| Hard to Swallow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 20, 1998[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
| Studio | Indigo Ranch Studios (Malibu, California) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:46 | |||
| Label | Republic UD-53185 | |||
| Producer | Ross Robinson | |||
| Vanilla Ice chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Hard to Swallow | ||||
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Hard to Swallow is the third studio album by American rapper Vanilla Ice. Released by Republic Records in 1998, the album was the first album Vanilla Ice recorded after a four-year hiatus following the 1994 release of Mind Blowin. Vanilla Ice intended the new musical direction found on the album as an attempt to move away from hip hop music and discard his former pop image. Hard to Swallow instead featured what he described as "skate rock", a fusion of heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop. The album features appearances from Amen vocalist Casey Chaos, Bloodhound Gang vocalist Jimmy Pop, and Insane Poetry front man Cyco. Vanilla Ice employed a full band for the album's sessions, which included members from notable bands such as drummer Shannon Larkin (Ugly Kid Joe/Godsmack), keyboardist Scott Borland (Big Dumb Face/Lennon), guitarist Sonny Mayo (Snot/Sevendust), bassist Doug Ardito (Cellophane/Puddle of Mudd), and turntablist DJ Swamp (Beck/Ministry).
Vanilla Ice took an interest in the musical style found on Hard to Swallow while performing as a member of a Miami grunge band, and was able to develop this sound through a friendship with producer Ross Robinson, with whom he shared an interest in motocross racing. Robinson produced the album after being advised against working with Vanilla Ice. The album's darker lyrical subject matter developed from conversations in which Robinson encouraged him to write about his past. Subjects included Vanilla Ice's abusive childhood, drug addiction and struggles with fame. While the album revived Vanilla Ice's career, it received largely negative reviews and did not chart. The album sold nearly 100,000 copies.[2][better source needed]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
allmusicwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Vanilla Ice Fan Club - Vanilla Ice Discography". www.vanillaicefanclub.com. Retrieved February 23, 2021.