In the world of music concerts and entertainment – high energy is everything. An artist’s performance is only good if the crowd matches the energy – responding vibrantly and going wild. Successful performers can get the people moving, but it really takes a hypeman to keep them rocking. Whether it be through mic support or being the right-hand man.
Hypemen find a way to get the crowd excited while funneling attention towards the performer. It’s a springboard industry that has ushered countless greats into the limelight. Tony Yayo was famously a hypeman for G-Unit, always there to support Curtis on his rise to the top. And back in the day, if you saw hypeman “Special Ed” you knew the MoHits’ crew was just around the corner, ready to shut it down.
In today’s special, 49thStreet caught up with one of Nigeria’s finest; award-winning hypeman – Rooboy. Let’s dive in:
Hi there RooBoy? So let’s get to know you… How did you get into the hypeman business? Was it something you always planned? Or serendipity brought you into it?
Roo-Boy: Well since a tender age I’ve loved hyping people. I loved cheering people up at school or at home. Basically, I’ve got this positive energy inside me that sort of draws people and makes them always want to roll with me because anytime I’m around I make them happy and hyped! So from my university days, my friends had already started calling me a hype man, and from then on, there was no going back. THE HYPE MAN, ROOOOOOOBOY was born.
49th Street What inspired your stage name? If I was gonna guess, I’d say Ruud Van NistelrooY?
Roo-Boy: You’re pretty close though, But I got my Stage name while I was in secondary school. I played active football while in secondary school. And my friends and PHE teacher then told me I play exactly like Wayne Rooney and Wayne Rooney was and IS STILL my favorite Player TILL DATE! So I decided to Remove The “Ney” and added “Boy” and that was how I birthed the name “ROOBOY” and that was the Year 2011.
What acts would you say have influenced you and your art?
Roo-Boy: Music and hype are still under the entertainment umbrella. I’ve got mad love for Davido because I think he is somebody I want to emulate in the industry. He likes helping people, and his team is also growing with him, and in the hype industry, I really look up to people like Do2tun, Special, Spesh, Jimmi, etc… In short, I love all of them, but O.B.O Baddest is my favorite person in the industry.
So hypothetically, it’s SHOWTIME, what’s a typical day on the job for you like?
Roo-Boy: If I’ve got a show, I try to get there 2 hours before the show, to set myself up and study the stage, crowd, and general ambiance. However, if I’ve got no event that day, you’d catch me at home watching football or playing FIFA, bonding with my guys, and keeping myself up-to-date with industry trends. It’s a pretty fast-paced business with plenty new activities. As a Hyperman, even when I’m not on-stage hyping, at home we keep working on ourselves too. You must keep up with new trends, slang, and new artists on the scene, as well as memorize new hit songs.
I can imagine your job being super demanding… with long nights and non-stop partying… How do you know when to detach and relax? How do you relax?
Roo-Boy: You’re totally spot on! To be sincere, this hype job is not easy because the energy we use to energize the crowd is electrical. So there’s a constant need to be recharged. Sometimes you don’t sleep for days because you might be on the road from one event to another. For me to relax, I usually go to the beach with my favorite drinks and my JBL speaker and enjoy nature. It always inspires me and charges me up to go again.
You exude so much warmth and positivity – what makes you happy and what keeps you feeling upbeat and optimistic?
Roo-Boy: I saw one adage when I was young, that has since stuck on me, and made me see the world differently. It says: “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” Naturally, I was a positive person, and reading this made me want to make people happy all the more.
What have been some personal highlights from your career? What are some big gigs you’ve done in the past and more recently?
Roo-Boy: I have got super super super amazing Highlights from 2016 to date and Trust me, I have a lot of Videos of those amazing Highlights. From Hosting Summer Fiesta, The RooBoy Experience, NO BAD VIBES WITH ZAZA, ICON FEST, MTV Base Cypher, University Tours, SUNDAY AT ILASHE, MAKE E NO CAUSE FIGHT II, VIBES THE FEST, CIROC X KIDDWAYA, JOHNNIE WALKER and Many More!
I also featured in some TV series, AMC THE HANGOUT (AIRING ON STARTIMES) “HUSTLE” AM URBAN & FIRST TIME MOM (Produced by Taymi B).
I’d also love to specially mention my foundation… The RooBoy Foundation. It has become a platform for me to express my [earlier mentioned] adopted mantra: “Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.” Being creative can be risky, you know. There’s this invisible cloud of uncertainty that hangs over your head. But I braved the risks and I’m thankful things are working out for me.
I’ll give you some context.
I grew up in the city of Ibadan, Oyo state, where everything is DEAD. It’s not such a bubbling place entertainment-wise. And imagine a boy like me. I was brought up without my mother. I haven’t seen her in 21 years, although we talk on the phone. My dad was always super busy because we worked as a transporter.
At some point my mom had to travel out of Nigeria to make a living, so we could make ends meet. And things became really tough you know. So, I had to be a man and train myself, by myself. I moved from Ibadan to Ojuelegba, Surulere to be precise. My life’s travails and success story inspired me to set up the RooBoy foundation. I went through a lot growing up, so I’ll always give back to my society and community in whatever way I can. I envision the RooBoy foundation as a platform to help disadvantaged young people in the same boat I was growing. It’s my platform for giving back.
So many amazing things have happened to you over the course of your career – how are you able to process and wrap your head around everything going on in your life?
Roo-Boy: A lot of things are happening, and I’m grateful, but I’m still thriving for better gigs, endorsements, and deals. It’s not easy because, with this little fame, some people think you’re proud and already have this stigma towards you, so I try to reconnect with them and let them know I’m still the same person. I try to live my life like a normal Nigerian. I don’t let fame or popularity get to me.
I’ve noticed a number of hype-men successfully implement the strategy of featuring on viral audios to drive their brands e.g. Toby Shang [Shedibalabala] and Emmyblaq [Small yansh dey shake]. Have you considered exploring such strategies (and any others) to increase your reach?
Roo-Boy: I’ve got a lot of things coming up soon. I’ll be collaborating with a lot of popular names in the industry.
Any artists, in particular, you’d want to collaborate with?
Roo-Boy: I’d love to collaborate with Davido and other brilliant artists like Asake, Fireboy, Rema, etc. because I love their sound, and I’m sure with my energy and their musical talent, together we’ll cook something sensational for our fans and listeners.
Finally, Rooboy. Looking into the future, what do you hope to achieve?
Roo-Boy: This question is something I always ask myself every day, and the answer is that I want to be one of the biggest hypemen in the hype industry! Let my name be a popular name in every household. I want to work with the biggest brands in the world, and host the biggest shows in the world, and I also want my team to grow with me. That’s my dream: to have a big family of happy people.
