Vanilla Ice has made an iconic song, starred in films, and found a second career as a DIY expert, but those all pale in comparison to one thing: performing “Ninja Rap” in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.”
Turns out Vanilla Ice, born Rob Van Winkle, is a major Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan, down to having a room in his Florida home dedicated to the characters, so the chance to appear in the movie was a dream come true.
“When they asked me to do the ‘Secret of the Ooze,’ I was like, ‘Man, I would’ve paid you,'” he told People. “And they paid me. It’s like, ‘What?'”
He added, “It was the greatest thing ever. Still is my greatest accomplishment next to my kids. I love it because it keeps me young. I’m the oldest teenager in town.”
In the movie, the rapper played a fictionalized version of himself, performing the song “Ninja Rap” in a nightclub where the turtles have a fight scene.
“I was just a kid. I was only probably 20, maybe just turned 20,” he said. “I was young and just did ‘Ice, Ice Baby’ a couple years [prior] then Ninja Turtles, so I was so honored to get in there and do that. We did the ‘Ninja Rap,’ which became an anthem for the movie and it’s just been a big part of my life. Even on the I Love The 90s Tour, I bring the Turtles out with me on stage.”
Van Winkle also revealed he has a few souvenirs and something else special from the set.
“I do have some things from set from the ‘Ninja Turtles,’ and I actually got a lot of footage that I’ve never released … We’re going to release it. It’s awesome,” he shared. “But it’s from back in the day, it’s got me over there in the corner practicing with the Turtles and teaching them some dance moves.”
Among the items he has from the production are his set chair, an original script, and other memorabilia.
Van Winkle is a father to four girls, ranging in age from 7 to 28, and he said they’re all Ninja Turtle fans as well.
He said his 7-year-old is “infected with it even more than anything” and he plans to watch the movie with his whole family.
She’s going to experience it like I did back in the ’90s, and we’re going to go have a really good time with Mommy and everybody. And my wife, kids, everybody, we’re going to go be teenagers for the night,” he said.
Well go, Ninja, go Ninja, go indeed!