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10 july 99.
spinning:
dj rap, good to be alive - dj rap's alive and kicking mix.
dj rap, good to be alive - ganja kru remix.



"i wish you all the happiness and success you could ever hope for."

dj rap looked up from signing my cd-single cover and beamed me a warm 'thank-you' in a broad smile.   "i'm happy already!"

she was effervescent, friendly, open.   and i knew she was headed for greatness.

dj rap had just finished spinning for an hour at rasputin records in berkeley, a warm-up set for tonight's cyberfest 99 down in san jose.   her drum-n-bass selections were awesome.   you could hear her preferences through her mix: tight clean loops, deep synth hits, clear samples.

she grooved madly behind the turntables while she spun up on the second floor, smiling openly, far more energetic and lively than über-serious male counterparts like sasha and paul van dyk.   she showed outwardly that she loved the music, the groove.   she loved the moment she was in.   and it just fed the crowd below that had gathered in the store, some dancing in the aisles, some gazing up at her & watching her spin.   it fit perfectly -- the high priestess up on a mountaintop, captivating the attention of her supplicants down below.

as i waited in the line for autographs, i overheard a rasputin staffer talking about how the turnout completely surprised them.   it didn't surprise me -- as soon as i first heard "bad girl" as an MP3 floating across the Net, i knew she was going to be global.   she even had the multicultural background and vibe, sure to appeal to many senses and sensibilities.

she glowed at the crowd, laughed joyously from the energy rising up from her turntables.

during most of the tracks you could see her singing along with the vocals and samples.   she knew each track inside and out, cueing major changes in the air with her hands or torso -- her classical background was showing.   she was almost conducting the equipment.

i had shown up there hoping to meet her and tell her what an inspiration she was, to both males and females.

and yes, i was a little nervous -- her natural charisma, charm and beauty discovered from now seeing her face-2-face was daunting.   she was already becoming a celebrity.   but i didn't want my nervousness to show -- i was intent on simply passing along to her how much she was appreciated.

but when i stood at her table now after her set, shaking her hand and smiling at her, she caught me off-guard when she offered to share with me some of the fruit she was eating.   her earnestness and sincerity were endearing.   right then and there, without being aware of it, she taught me the merits of being happy in the moment.

rap, when i said i wish you all the success you could ever hope for: there is no expiration date on this offer.



- read an interview with dj rap from the may 1999 DJ Times

- lesley's Unofficial Home of DJ Rap

- interview with dj rap from the july 1998 mixmag

- dma online interview with dj rap

- sony's dj rap - learning curve website

- sony/columbia's official dj rap website

- kandikane's humankind dj rap fan site

- learningcurve.tripod.com

- stories from around the world

- divastation: dj rap

- imusic showcase: dj rap

- mtv dj rap feature

- mtv news: DJ Rap's "Trippy" Video Inspired By Action-Film Director

- back to the old skool: interview with dj rap, nov 1992

- boston phoenix interview w/ dj rap

- misc mixmag interview with dj rap

- preamp review of learning curve

- lyrics for learning curve

- DJ Rap/Maxim chat, Fri. Jan 14, 2000


Time goes from present to past.   - Dogen Zenji musings

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1998: toward the light >
05 jan 99. they unavoidably change.
10 jan 99. we hide behind our screens.
17 jan 99. which path?
10 feb 99. extremely vivid dream.
20 feb 99. misc thoughts.
21 feb 99. surfer in the water.
23 feb 99. brainstorm 1: love output equation.
06 mar 99. sleeping under the 580.
14 mar 99. mingling.
23 mar 99. antidote for selfishness.
04 apr 99. little heartbreaks.
06 may 99. unexplained early rise.
15 may 99. brainstorm 2: human-web evolution.
15 may 99. storm on the horizon.
20 may 99. first drive.
28 may 99. 2nd flashback.

31 may 99. selective reality.
10 jun 99. the tell-tale email.
11 jun 99. exposure & tears.
13 jun 99. 5 seconds.
27 jun 99. visual effects artist.
03 jul 99. i close my eyes.
06 jul 99. healing touch.
09 jul 99. episode 11.
10 jul 99. dj rap in berkeley.
14 jul 99. 4 days after bt.
26 jul 99. struggling with Real.
30 jul 99. net trippin.
15 aug 99. san diego sparkles.
29 aug 99. skyy vodka ad fails.
09 sep 99. when the thoughts stop.
15 sep 99. foreboding.
20 sep 99. bubble states.
25 sep 99. waking.
06 oct 99. episode 16.
04 nov 99. brainstorm 3.
feb 11. final entry.
Linda.