Jedward join forces with 90's rap icon Vanilla Ice for duet on debut album

Melanie Finn, Showbusiness Editor

X Factor twins John and Edward Grimes are joining forces with 1990s icon Vanilla Ice to record a cool new duet.

The Herald can reveal how Jedward (18) will be shortly joining the US rapper to record a version of his most famous hit.

They performed their interpretation of Ice Ice Baby, mixed with Queen's stellar hit Under Pressure, while on the ITV show late last year.

Now they will be trying to win over their critics by linking up with Vanilla Ice, aka Robert Van Winkle, this month as they record their debut album.

"One of their most memorable songs on the X Factor was Ice Ice Baby -- it went down a storm with the audiences," said a source. That's why their management team approached Vanilla to see if he would be interested in working with the twins -- and he didn't hesitate.

"The team hopes to bring a few more big names on board for the first album, as it wants this to be a huge success for the boys.

"They may not be the best singers, but they are brilliant at promoting themselves, and that's what it's all about."

The pair nabbed a €100,000 contract with Sony BMG to release a 10-track album, which they'll start recording shortly in Britain.

Their manager Louis Walsh has also brought in some top producers, who have previously worked with his other acts like Westlife and Shayne Ward.

The Mayo mogul is currently holidaying in Miami for the month, but has indicated it will be "all systems go" with kick-starting the lads' showbiz career on his return.

The Lucan duo will be taking to the stage in Britain for its TV Awards on January 20. They'll also be embarking on a six-month tour with X Factor, which will take in two sold-out gigs at the O2 in Dublin on March 16 and 30.

As well as trying to spark a music career, the youngsters have been signed up for several modelling jobs with magazines in Britain.

They have posed for top glossies including Grazia and Esquire, as they continue to enjoy their time in the limelight.

And they said they were always careful about their appearance, long before they were performing in front of millions of viewers on the X Factor.

"When everyone was wearing trainers to school, John wore his gold shoes from Pied a Terre," said Edward. "We just always like that classic menswear, sort of 1960s, look. We like dressing up. We always wore shirts and ties."

mfinn@herald.ie