Hype man

Early hype men included MC Cowboy and Kidd Creole of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.{{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}}Hess, Mickey, 2007, Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 176. Kool Moe Dee calls Creole "the original hype man".{{cite web|url=http://www.thafoundation.com/moedee.htm |title=Kool Moe Dee |publisher=Thafoundation.com |access-date=2010-08-12}}

File:House of Pain-IMG 6536.jpg'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.

The hype man's interjections are also planned to give the MC an opportunity to breathe, and give the illusion of an unbroken flow.Barrett, Grant, 2006, The Official Dictionary of Unofficial English, McGraw-Hill Professional, p. 182.Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 176.Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 304."Kool Moe Dee". Thafoundation.com. Retrieved 2010-08-12."Record Executives Thought Jay-Z Was No Good » MTV Newsroom". Newsroom.mtv.com. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2010-08-12. 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 MC".

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."Edwards, Paul, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, Chicago Review Press, p. 304. 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."

Prior to becoming a lead rapper himself, Jay-Z began his career as a hype man for Jaz-O{{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}}Vibe magazine, Jan 2004, Vol. 12, No. 1, published by Vibe Media Group, p. 75. and was later the hype man for Big Daddy Kane.{{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}}

Icons of Hip Hop also notes that some producers, such as Diddy, Lil Jon, Swizz Beatz, and Jermaine Dupri, "have transitioned from a hype man role to become rappers and stars in their own right".

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,{{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}} Bez of The Happy Mondays,{{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}} Beau Beau Butler of Avail, and Guy Picciotto in Fugazi's earliest incarnation.{{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}}

• Danny Boy O'Connor for House of Pain{{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}}
• Diddy for the Notorious B.I.G.
• Fatman Scoop (for various artists){{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}}
• Flavor Flav for Public Enemy
• Freaky Tah of the Lost Boyz
• Joe C. for Kid Rock{{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}}
• Tony Yayo for 50 Cent and G-Unit
• Kendrick Lamar for Jay Rock{{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}}
• Memphis Bleek for Jay-Z
• Proof and Mr. Porter of D12 for Eminem
• Schoolboy Q for Kendrick Lamar{{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}}
• Spliff Star for Busta Rhymes{{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 }}
• John Goblikon (portrayed by Dave Rispoli) for Nekrogoblikon{{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 }}
• Skerrit Bwoy for Major Lazer{{cite web | url=https://top40-charts.com/artist.php?aid=16684 | title=Major Lazer Biography, Discography, Chart History }}
• Shai Tsabari for Berry Sakharof{{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}}

• Master of ceremonies#In music and cultural events

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Category:Hip-hop

Category:Hip-hop terminology

Category:Occupations in music