Hype Man

Quick Description

A high-energy, confidence-boosting trio game where players take turns being a rockstar, an interviewer, and an over-the-top hype man who makes everything sound epic.

How to Play

1. Form Groups of Three:
   Have players get into groups of three. Each person will rotate through three roles: the Spokesperson, the Front Person, and the Hype Man.
2. Assign Roles:
   In each group, decide who will start as:
   • Spokesperson: The energetic interviewer.
   • Front Person: The rockstar being interviewed.
   • Hype Man: The excitable voice who amplifies everything the Front Person says.
3. Set the Scene:
   Begin with an introduction to set the tone. Tell the group:
4. “Back in the day, the legendary rap group Public Enemy had a lead MC, Chuck D, and the ultimate hype man, Flavor Flav. Whatever Chuck D said, Flavor Flav turned it up to 11. That’s what we’re doing today—but YOU are the star.”
5. Start the Interview (30 seconds per round):
   • The Spokesperson asks the Front Person the same rapid-fire question repeatedly:
     “What do you like about yourself?”
   • The Front Person, playing it ultra cool like a celebrity at Coachella, gives a short, confident answer each time (e.g., “I love my new shoes,” “I’m excited about my classes,” etc.).
   • The Hype Man takes each of those answers and blows them up with over-the-top praise, energy, and enthusiasm. For example:
6. Front Person: “I got a new haircut.”
7. Hype Man: “YO! This haircut is next-level! Movie-star status! Paparazzi already following!”
8. Rotate Roles:
   After 30 seconds, blow a whistle or call “switch!” and have players rotate roles.
9. Repeat Twice More:
   Keep the energy building across all three rounds. Encourage each Hype Man to go bigger than the last.
10. Final Round Challenge:
    After everyone’s had a turn in each role, give one final mission to the Hype Men:
11. “Now, don’t just hype your person—spread the word. Brag about them to the other groups! Let the whole room know how awesome they are!”
12. Music Option:
    You can crank up an energetic track (e.g., pump-up hip hop, dance, or sports anthem) to turn the vibe up even more.

Notes

• Best played after a few warm-up or icebreaker games.
• Works beautifully for large groups of mixed backgrounds—athletes, scholars, introverts, extroverts.
• Emphasize energy, not perfection. The goal is joyful exaggeration and group connection.
• Facilitators should model a quick round first to demonstrate how hyped the Hype Man should be.
• Works standing up or sitting down, but standing encourages more movement and expression.

Variations

• Freestyle Hype: Instead of rotating, assign one Hype Man to hype everyone in the group as each person answers.
• Silent Front Person: Have the Front Person mime their answer, and the Hype Man must interpret and hype it up.
• Group Hype Battle: Have each trio nominate their top Hype Man and do a hype-off for the whole room.
• Themed Rounds: Restrict responses to school, sports, fashion, future dreams, or any category relevant to your group.

Origin

Hype Man was created by veteran Playfair facilitator Sean Moran who needed a game that could connect athletes and academics during college orientation events. Inspired by the dynamic between Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, this game was born to build confidence, laughter, and community across diverse student groups.

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