Vanilla Ice '90s hit 'Ninja Rap' is in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' movie with Seth Rogen

“Go, ninja, go, ninja, go!”

More than 30 years after his song made its debut, Vanilla Ice is having a moment. The world knows the ’90s rapper for his megahit ”Ice Ice Baby” — but another rap of his is generating some new engagement, thanks to the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" reboot by Seth Rogen.

"Ninja Rap" was performed in the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze" live-action film in 1991 by Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle of Wellington, Florida. It's the sequel to the original "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie that was released a year earlier.

"TMNT: Mutant Mayhem," executive-produced and co-written by Rogen, was trending this week. Here are things to know about Vanilla Ice and his ties to Florida and the ”Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

How popular is 'Ninja Rap' by Vanilla Ice?

Like Vanilla Ice on his social media platforms, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" fans are using the #goninjagoninjago hashtag. Some Instagram Reels are set to ”Ninja Rap.” The hashtag's been used on Twitter and TikTok. A check on Spotify two days before the Seth Rogen movie's release — Aug. 2 nationwide — show "Ninja Rap" has had more than 7.3 million streams, Vanilla Ice's fourth most popular Spotify. (For those wondering, Vanilla Ice's mega hit "Ice Ice Baby" took the Top 3 spots on his music profile in the music streaming service with a collective 371.4 million streams.)

Is Vanilla Ice in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' movie?

The '90s rapper had a cameo in the 1991 film "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret of the Ooze" ... as a rapper performing on stage. Rogen said in news reports that he included Van Winkle‘s ”Ninja Rap” in the 2023 reboot's soundtrack along with other rap songs from East Coast artists.

After ”Ice Ice Baby,” this is another Vanilla Ice rap hit that would stand the test of time. To this day, the rapper continues to use "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" references, #goninjagoninjago and #NinjaRap on his platforms.

What is 'The Vanilla Ice Project?'

After his rap career, Vanilla Ice/Rob Van Winkle became a reality TV star on HGTV (home and gardening channel) and DIY Channel (do-it-yourself). For almost 10 years, he hosted ”The Vanilla Ice Project,” with several Florida homes remodeled or renovated.

In 2015, the reality TV star helped build a therapeutic pool for then 6-year-old Owen Johnson of Palm Bay, who was paralyzed in a car accident with his family at 2 years old, according to a USA TODAY story.

For two seasons, the home renovation star hosted "Vanilla Ice Goes Amish” in 2013.

Outside of HGTV, the rapper competed on season 23 of ABC’s reality competition ”Dancing With the Stars” in 2016. His dance partner was Witney Carson. During his season, he famously formed a bromance with fellow dancetestant former Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Spoiler alert: Vanilla Ice did not win the mirror ball trophy and was the 10th celebrity eliminated. Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez won that season.

Where does Vanilla Ice live in Florida?

In addition to his long rap career (he's touring with other '90s bands) and HGTV shows, Van Winkle is also known as a passionate Wellington resident, who is seen in and around Palm Beach County eating, stopping, collaborating and listening (get it? Lyrics from "Ice Ice Baby") . He lives in Wellington.

In August 2022, Van Winkle helped open a "brewery slash museum" in one of Lake Worth Beach's most historic buildings, according to a story in the Palm Beach Post. He helped restore a 100-year-old Masonic building about a block from City Hall into a four-level entertainment venue with a rooftop bar.

What is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles about?

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is a popular franchise about four teenage turtles named after legendary artists from the Renaissance, Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michaelangelo — and their Sensei-slash-father Splinter the rat. Splinter raised the turtles from shell to teendom and taught them martial arts while living in the sewer. They befriend a TV reporter, April O'Neil, and nemeses in the series or movies often include Shredder, mutants Rock Steady and Bebop, and occasionally friend-foe Casey Jones, a hockey mask-wearing vigilante with martial arts skills of his own.

Over the years, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has been a cartoon series, an animated series, a trilogy of live-action films in the '90s, and a Michael Bay reboot in 2014 and 2016 starring Meghan Fox.

The 2023 reboot stars martial arts star Jackie Chan as Splinter, Shamon Brown Jr., Micah Abbey, Brady Noon and Nicolas Cantu. Rogen, Chan's co-star in the "Kung Fu Panda" movies, and several other celebrities (John Cena, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Paul Rudd) have voice cameos in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'TMNT: Mutant Mayhem,' 2023 ninja turtle reboot, has a Vanilla Ice rap