the rapper. A live drummer and DJ helped sustain interest on weaker selections like "Born on Halloween" and "Hot Sex."
No one expected to receive a musical epiphany Friday. The only relevant concern, consequently, was whether or not Vanilla Ice entertained his fans. Even the unveiling of the new Juggalo connection didn't dissuade the audience from having a good time. After "Ice Ice Baby" was performed midway through the 45-minute set, the majority of the audience was content to stick around.
"Ain't no shame in my game," the rapper shouted. That assertion is debatable. For a few minutes on a pleasant Friday evening, however, Vanilla Ice earned the genuine appreciation of his fans.
| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
45-minute set, thats all, i guess i didnt expect a long set but thats short, was there an opening act?
Posted by: Green | May 21, 2011 at 04:31 PM
""was there an opening act?""
The rain all day, making for 3rd show in a row soggy dump, although it seems fans lucked out avoiding the regional down pours.
ice ice baby? really?
Posted by: Raine | May 21, 2011 at 06:26 PM
OMG, I have never seen the urban dictionary quite this brutal.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=juggalo
"Juggalo" defined as-
For the most part, an uneducated, pathetic excuse for a human being who listens to the group ICP who are bold enough to actually consider themselves musicians. People you see wearing "hatchet-man" accesories. They should not be allowed to reproduce, because that is too cruel to future generations. ICP isn't rap, it isn't metal, it isn't rap/metal, and it isn't horrorpop. There is only one way to properly categorize ICP; unnecessarily and unartfully offensive and obnoxious noise.
That juggalo is stupid enough to think that ICP is music
Posted by: Urban Dictionary | May 21, 2011 at 06:32 PM
I wound up going to see VANILLA ICE literally at the last minute, some of my long-time friends may disown me if they new. The sound man told me that ICE would play for an hour - maybe more. I had an okay time. I don't regret going - it was my first time at Grinders. I might not show up at that venue very often UNLESS the weather is 'nice'. Plus at a large turn-out show, it could be a pain-in-the-ass to find a bench seat to sit in until the show starts.
I am glad, however that so many other Kansas City patrons like Grinders. They have a great sound & ligthing set-up.
Posted by: Bubba | May 22, 2011 at 01:00 AM
What, he didn't do ninja rap?!
Posted by: TMNT: Secert of the Ooze | May 22, 2011 at 09:30 AM
Among the evening's opening acts were Azylum Inmates, a trio of Juggalos who rapped about nightmares and "self-inflicted pain," and the pop-inflected hip hop of B Double E. The latter performer's 45-minute set included crowd-pleasing anthems including "KC, Say Yeah."
Posted by: Bill Brownlee | May 22, 2011 at 11:33 AM
TMNT - Actually...I heard he did. Seriously.
Posted by: jjskck | May 23, 2011 at 08:44 AM
CrossroadsKC is the offical local Juggalo outpost. If you wanna hang out with your fellow Juggalosn, head on down, it is where all the local Juggalos go now. Many more Juggalo shows are expected there, so get used to it.
Juggalos dont need no plumbing or HV/A. Juggalos just need a hatchet and a victim.
Posted by: Juggalo | May 23, 2011 at 09:10 AM
Obvious Crossroads troll is obvious.
Posted by: KC Jones | May 25, 2011 at 01:34 PM