A renaissance man (or woman) is defined as "A modern scholar who is in a position to acquire more than superficial knowledge about many different interests", (wordnetweb.princeton.edu). Within the music, fashion and entertainment industry there are dozens of personalities that fit the bill. While singer Jessica Simpson favors fashion and rapper Flava Flav prefers funneling his efforts into his fried chicken chain, other pop stars have diversified their efforts within the real estate industry.
'Real estate industry' is a broad term incorporating many facets, including home loans, construction, architecture, the buying and selling of homes, commercial properties, condos and townhouses. Aside from those components, home renovations, interior decorating and furniture design are also part of the real estate industry and several talented musicians have opted to use their related skills to become real estate industry insiders.
Lenny Kravitz
Multi-dimensional singer, songwriter, musician and arranger, Lenny Kravitz is a well-versed performer who thrills audiences worldwide. Aside from being a Grammy winner, having multiple number 1 hits on the US Top Singles Charts and his charity work, Kravitz has founded a design firm specializing in interior and furniture design.
Kravitz proclaimed that if he did not become a musician he would have been a designer. He always had a knack for the art and started using his gifts on his own properties. His first overhaul was in Biscayne Bay, Florida, on a mansion he owned and named Villa Roxie after his late mother, actress Roxie Roker. For several years he reserved his work solely on the assortment of properties he owned in New York, New Orleans, Louisiana and Florida, but eventually branched out by forming Kravitz Design, which started in 2003. The firm "...specializes in commercial and residential design, product development and branding ..." (Kravitzdesign.com).
In addition to interior design, Kravitz has created products including a chandelier for Swarovski and a collection of psychedelic wallpapers for Flavor Paper. Regardless of what he touches, Kravitz includes retro sensibilities into his work. The psychedelic influence of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd are represented both in his music and his craft. Lenny has stated "I was one of the first people to bring back shag carpeting", an accomplishment only topped by his musical success.
Vanilla Ice
Born Robert Matthew Van Winkle, the rapper and house flipper is best known by his stage name, Vanilla Ice. Winkle was born in Dallas, Texas and earned his dubious nickname of ‘Vanilla Ice' because of his break-dancing and rapping skills. It was a dare that forced him to take the stage for the first time and he subsequently landed a regular gig at the club where he first performed. He wrote "Ice Ice Baby" when he was 16 years old and the single became the very first hip hop song to top the Billboard chart.
That single made Vanilla Ice a household name and the performer had mainstream success for several years. However, the entertainment biz is a fickle beast and while Winkle still produced music, he did not have the support of his original fan base. While Winkle is still involved in the "industry" his newest passion and claim to fame is his home renovation themed reality show entitled "The Vanilla Ice Project." It is this vehicle that has allowed this Renaissance man to show off his general contracting skills.
The show involves Ice conducting a room-by-room make over on high priced McMansions and features remodeling of kitchens, bathrooms and every other living space. Since the 1990s, Ice has bought homes, renovated and flipped them for a profit. Generally, Ice did not need to secure mortgages for his investment properties as he used the money he garnered through his music career to fund this branch of his creativity.
Pharell Williams
Lead vocalist and drummer of rock band N.E.R.D. Pharell Williams has many dimensions to his creativity. Pharell is a rapper, singer, record producer, New York City boutique owner and artist. He has designed jewelry and glasses for Louis Vuitton and designed for Bathing Ape clothing (with a store in Los Angeles. California). However, it is his furniture design that connects him to the real estate industry.
Pharell's line was a collaboration between Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin and a French manufacturer, Domeau and Pérès. His most notable work to date is a chair featuring the legs of men and women and was inspired from his longing "... to know what it was like to be in love", (Saucy Seating Art+Auction).
