The one hit wonder Robert Van Winkle, popular for his top selling rap song of the 90’s “Ice Ice Baby”, is busting back into the spot light but not for his music. Rob has been steering his hip hop style to a new audience recently. He is a licensed contractor in Miami, Florida where he has taken up flipping houses the Vanilla Ice way! The DIY Network will air the second season of “The Vanilla Ice Project” this year. The series follows him and his team as they buy short sale properties or foreclosures in need of repair and flip them for a profit. Rapper turned handyman? Sounds a bit out there, either Rob has made a brilliant financial move or he’s having an identity crisis.
Being a fan of the DIY Network I am familiar with the wide range of house flipping reality TV shows out there. I was skeptical of the success of The Vanilla Ice Project. Why should this show be any better or more entertaining than all the rest out there like property brothers, house crashers, disaster DIY, property ladder, flip this house, Sarah Palin’s Alaska.. oh wait that is a different blog for a different time. But you get my point. Where’s the allure Rob Winkle?
But what sets the Vanilla Ice project apart from the others is Rob Van Winkle himself. This 90’s rap character walks around with tattoos covering his body, an oddly shaped goatee, a hat with a brim that has never been given shape, and a black t-shirt with the words “Hustler” across the front. Conjuring up this image I’m sure you have attached personality traits to match this picture of a dried up hip hop rapper. Perhaps I can guess what traits came to mind; foul mouthed, egotistical, arrogant, drinking, smoking, half ass-embling, no idea what he’s doing, contractor trying to cash in. Well you may be surprised.
Rob is surprisingly the opposite. He is dedicated, focused, hardworking, fast and efficient. Rob has given up smoking, drinking, and drugs. He mentions Karma and how it applies to his life and his desire to do differently when raising his children. In his goal to become healthy in life he has even become a vegetarian. Surprising isn’t it? This 90’s rapper gone construction worker has broken through the stereo type and delivered a pretty darn good show.
It just goes to prove yet again that the cover of the book doesn’t always give you all the details. In a world of house hunting, house flipping, house listing and buying it is important to have a list of trust worthy contractors. But some of the best contractors may have a rough exterior. It’s just par for the course. So check out the beat while my contractor resolves it…. Ice ice baby.
“From the window to the wall, the concrete, backer board, dry wall we do it all” –Vanilla Ice
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