Monday 2 February 2015

Everybody needs a Hype Man

The wiki-definition of a Hype Man is:
A hype man in hip hop music and rapping is a backup rapper and/or singer who supports the primary rappers with exclamations and interjections, and who attempts to increase the audience's excitement with call-and-response chants.
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". It's a really positive aspect to the music when you see this live. As the audience, you are required to participate, and the hype man forces you to be 'up' & engaged.

We are all the central figure in our own lives, but play a supporting role in the lives of many, many others. As such, we need to think about what we bring to the table in each relationship. Are we building the other person's confidence? Do we sing their praises to others? Do we point out their great qualities when they're focusing on their failures? Do we celebrate their successes without stealing their limelight? Are we urging people to be up & engaged in their lives, and the lives of others?

There is a quote from the book Eat, Pray, Love doing the rounds on Facebook which sums up the role of Hype man perfectly: “[Saint Anthony] said, in his solitude, he sometimes encountered devils who looked like angels, and other times he found angels who looked like devils. When asked how he could tell the difference, the saint said that you can only tell which is which by the way you feel after the creature has left your company.” It's not the kind of friend you appear to be, but do you leave the person in a better place when you spend time together?

I'm not saying you can't be down, nor even have days where your own problems overwhelm the interaction, but do you see the best in your friends? Do you let them know you appreciate them? Do you make them want to be the best they can be?

There was a post recently (and please link in the comments - I didn't note it down, thinking my memory was going to be up to the task) asking 'Who's on your cheer squad?'. While it's important to surround yourself with supportive people, it's equally important to lead the cheer squad for others.

Don't wait for disaster to rally around a friend. Lift them whenever possible. You never know when they're needing it most.

Now everybody put your hands up....
loopyloulaura

Linking up with #MischiefandMemories 

19 comments:

  1. Great analogy! I try to be the hype man as much as possible and I tend to distance myself from people who can only feel good by putting others down

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  2. Haha! I love this. I am definitely a hype man for my husband and my sister etc. All of the people I hold close and I'm lucky enough to have a few hype men myself. I just love this way of thinking. Everyone needs a hype man!

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  3. Yep. Everybody needs a cheerleader in their life. Or a hype man.
    Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit

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  4. I love this! I'm totally a hype man. It makes me feel great to cheer on other people. I love being able to put a positive spin on things for people - or just take their side and agree with the bitching and moaning when that's what they need (you know sometimes you just need someone to agree with you that someone else is being a pig?). This is a good reminder to be a hype man even when you don't think people need it. It's nice to get some unexpected encouragement.

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  5. I haven't thought of this before. I know there are some people who drag me down, and I often don't notice it until afterwards. I hadn't wondered if I was one of those people. I really, really hope not. I want to be a hype man! Or woman as the case may be.

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  6. Love this - I am always the hype man for my family, I try to be for my friends but might try to make more of an effort with friends and those I don't really know too.

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  7. Gosh didn't even know what a hype man was. But I do love the EG reference and the idea to lift up your friends and the idea of feeling good after someone has left your company...so many good ideas here xx

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  8. I try to be a hype man for my friends, some weeks it works out better than others. I am lucky that I have gotten to a point in my life where everyone I spend time with is a Hype Man for me in some way or other. I don't have time for being with people who bring me down, and I hope others can say the same for me. Great post lovely!
    #teamIBOT

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  9. Totally agree that everyone needs a hype man in their life! I think it's one of the most important thing we can do as a parent too, so that our kids will know that we always have their back, even when they are being less than angels. ABC3 at the moment has a show called My Big Adventure which is covering a lot of the stuff that teenagers come up against and this week is was frenemies. It's a great show that involves a lot of kids.

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  10. I'm definitely a hype man for the people in my life and I try to be as much as possible for anyone who needs one. I'm lucky that I have a few in my life rooting for me too.

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  11. Love it. I'd like to think I'm a hype man, but will make more of an effort. Right on! Yeah! Sing it louder! You got it!

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  12. I needed a hype army this week lol. Yep totally agree and hype men attract hype men so what you give out you so get back xx

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  13. This. Is. Brilliant! I always call myself a "cheerleader" but maybe "hype girl" should replace that...

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  14. How true. We definitely all need a cheer squad but so important to cheer for others too! #MischiefAndMemories

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  15. I would definitely say I'm a hype man, in different scenarios of life xx #MischiefAndMemories

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  16. This is perfectly timed for me as I've recently cut ties with a friend of almost 30 years because I was sick of being her 'hype man' and getting nothing back in return, in fact I got the opposite. Evaluating how you feel in a person's company is so important. I always felt belittled and mocked in her company and it's so freeing to be away from that toxicity now.

    Katrina x
    #MischiefandMemories

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  17. Thanks so much for joining in with us on #MischiefandMemories
    Its a great post

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  18. In these tricky times, it is more important than ever to encourage confidence in others and make sure they appreciate themselves. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories

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