Acquiring the asset of longevity takes persistence, dedication, and the ability to adapt to the various changes of your environment; of course, it is proportionate from industry to industry. In the entertainment industry longevity can be said to be had after 5 years give or take. Over a year, dozens of entertainers come and go not to be heard from again. So for one to reach 5 years on the strong foot is a feat in itself. How about 10 or 20? For DJ Poppy Pops it has been going on 30 years in the business; that’s how you define longevity. He has been a professional DJ throughout and 16 years on the radio. Coming out of Estate Whim in Cruz, with ties to Vieques and Culebra, Puerto Rico, Pops has the essence of two major Caribbean forces; a ‘Cruz Yout’ mixed with that ‘Boriqua’ blood.
“I have strong ties to my Hispanic side; I can speak, read, and write in Spanish. I also worked for a while on a station in Puerto Rico. But family ties are not the only reason you would hear me speak Spanish on my show on Isle 95 FM. Unity is a crucial part to the development of any community. We have a large population of people of Hispanic heritage, so I want to be able to reach those the listeners on familiar terms. The same goes for all the ethnicities that make up our islands, they can listen to my show and feel that they are a part of it, the motto is ‘To Live Up and See My People Party,’ my people being everyone. Having been in the game for such a time, DJ Poppy Pops has seen the Virgin Islands music industry evolve in ways good and bad. As a major radio personality he has the ear of the people and knows what they like, then transmitting that information into his Club DJ craft; making him one of the most sought after DJ’s from the VI. With bookings up and down the Caribbean and to the mainland pops stays on what is hot, the trends, and where he sees the VI industry going. |
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“One of the major problems in the night life scene in the Virgin Islands is the lack of a dedicated venue. Like some of the clubs in ATL or like Amazura in Queens, NY; where there is a steady stream of events and what’s even more important a broad variety of entertainers/entertainment not dedicated to one genre or another. This takes an owner who knows the market and has the foresight to market it on the proper levels. The reality is; promoters have to pay for entertainment and rental of venue and equipment, that steady stream is harder to come by on that route. At this point in my career, I have reached my peak. It is now time for me to start laying a foundation for others, which is why I started ‘The Camp.’ DJ Porter; a brethren of mine and a foundation DJ here in the VI, started this group called the camp with up and coming talented DJ’s to further this unification process that I was talking about earlier.
The issue is; the talent in the VI is evident, we have class entertainers, but most have no idea about the business side of the industry. That is one main thing that we are teaching these DJ’s, along with the finer techniques of how to play parties and keeping the massive entertained and interactive. The members are DJ Chubby, DJ Hecky, Sammie, After Dark, the Latin Sensation, Rashidi, Dave Martinez. I want to add that it is not a fraternity; it is a group helping to forward the VI Entertainment scene in a positive way setting a foundation and creating standards to help all on a broader scale.”
Any final words DJ Pops? “Yes, I want to give my commendations out to some of the DJ’s in the game right now like DJ Benny D, who used to open up for me back in the Insomnia days, he works hard and was in the right place at the right time and I am proud of him, Avalanche; who has been putting in the work since he came in the game, and of course Red Lion. Finally, you are your only motivator; right now in the VI there is a lack of inspiration for the youth coming up. They have to learn to see themselves for the kings and queens they are and love themselves foremost. Until one can love oneself, they cannot know love for anyone else".
Love is the key and the only answer for anything, and we choose to show it through music.
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