DJ Rap is the pseudonym of Charissa Saverio, a Singapore-born, UK-based drum and bass and jungle artist who works as a producer, DJ and multi-instrumentalist. Born in 1969, she is associated with electronic music, including drum and bass, jungle, breakbeat and progressive house, and her work also spans rock and pop influences.

Career

DJ Rap has a long-running career in electronic music and describes a 15-year period of activity in the scene. She gains recognition as a major figure in drum and bass, and her music reaches club systems and car stereos internationally. Her output includes studio albums, mix compilations and soundtrack work for video games and motion pictures.

Albums and releases

Her debut studio album is Learning Curve, released on Sony in 1999, and it receives attention from magazines such as Rolling Stone and Ray Gun. She also works on Synthesis, a later studio album on Ministry of Sound that combines synthetic textures with organic moods and continues her blending of styles. She releases the track “Give It All Away” as the album’s first single.

Output and recognition

DJ Rap has three studio albums, around 75 mix compilations and cumulative worldwide sales of more than 2,000,000. Her genre-crossing approach leads to a reputation as one of dance music’s more prolific artists, and her work includes numerous contributions to video game and film soundtracks.

Labels and projects

She runs the drum and bass and breakbeat imprint Propa Talent, which begins in 1994 and releases more than 200 tracks. The label is later relaunched and issues music by artists including Nebula, Killin’ Time, Mark Campbell, DJ CJ, Mezo and Kyshido. She also founds Impropa Talent in 2008, a label focused on house music and featuring producers such as Mike Hiratzka, Tyler Revata and K-OBA.

Management and A&R work

As owner, manager and A&R for both labels, DJ Rap develops new artists alongside her own recording work. She also appears in a live drum and bass project called Metasyn with producer and vocalist Chemical Hero.

Associated act

She is a member of Engineers Without Fears.