Kid going nuts with building blocks? LEGOMANIAC [theme answer: minus first letter]
Big name in chips INTEL [not Wise potato]
Navigators and Explorers [SUVS]
"Cool" rap artist? ICET [Somehow he's also "hot"]

For REAPER change
Grain cutter to
Grim icon.
For MOTEL change
Traveler's haven to
Bates was one.
For RAVI change
Shankar with a sitar to
He was with George at Bangladesh.