Ice Ice Meanie!

All right stop! Really Rob "Vanilla Ice" Van Winkle stop! Do we really need a has been saying the latest teen sensation will be a has been. In an interview with the Huffington Post, the former rapper claims that Justin Bieber will have a long weekend of success like he enjoyed in the early nineties and then fade into obscurity. No this wasn't a quote from ten years ago when some musicians and critics decried the end of the teen pop era or one of the members of New Edition getting mad when their former manager left to helm the New Kids two decades before. This is someone whose celebrity is based on one song and way too many outbursts, reality shows, and outbursts via reality shows. I'm not saying Vanilla Ice is wrong, but the kid is seventeen.
 Justin Bieber is really just beginning to grow up. The real test I believe will come in about 3 years when he approaches twenty one. Why twenty one you say? There is an extensive pop culture history of teen idols who became legitimate adult stars. The first example of this would be Michael Jackson who at twenty one released one of the greatest debut albums ever while eschewing the success he had achieved with his brothers as a tween and teen. Another example would be the Biebs' own mentor, Usher who at twenty one began to stamp his place in R&B with a more mature album and look. However, the key ingredient is timing and approach. For every Michael and Usher, there's two dozen Nick Carters (sorry BSB fans) who have to remain in a group in order to sustain visibility let alone a paycheck.
 As for Vanilla Ice, well he still gets played once every couple of hours in somebody's karaoke bar. Now that's lasting impact.