Born Herman Hines, DJ Hines, a.k.a. Poppastep can trace the origins of his lengthy career to his childhood: Hines grew up in an intensely musical family. His mother was a soloist and his godfather was a pianist and organist at Staten Island’s St. Phillips Baptist Church. Several other family members played the latest soul music of the Civil Rights era, which led to a young Hines getting into disco, dance music, salsoul, the Philadelphia sound and more.
Hines started off as a drummer, playing in church, alongside his mother and godmother. His first official gig was at the Capital Lounge with his mother’s best friend, Harlem-based jazz legend Irene Reid, when he was just 12. That same year, he started spending summers in Wyandanch, NY, where he hung out with DJ Pleasure, who taught him how to mix on the beat.
Those summers in Wyandanch and his eclectic music taste allowed him to stand out in a crowded field. He was the first DJ to program hip-hop on a college station, Seton Hall‘s WSOU, where he was an instrumental in introducing hip-hop to New Jersey audiences. While at WSOU, he helped break Force MDs — yes, Force MDs. If you’re an old head, you know.
As a DJ, Hines is considered a legend in Staten Island: He made a name for himself as the only local DJ to perform with Grandmaster Flash and the Funky Four Plus One at the Ritz Roller Rink. He also played with The Cold Crush Brothers at St. George Theater — and was the first Staten Island-based DJ to play Harlem World alongside DJ AJ and Jeckle and Hyde.
As the New Jersey house scene began to get attention globally, he added house music to his sets. Around this time, he began transitioning to production under the moniker Poppastep.
As Poppastep, Hines has made a name for himself in the underground for a sound that meshes elements of funk, soul and hip-hop that he has dubbed “Shaolin Hip-Hop Funk.” His Poppastep debut single “In This Together,” led to being named Artist of the Week in Belgium.
His latest single “Jumping For Joy” is a much-needed bit of ebullient, two-step-inducing, infectious joy that sees the Staten Islander crafting a slick, hook-driven production that meshes elements of classic, Larry Levan house with Soul II Soul-meets-Sounds of Blackness-like gospel. Listening to the track brought back memories of WBLS’s live broadcasts from The Shadow and other clubs across town.