Vanilla Ice and Ellen

I know we talked about this awhile ago in class but I would now like to share my thoughts. Starting with Vanilla Ice, it is really hard for me (as well as many others) to take him as a serious artist. From the fake biography to simply being a product designed to sell, there is no way I can see him as a serious recording artist. That being said, I do believe that he opened up many doors for other white artists who eventually emerged in the hip-hop scene. I do believe that Vanilla Ice made it easier for artists who came after him. I say this because he really did, in a way, take a bullet for those who came after him. If it hadn't been Vanilla Ice, it would've been some other poor schmuck. Ellen did this also. Although she took a lot of criticism for her coming out, she made it possible for other stars and television shows to address the issue of homosexuality. Take the sitcom Will and Grace for example. If Ellen's show had not got the ball rolling would we have had a show like Will and Grace? My guess would be, yes, eventually, but had a show like Ellen's not come before it, I doubt it would have went over as well as it did. Even if you do not agree with what Vanilla Ice or Ellen did, it is important to see the contributions both of these individuals made to their selected fields and see the impact that they still have today.