DJ Yamin -- 1970s: For Ben Epstein, it began with hip-hop. But within the music of a Tribe Called Quest and Pharcyde, he heard snippets of old funk and soul records, sampled by the hip-hop bands. And soon these snippets were captivating Epstein as much as the hip-hop itself. Ten years later, Epstein, who spins under the name DJ Yamin, spends two to three days a week combing yard sales and thrift stores for these dusty, funky treasures. "But it's not just the sample that get's me excited about the music," he says. "It's a genuine appreciation for heart and soul that went into making that particular record. It captures the feeling of the time and space it was made in." These sexy soul tunes are all about grooving, but Epstein confesses that he also has ulterior motives with his music. "First I try to hit them in their body and shake their booties," he says. "And then I try to lift their minds with a positive message that can have a lasting effect on them."

Spinning Fridays at 10:30 p.m. at "Thank Funk it's Friday" at Matt Murphy's Pub, 14 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-232-0188. Sundays at 10:30 p.m. at "The People's Party" at the Green Street Grill, 280 Green St., Cambridge, 617-876-1655. Mondays 1-3 p.m. on WZBC-FM's "Beats Not Bombs" radio show.

(Andrea Fischman / Globe Photo)