Today we’d like to introduce you to Red Rapinan
Hi Red, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Red and I’m 20 years old turning 21 in January 2025, and I’m an artist, DJ, dancer and organizer.
A lot of people initially think the name “Red” is a stage name for dance or DJing, but it’s actually my real name that my grandma gave me. Since she has a thick Filipino accent, Red was the first thing my family came up with that she can say in English properly!
When I was 2yrs old I was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (cancer in the blood) and was treated for 5 years before becoming cancer free at 7 years old. There also was complications outside treatment as I struggled to walk being bedridden instead of learning to walk as a toddler. I even had a Make-A-Wish right before the determining open-heart surgery that decided if I would make it or break it. It was a tough time for my family of course, dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and payments, but through a miracle of God we made it in the end.
Slowly working my way back to a normal child’s life, my parents put me and my older brother in a summer camp where one of the activities was a dance class at StudioFX in San Diego, which also came with a bonus private lesson with the owner Vanessa. It was at this lesson where she was teaching us how to do a “baby freeze” and found out I was double jointed. Vanessa was the first one to advocate for me to dance even though me and my parents thought nothing of it (comes important later).
After that, the first thing I really did was professional Table Tennis from when I was 12 till I was 18. During those times I was trying out for the Olympics and the U.S. National team traveling and competing. At one point my daily routine consisted of waking up for a 5am run followed by a cold shower, breakfast, school, lunch, training, dinner, repeat. This taught me grit, drive, and athleticism. However, I stopped when I turned 18 as I realized some developing toxic tendencies I would have in the sheer focus and intention of trying to be the best. Similarly, I realized I would probably end up like Michael Phelps was, winning all kinds of medals but not knowing what to do after and considering suicide. But still, Table Tennis was very beneficial and important in my life and I’m forever grateful for all my former coaches and teammates as it brought me from should be struggling to walk from cancer to the super underweight kid to an athlete.
Coming back to the dance, dance slowly came back starting as a hobby during my time in Table Tennis and stemmed from my love for Michael Jackson and the Jabbawockeez.
I become serious with dance when I was 16 and fully involved in dance after table tennis when I turned 18. In doing so, I instantly gravitated towards the battle scene in dance and doing dance battle competitions more than choreography that didn’t interest me as much coming from an Olympic level competitive background. My first mentor became Matt “Bebop” Phelps from the Wild 7s dance crew in Oceanside, San Diego. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to have been involved with the likes of VersaStyleLA, and to be a part of the dance crews I’m in; OutcastNinjaz (Florida/LA based), Noesisx (International), and FoundNation (Houston) that all helped me grow into the dancer and person I am today.
When I turned 19, DJing entered my life. With my passion for music and my exposure to DJs and parties at the dance events, I started to learn. Originally, I DJ’d just because I knew I could do better than some of the DJs I was hearing at the time, but now DJing has become such a significant facet of expression and artistry for me just as dance is. Both became my “outlets” and forms of self therapy that I can get lost in. Some sources of music that are my favorite inspirations are Pharrell, Soulection, Tyler The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Kaytranada, etc. Recently I actually got the chance to meet and hang out with one of the Soulection DJs Olea who inspired and affirmed me in a time that I really needed it.
I’m a strong believer in God’s plans and the way the universe aligns, similar to how God led me to Table Tennis to gain discipline and athleticism then to dance to really connect with myself then to DJing where I can most effectively express my essence and existence in the depth of my life experiences.
Right now, I have a series of events and YouTube videos called (Soul)cial Dance which is a series based around all music soul and dance from hip hop/R&B to world sounds from Africa, Brazil, etc., to house and funk, etc. I started this series to not only bring people together at events and unite the community but to also promote the idea of social dancing together and socializing back instead of always being on the phones as this has become a unfortunate trend in our current culture. This series not only lets me feature other DJs and DJ friends but it also allows me to show the depth and intensity of my own DJing the way I want to and know how it should be expressed.
Currently, I’m DJing all over and working on music with producer friends, but also working on my own edit/blend tape for DJs and DJ events that will be called Seraphim. Seraphim and the album/tape is gonna be mainly my main favorite genres/style/my sound to play which is Afro/Baile Funk/Jazz/Edits/Blends and it represents my growth as an artist and a person. The word Seraphim refers to the highest ranking angel in Christianity that represents transformation and elevation with the sole duty to honor God and make him known to all which I feel represents my purpose on this earth through music and my story. This past year in 2024 has been my biggest year of change and uncomfortable times but also my biggest year of growth and learning. Plus, Seraphim are also depicted in old texts and stone carvings as a red angel with wings of fire.
Balancing everything I do between college, dance, DJing, family/friends, etc. is challenging at times but I’ve been able to make it work thanks to my family, crewmates, friends, peers, and everyone who has helped or continues to help me along the way whether they know it or not.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never a smooth road and everyone has their own problems and challenges, but just like anyone else I’ve struggled with expectations, perfectionism, loneliness, depression, relationships, men’s mental health, etc. but with God, music and dance I always manage to pull through and show others that it’s okay to struggle and it’s possible to overcome.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m mainly a DJ and dancer but I’m also trying to get an internship at the moment and establish a career in Venture Capitalism for Finance.
In DJing, I specialize in Hip Hop, R&B, World Sounds, House, Soul, Edits/Blends but my specific and favorite sounds have to be Baile Funk, Afro, Jazz, Amapiano, and Soulful/Funky House.
For dance I am a Hip Hop freestyle dancer, but at the end of the day I’m a dancer, so I don’t just do hip hop but I’m a music lover first and I dance to the music I love.
I’m most known for my eclectic sound and selection of music for DJing and my very unique style in dance.
What I’m proud of that sets me apart from others is that I can say I’m fully 100% authentically me in what I do as a DJ, dancer, and overall artist. There’s no one else that I can be compared to in both DJing and dance as there’s no one else who’s had the same life experiences as me because no one else can be me but me and me only. I really believe being an artist in especially dance and music is a direct reflection of life and living so I’m able to confidently say that when you experience my dance and my music you get to see part of who I am as a person from start to finish.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to trust God, trust yourself, and move with intention in everything you do and in being you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/redxinsanity
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official_dj_red?igsh=MmQ5ejJieTA3Zm8z
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@redxinsanity?si=gxJlFMjPVd72Kzbo
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/roVpZDshqVVfhFai7
Image Credits
Insageproduction, Emman, DominiqueLove
