Halle Berry and her beau, singer and record producer Van Hunt, turned heads as they made their first red carpet appearance as a couple at the 93rd Academy Awards on April 25. The X-Men actress has been gushing about their romance via Instagram since September 2020, but for those who aren't familiar with the funk and rock singer-songwriter, Van is a bit of a mystery. Get to know all the cool things about Van — like the fact he's BFFs with Randy Jackson but has never watched an episode of American Idol — ahead!
He's a Grammy award-winning artist.
Image Source: Getty/ John Shearer
At the 2005 Grammy Awards, Van was nominated for best urban/alternative performance for his track "Dust." The following year, he was up for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals and took home the Grammy for "Family Affair." (Fun fact: John Legend collaborated with Van on this song!) What many people may also not know is that Randy Jackson has been an executive record producer for Van since 2002.
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He has toured with tons of mega-popular artists.
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From Kanye to Alicia Keys to Mary J. Blige to The Roots, Van has toured and appeared with too many A-listers to count. Other artists include Seal, Boney James, The Afghan Whigs, Angie Stone, Coldplay, and Dave Matthews Band.
In an interview with Essence, Van revealed he often times looks to Diana Ross for fashion inspiration, describing her as "about as stylish as it gets." There's no arguing that Van is a rather dapper gentleman. Van said he also draws inspiration from Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, and Karl Lagerfeld.
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He dropped out of college.
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Before he was big-time songwriter and producer, Van was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, studying English. However, school wasn't for him and he soon dropped out to follow his real dream of producing music. He told Essence he was a "terrible student." He noted that if music hadn't worked out, he'd probably be pursuing a career having to do with applied mathematics or astrophysics.
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He can play four instruments.
Image Source: Getty/ Ray Mickshaw
According to his Talkhouse profile, Van has mastered four instruments, two of which — drums and saxophone — he learned before he turned 9 years old. Later on in life, took up electric bass guitar and keyboards.
A private dad, Van doesn't peel the curtain too far back on his son, Drake Hunt, but when he does, we continually become more and more obsessed with their endearing father-son relationship. For starters, Drake is into music just like his pops and has even performed with him live a few times.
"I can't imagine anybody not wanting to explore the opportunity to be a father, if you should decide to have a child. I also think that decision shouldn't be made by everybody. It's a wonderful opportunity," Van told UrbLife.com, now known as Xappeal. "I'm really enjoying it. I really don't look at it as giving my son something I did not have. I really do enjoy being his father." Drake is currently a freshman at New York University.
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A$AP Rocky was a big influence for The Fun Rises, the Fun Sets.
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Labeled as the "the perfect soundtrack for a sultry summer romance" by Essence, Van's 2015 album The Fun Rises, the Fun Sets was greatly influenced by A$AP Rocky's sound and style.
"I listened to it and really liked it. The tempo was really slow like an Isley Brothers record," he explained to the magazine. "I figured if we're all the way back there [today] then that's right where I am! If he is a face of the new marketplace then I think there is somewhere we can meet. It all started from there. It also didn't hurt that he was also into fashion."
