View source for Hype man

{{short description|Backup rapper and/or singer}}
[[File:Public Enemy-01-mika (cropped).jpg|thumb|Hype man [[Flavor Flav]] (left) exciting the crowd while lead rapper [[Chuck D]] performs]]
A '''hype man''', typically in [[hip hop music]], is a [[backing vocalist]] who supports the primary performer with exclamations, interjections, or [[ad-lib]]s in an attempt to increase an audience's excitement or engagement.
==Origins==
Early hype men included [[Keef Cowboy|MC Cowboy]] and [[Kidd Creole]] of [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]].<ref name="Hilltop">{{cite web |title=The Hilltop - The Role of The 'Hype Man' In Hip-Hop |url=http://www.thehilltoponline.com/life-style/the-role-of-the-hype-man-in-hip-hop-1.464291 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717003938/http://www.thehilltoponline.com/life-style/the-role-of-the-hype-man-in-hip-hop-1.464291 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |access-date=2010-08-12 |publisher=Thehilltoponline.com}}</ref><ref name="IconsofHipHop">Hess, Mickey, 2007, ''Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture'', Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 176.</ref> [[Kool Moe Dee]] calls Creole "the original hype man".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thafoundation.com/moedee.htm |title=Kool Moe Dee |publisher=Thafoundation.com |access-date=2010-08-12}}</ref>
== Techniques ==
[[File:House of Pain-IMG 6536.jpg|thumb|[[House of Pain]]'s hype man [[Danny Boy O'Connor]] doing the [[call-and-response]] technique]]
Often the hype man will use [[call-and-response]] chants in order to excite the crowd. For example, they will exhort the crowd to "Throw your hands in the air" and "Everybody say ho!", phrases coined by MC Cowboy.<ref name="Hilltop" />
The hype man's interjections are also planned to give the [[MC]] an opportunity to breathe, and give the illusion of an unbroken flow.<ref>Barrett, Grant, 2006, ''The Official Dictionary of Unofficial English'', McGraw-Hill Professional, p. 182.</ref><ref>Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 176.</ref><ref>Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 304.</ref><ref>"Kool Moe Dee". Thafoundation.com. Retrieved 2010-08-12.</ref><ref>"Record Executives Thought Jay-Z Was No Good » MTV Newsroom". Newsroom.mtv.com. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-12.</ref> Music writer Mickey Hess expands the term as follows: "a hype man is a figure who plays a central but supporting role within a group, making his own interventions, generally aimed at hyping up the crowd while also drawing attention to the words of the [[Master_of_ceremonies#Hip_hop|MC]]".<ref name="IconsofHipHop" />
Rapper [[Royce da 5'9"]] describes how a hype man can contribute to a live performance: "a lot of my verses [can] be so constant with the flow [that] I'd need somebody to help me."<ref name="autogenerated304">Edwards, Paul, 2009, ''[[How to Rap]]: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC'', Chicago Review Press, p. 304.</ref> [[Lateef the Truthspeaker]] has stated, "You're gonna have to have somebody say something somewhere to give you a breath... usually it's just a matter of getting somebody to hit some line or some word in a line—that's all you really need."<ref name="autogenerated304" />
== Hype men who became lead rappers and producers ==
Prior to becoming a lead rapper himself, [[Jay-Z]] began his career as a hype man for [[Jaz-O]]<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-08-26 |title=Record Executives Thought Jay-Z Was No Good » MTV Newsroom |url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/08/26/jay-z-record-executives/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090829065415/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/08/26/jay-z-record-executives/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 29, 2009 |access-date=2010-08-12 |publisher=Newsroom.mtv.com}}</ref><ref>Vibe magazine, Jan 2004, Vol. 12, No. 1, published by Vibe Media Group, p. 75.</ref> and was later the hype man for [[Big Daddy Kane]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Jonathan Cunningham |date=2007-03-15 |title=Kane's Domain - Page 1 - Music - Broward/Palm Beach - Broward-Palm Beach New Times |url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007-03-15/music/kane-s-domain |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219172225/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2007-03-15/music/kane-s-domain/ |archive-date=2014-02-19 |access-date=2010-08-12 |publisher=Broward/Palm Beach}}</ref>
''Icons of Hip Hop'' also notes that some producers, such as [[Sean Combs|Diddy]], [[Lil Jon]], [[Swizz Beatz]], and [[Jermaine Dupri]], "have transitioned from a hype man role to become [[rapper]]s and stars in their own right".<ref name="IconsofHipHop" />
== Hype man in rock and pop music ==
Occasionally pop or rock groups include a member up front alongside the lead singer who may perform backup vocals or percussion but largely functions to excite the audience through dancing and/or stage patter. Examples include [[Bob Nastanovich]] for [[Pavement (band)|Pavement]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Alex Pappademas |date=2012-06-20 |title='It Hasn't Been a Disaster: Indie-rock legend Bob Nastanovich on Pavement, the Silver Jews, and horse racing. But not in that order. |url=http://grantland.com/features/indie-rock-legend-bob-nastanovich-pavement-silver-jews-horse-racing/ |access-date=2017-01-22}}</ref> [[Bez_(dancer)|Bez]] of [[The Happy Mondays]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |date=2012-02-09 |title=Music's 10 Greatest Hype Men |url=https://www.flavorwire.com/258506/musics-10-greatest-hype-men |access-date=2021-05-18}}</ref> Beau Beau Butler of [[Avail]], and [[Guy Picciotto]] in [[Fugazi]]'s earliest incarnation.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nathan Leigh |date=2011-05-18 |title=Public Enemy: The Forgotten Innovators of Post-Hardcore |url=http://afropunk.com/2011/05/public-enemy-the-forgotten-innovators-of-post-hardcore/ |access-date=2017-01-09}}</ref>
==List of notable hype men==
*[[Danny Boy O'Connor]] for [[House of Pain]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-03 |title=In sobriety, House of Pain's Danny Boy O'Connor finds his calling |url=https://www.thetiesthatbindus.org/an-outsider-no-more-house-of-pains-danny-boy-oconnor-finds-his-calling/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=The Ties That Bind Us |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Sean Combs|Diddy]] for [[the Notorious B.I.G.]]
*[[Fatman Scoop]] (for various artists)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fatman Scoop, Beloved Rapper and Hype Man, Dies at 53: 'His Legacy Will Live On' |url=https://people.com/fatman-scoop-dead-rapper-hype-man-was-53-8704884 |access-date=2024-09-01 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Flavor Flav]] for [[Public Enemy]]
*[[Freaky Tah]] of [[the Lost Boyz]]<ref name="IconsofHipHop" />
*[[Joe C.]] for [[Kid Rock]]<ref name="CNN obit">{{cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/20/wb.news/ |title=Kid Rock cohort Joe C. dies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229021935/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/20/wb.news/ |archive-date=2008-02-29 |date=2000-11-20 |work=[[CNN]] |access-date=2024-02-03}}</ref>
*[[Tony Yayo]] for [[50 Cent]] and [[G-Unit]]
*[[Kendrick Lamar]] for [[Jay Rock]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harling |first=Danielle |date=2014-02-10 |title=Tech N9ne Says Kendrick Lamar Met Dr. Dre On His Tour |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.27452/title.tech-n9ne-says-kendrick-lamar-met-dr-dre-on-his-tour |access-date=2023-08-05 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Memphis Bleek]] for [[Jay-Z]]<ref name="IconsofHipHop" />
*[[Proof (rapper)|Proof]] and [[Mr. Porter]] of [[D12]] for [[Eminem]]<ref name="IconsofHipHop" />
*[[Schoolboy Q]] for [[Kendrick Lamar]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elibert |first=Mark |date=2023-09-02 |title=ScHoolboy Q Explains Kendrick Lamar's Impact on Him: 'Dot Made Me a Rapper' |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/markelibert/schoolboy-q-kendrick-lamar-impact |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=Complex |language=en-us}}</ref>
*[[Spliff Star]] for [[Busta Rhymes]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ca.complex.com/music/2014/08/greatest-rap-sidekicks/spliff-star |title=The 10 Greatest Sidekicks in Rap History |website=Complex Magazine |date=5 August 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*John Goblikon (portrayed by Dave Rispoli) for [[Nekrogoblikon]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://live-metal.com/2018/04/09/interview-with-a-goblin-nekrogoblikons-nicky-calonne/ | title=INTERVIEW WITH a GOBLIN: Nicky Calonne of NEKROGOBLIKON | date=9 April 2018 }}</ref>
*Skerrit Bwoy for [[Major Lazer]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=16684 | title=Major Lazer Biography, Discography, Chart History }}</ref>
*[[:he:שי_צברי|Shai Tsabari]] for [[Berry Sakharof]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kra-Oz |first=Tal |date=August 22, 2016 |title=Shai Tsabari Storms the Heavens, From Bat Yam to New York |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/shai-tsabari-storms-the-heavens |access-date=June 17, 2024 |website=Tablet Magazine}}</ref>
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== See also ==
* [[Master of ceremonies#In music and cultural events]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hype Man}}
[[Category:Hip hop]]
[[Category:Hip hop terminology]]
[[Category:Occupations in music]]