In live musical performances, what is the point of the hypeman?

[scientific method]

I get it when it's an up and coming artist (like when Ja Rule used to hypeman for DMX, Eminem/Nelly trying to push their also ran %+$ groups) or I've seen instances where the hype man or person performs during breaks in the action while the main performer rests or goes to the back to change clothes (actually talking rnb here but whatever).

But why is the hypeman(s) always 10 times more energetic and loud than the actual headline performer you are paying money to see?

Either he(they) need to calm the %!!+ down and shut up, or given that people paid to see them the main performer should bring more energy. Nobody is payi

And what's with the bringing a huge gang of kats on stage (especially NY rappers) and all of them aren't even hypeman and don't have mics. Dudes aren't dancing or adding anything, they all just stand there, mean mug and head bop at the most.

Also, why do most rappers lip synch, have the track with their voice playing in the background and rap a long? You're not having to hit notes or anything, you're just talking/yelling in a somewhat rhythmic manner. Is it really that hard to hit your marks on the beat?

I would post videos, but of course there is going to be so much profanity that it would violate a R.O.C rule so just think of any rapper's performance minus maybe Kanye.

Thank you all for reading and I look forward to your response

backup singers in the foreground

 

[boi]

make the song sound better... someone to fill in their adlibs.. rappers run out of breath..

 

[alkatrez]

Rapping takes a lot of breath control. There are moments in songs where that require a lot of energy and breath to say and sometimes they might miss that word or words to follow. The hypeman basically fills in those moments to cover up the missed words.

As far as the crowd being on stage, that's just the culture of it. It's more of a symbolism of bringing your friends along the way. It may also make some performers feel more comfortable knowing they have the support from their people. Honestly, I have no concrete answer for this question....lol.

 

[getthismoney]

OP is so right. Why can't they just rap normally? Kanye does it and it works fine.

 

[18th letter]

I'll use Jay-Z as an example, He's old and runs out of breath quickly. Memphis bleek can cover those missed spots, as well as emphasizing a punch line or a popular line in the song.

On the other hand, those lame club type performers with their whole crew on stage, Game and ASAP Rocky for example are just lame, simple. They don't have the stage presence that is Jay-Z or Eminem or Kanye West or even Lil Wayne so they feel more comfortable with a gang of dudes behind them.

If you were watching the 50 Cent SXSW performance over the weekend you would have seen Yayo filling in some spots, pause, and even emphasizing some lines & trying to get the crowd more involved as well. Hence the name "hypeman". Compared to when Eminem showed up on stage you could tell right away he needed nobody else on stage because his presence is one of the best in hip hop. 

 

[paulbaekr]

Originally Posted by alkaTREz

Rapping takes a lot of breath control. There are moments in songs where that require a lot of energy and breath to say and sometimes they might miss that word or words to follow. The hypeman basically fills in those moments to cover up the missed words.

As far as the crowd being on stage, that's just the culture of it. It's more of a symbolism of bringing your friends along the way. It may also make some performers feel more comfortable knowing they have the support from their people. Honestly, I have no concrete answer for this question....lol.

well said sir.

 

[mrbrown]

Rap does not sound as smooth and full in person

Hype man fills in the blanks.... real life performances can't be compared to record album. It seems theres more gaps in reality at least it seems

 

[a55a5in11]

lol ever wale concert i've been to he always has like 20 dudes on stage jumping around getting hyphy. love it

 

[airjordan jb23]

I don't mind a hypeman at a show as long as they aren't OD... Memphis Bleek to Jay is a perfect example of a good hypeman. Some seem to be screaming & rapping more than the artist themselves & come off as a distraction... When a hypeman does there job & doesn't go over the top then they are good at shows.

 

[moonmaster3]

Because 99% of rap/hip hop is TERRIBLE live. That's why they need the song playing in the background (who pays for a live concert just to have the CD played back to them?).

Can anyone honestly say I'm wrong though? For the most part rap/hip hop songs are so filtered and go through so much editing that it becomes artificial. This results in an extremely poor live product.

 

[|A-Man|]

The job description is in the job title. He's suppose to get you hype man.

As for why the main performer isn't as hype it's cuz he's suppose to be performing the song for your entertainment not running around and jumping up and down the stage yelling and ad libbing.

 

[brianilla]

bleek is probably the second best hypeman of all, diddy would probably be the first.. 

seeing kelly rowland live though, she does not need any backup even if dancing is included in her performance...
as well as for all the women like beyonce who does not get tired at all...

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Whenever I see or think about hypemen, I thnkn about the Steve Harvey bit on Kings of Comedy. I was going to post the YouTube vid but it had too much cursing & I didn't want to get in trouble with the NT admins...

I remember seeing Wu-Tang for the first time about a year after 36 Chambers dropped & you couldn't hear anyone because everyone was shouting in thier mics at the same time. The only groups I've ever seen pull it off were Run DMC, A Tribe Called Quest, & De La Soul. The only rapper I've seen perform solo (without a hypeman) that pulled it off was Nas years ago.

 

[leclutchjames]

After performing by myself multiple times, I'd probably say for breath control

Also can help get the crowd into it. And rappers need to chill with tracks having the main vocal
Adkins are fine, but the whole verse?

 

[Sir San Diego]

Weak MCs cling to hype men.

MCs with no nuts or stage presence need the whole crew up there to make them seem like some kind of leader.

I've been to a grip of shows and have only seen a few hold it down with no hype men. Names that come to mind are Common, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, OutKast, but this dude right here defines stage presence and breath control.

Not only does he sound better live than he does on record, he never EVER runs out of breath. Saw him rock for two hours two...

He should teach MC classes.

EDIT:

Rapping over your CD (with vocals) and rocking with an instant replay DJ is lame as @%!@ btw.

 

[Original Playa Records]

Justin Lamar became my hypeman at SXSW. They HELP.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Originally Posted by Brolic Scholar

Weak MCs cling to hype men.

MCs with no nuts or stage presence need the whole crew up there to make them seem like some kind of leader.

I've been to a grip of shows and have only seen a few hold it down with no hype men. Names that come to mind are Common, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, OutKast, but this dude right here defines stage presence and breath control.

Not only does he sound better live than he does on record, he never EVER runs out of breath. Saw him rock for two hours two...

He should teach MC classes.

EDIT:

Rapping over your CD (with vocals) and rocking with an instant replay DJ is lame as @%!@ btw.

Damn, I'm not sure how I forgot about Black Thought....Definately agree. I've seen him with the Roots about 7 times over the years & maybe 2-3 times solo & his performances were fire.

  

 

[thegoat121886]

Originally Posted by psk2310

Originally Posted by Brolic Scholar

Weak MCs cling to hype men.

MCs with no nuts or stage presence need the whole crew up there to make them seem like some kind of leader.

I've been to a grip of shows and have only seen a few hold it down with no hype men. Names that come to mind are Common, De La Soul, Ghostface Killah, OutKast, but this dude right here defines stage presence and breath control.

Not only does he sound better live than he does on record, he never EVER runs out of breath. Saw him rock for two hours two...

He should teach MC classes.

EDIT:

Rapping over your CD (with vocals) and rocking with an instant replay DJ is lame as @%!@ btw.

Damn, I'm not sure how I forgot about Black Thought....Definately agree. I've seen him with the Roots about 7 times over the years & maybe 2-3 times solo & his performances were fire.

  

the roots are the best live rap act period. Like you guys have said, hip hop by nature just doesnt transfer well to the live show.

 

[send one]

Originally Posted by Brolic Scholar

Weak MCs cling to hype men.

Chuck D disagrees.

 

[Sir San Diego]

Originally Posted by SEND ONE

Originally Posted by Brolic Scholar

Weak MCs cling to hype men.

Chuck D disagrees.

I'll give you that. But Flav ain't your typical hype man. Better yet, Flav is a hype man and these other dudes are weak clones.

Like that $+!!$ with the St. Lunatics... toy as %%!%. Plenty of others to mention, but my dude with the mask stands out tough.

Flav brought a whole new dimension when he was doing his thing, not just adlibbing. He had the yeeeeah boy and the "orginal recipe" dance. What you know bout that original recipe?

911 is a joke!

One more thing. Flav is an actual artist and musician, not a weed carrier. I'll never forget my dude at the Grammys wilding out with the red hand glasses. Had me like

 

[dalek]

its already been mentioned here but i bet insecurity has to do with a lot of it. cats afraid to go on stage themselves and put in 100 % and give a good performance.

Rap has more things wrong with it than any other genre of music. Anyone could write a book about everything wrong with it.

 

[flatbushfiyah23]

I think hype men are totally unecessary and I do agree that insecurity for most rappers are a factor. I don't mind when Bleek comes out with Jay and helps for a few tracks. But IMO most of the great rappers who are also great performers that I have seen don't need a hype man like BlackThought. Thought is just an amazing performer and to IMO rap performances come across so much better when there is not a hype man present.

 

[illfrozn]

Insecurity and laziness. If you saw an R&B singer live and they had someone filling in the notes for them, you'd be like @%*?!

 

[Rootin4EverybodyBlack]

Cole is probably the only young dude I can think of who doesn't have a hypeman. Son literally be on his last breath though during performances though.