DJ Rap is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, superstar world-renowned DJ, producer, label owner, and actress.
Recognized early on as one of the best mixers in the business and one of jungle's finest producers, the "queen of drum and bass," emerged from the underground scene to sign a major-label recording contract in 1997.
Born Charissa Saverio in Singapore, she spent her childhood living in various exotic locales around the world before settling in Southern England as a teenager. While studying to be a solicitor, Saverio became involved with the British rave scene and soon graduated from hip club-kid to working producer/mixer extraordinaire. She got her first chance to spin while promoting a record at an East London pirate station, Rave FM in the late 80's and then moved to Fantasy FM where her DJ career began in earnest. Her first big show as a live DJ followed shortly thereafter, standing in for DJ Fabio at the last minute at the Astoria in London. This was the first time a female DJ had ever played in the main room of a club in the UK. DJ Rap has been breaking new ground ever since. She was the first female DJ to start her own label as well as the first Drum & Bass DJ (male or female) to release a full-length artist album, Intelligence, in 1994.
Throughout the early 90's Rap continued to produce, launching several hardcore/jungle songs (now considered club classics) that reached the top of the club charts all over Europe. Based on the success of these tracks, Rap was compelled to start Proper Talent, her phenomenally successful record label based in the UK.
Signed to Sony's Higher Ground subsidiary, she released her major label artist album Learning Curve in 1999 to mass critical acclaim. To date, it has sold over a quarter million copies. In 2000, she released a DJ mix compilation, Brave New World. Propa Classics, her 'greatest hits' mix CD was released a year later.
Since 2002, Charissa has lived in Los Angeles, where she has written with award winning songwriters Steve Lironi and The Matrix and has appeared as a guest vocalist on other renowned DJ's records such as BT's Movement in Still Life as well as the forthcoming releases by Erick Morillo and Bad Boy Bill.
Over the past year, Charissa has appeared in countless national and international newspapers and magazines, a national television advertising campaign for Twix, as well as hosting a monthly radio show on XM Radio. In that same time, she has played over 130 shows to over a quarter million fans. Her latest DJ release, Touching Bass, a two CD mix compilation featuring the best of breaks and drum & bass (on Surge Recordings), was released in North America June 17, 2003.
Charissa is currently writing and recording for her next 'artist' album, training with one of the country's top martial arts instructors, studying acting and dj'ing relentlessly across North America.
