SEEING WITH SUPERVISION HIP-HOP'S ANSWER TO STEVIE WONDER LETS NO OBSTACLE OBSTRUCT HIS LINE OF SIGHT.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

For the blind rap newcomer born Damin Bordenave, no obstacle is too great a hurdle.

He can still ride a bike, intercept a catch on the football field and high-five people in the front rows at concerts because of what he calls a ``super vision.'' Coincidentally, it's also his rap moniker.

SuperVision, performing tonight at the Universal Amphitheatre on the Seagram's Gin Live bill with the likes of Mystikal and Ginuwine, explains there's nothing magical about his sixth sense.

``I think it's just a love of life,'' he says. ``It's a drive to prove that people with disabilities can do anything.

``That's what I'm here to show the world.''

The 24-year-old has been demonstrating it his whole life, including when he lived in the San Fernando Valley and played local gigs. He sold 1,500 copies of a self-released record to classmates at Taft High School before moving to Torrance. Now he's in the big leagues, playing on concert stages this summer, including a performance Aug. 12 at the Beat Summer Jam sponsored by urban radio station KKBT-FM (100.3).

The shows are a prelude to his Aug. 28 Capitol Records debut release, ``SuperVision Presents 20/20.'' Produced by Tim ``Timbaland'' Mosley - known for his work with Missy Elliott, Aaliyah and Ginuwine - the album features appearances by notables such as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Ja Rule.

On the song ``My Crew,'' East Coast rapper Ja Rule joins West Coast rapper SuperVision.

``We're not stuck on no East-West beef,'' says SuperVision. ``We're actually enjoying and respecting each other as MCs, business men and young African-Americans.''

Respect is an important issue for SuperVision, especially when it comes to women.

He's tired of the degradation. Instead, he uses the single ``Superstar'' to celebrate them in a positive manner.

The song is perking up the ears of the mainstream. It's bumped the Baha Men's ``Who Let the Dogs Out'' off the sound systems at some sporting events and has been tapped for an upcoming episode of the HBO series based on the movie ``Soul Food.''

``Superstar'' is also a regular feature on the nighttime mix program at the Beat.

DJ Hideo, the station's mix show director, has been playing the song and says he likes what he's heard so far.

``He's got great music and great lyrics,'' says Hideo. ``He doesn't need to use his handicap to get his point across.''

SuperVision began rapping a few years after an accident claimed his eyesight. He got into a fight with a boy in his South Central neighborhood. A broken bottle was thrown, hitting the then 5-year-old in the eye and sending him straight to the hospital for emergency surgery.

But he ended up contracting conjunctivitis. He later developed glaucoma and, in the two years that followed, he was bounced from hospitals in California to Maryland. Doctors tried countless procedures to repair the damage to his eyes.

By the age of 7, he was totally blind.

SuperVision's story was told in a documentary film by the Brotherhood Crusade, a support organization for inner-city African-American families in need.

The film was used to raise funds to cover his medical expenses. A snippet of the film was also shown on the ABC news program ``20/20'' during a mid-1980s segment on Stevie Wonder.

Years after that episode aired, the two would become friends. Wonder invited SuperVision to perform with him at last year's Democratic National Convention.

According to the young rapper, there's a possibility the two might be collaborating on a project sometime in the future, although no plans have yet been made.

The closest thing to a collaboration comes on SuperVision's album, where he does a reworking of Wonder's signature song ``Superstition.''

SuperVision says he draws inspiration from Wonder and envisions himself one day becoming the Stevie Wonder of hip-hop.

``I have nothing but respect for the man,'' he says of his musical hero. ``Besides him having the disability, his ability to crank out so many great and classic records has served as a blueprint for success that I've been trying to follow for the last few years.''

SEAGRAM'S GIN LIVE WITH MYSTIKAL, GINUWINE, JUVENILE AND FEATURING SUPERVISION

Where: Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City.

When: 7:45 tonight.

Tickets: $29.50 to $48.50. Call [phone].

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Photo: no caption (SuperVision)