Rapper Vanilla Ice Sweetens up local audience

JAKARTA (JP): Robert van Winkle, better known as rapper Vanilla Ice visited Indonesia last week. Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya were the towns he visited for the Indonesian leg of his world concert tour.

For his first show at the M Club, in Blok M Plaza, South Jakarta, he was greeted by more than 500 of his fans. Mostly teenagers who enjoy rap and hip-hop.

He surprised many of his fans by showing up with only a DJ and a background rapper. The fans expected him to show up with dancers and a band, as was the case with MC Hammer, his once nemesis in the rap world, when he came to town. But he proved that he can entertain his fans, with his superb stage control.

In an interview with the Prambors radio station the day before the show, he said that his concert was going to be, "freestyle, I'm just going to perform according to the crowd. If they are not excited, I'm going to sing a song that will hype them, or otherwise." He did just that when he sang his very popular song, Roll'em Up, as his second song, when he saw the crowd unfamiliar to his opening tune.

He rapped a song about going down (meaning he's going to leave) and he literally jumped down into the crowd and was met by grabbing hands, trying to touch him. He sang, or more precisely rapped, many of his hits from his two album, To The Extreme and Mind Blowin.

Although the location of the show was relatively small for a world class rapper, it was a wonderful place to do a show. The usual distance between the crowd and performer was diminished. The atmosphere of the place made both the artist and watcher comfortable, confirmed by the many fans, who were jubilant with the concept. Vanilla communicated with the fans freely and although he was occasionally grabbed by his adoring fans, he enjoyed the idea.

The concert was satisfying for many, and an experience for others. The rap style of Vanilla, who changed from hip-hop rap to a more conservative street rap, was a change of pace for the crowd, who, in the past, were familiar with his energetic dancing.

The club's laser show was also a new experience for many. During each break, colorful lasers filled the air and entertained the mostly adolescent crowd. Unfortunately, over-zealous security guards dampened the atmosphere of the show slightly. Each time Vanilla cross the ramp, hands that tried to touch him were stopped by the guards.

When one boy tried to get on stage he was pushed roughly by one of the guards. Vanilla, seeing this, told the guards to stop and let the crowd enjoyed itself. After this incident, the show continued without a hitch. (07)